Understanding battery power systems

8 June 2022

As with any aspect of equipment and technology, it is vital to ensure that maintenance personnel and technicians are trained to work safely on them. 

With electric and battery powered vehicles and machinery gaining wider acceptance, this is an issue that will become increasingly important. 

The Faraday Centre electrical training facility offers a range of 50 standard courses aimed at specialist engineers and those coming into contact with equipment. 

Bespoke training can also be arranged and interest is growing across a growing range of sectors according to the Centre’s Nigel Clark and Tony Curry, respectively technical author and business development manager, who I spoke to at the recent Battery Tech Expo event at Silverstone. 

They tell me that a popular course is Electrical Safety Awareness for Batteries which explains the requirements of the UK Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Topics include the hazards of AC and DC power, safety in electrical testing, DC power sources like lead acid and lithium-ion batteries, and appropriate PPE. 

Facilities at the Centre include a battery bank (pictured above) comprising liquid electrolyte nickel cadmium cells. Trainers can teach safe working principles for any type of battery on these, using the correct PPE and insulated tools.

The Centre, which is based in Redcar, also offers courses on hybrid equipment and working on live systems.