LVD Device

Including Low Voltage Disconnection when supplying the DC Loads is essential for protecting the battery from accidental deep discharge events. It acts like a circuit breaker to prevent damage to the battery. Some regulators and most inverters and DC converters will include LVD by default.

• Since LVD protects the battery and extends its service life, this sounds like a silly question, but it’s not!
• When the LVD activates, the Load being powered by the battery system will LOSE POWER. Some Emergency Services, Medical or Military applications may prefer to allow the battery to be over-discharged in order to maintain operation of the Load for a bit longer. Reviving the battery after the over-discharge event may be difficult (or impossible), but that extra run-time before the battery dies could be more important than the recovery/replacement afterwards.
• But if an extra few minutes (or maybe even hours) isn’t worth the cost of a replacement battery and the technician to install it, LVD is for you!

• Most regulators with Load Output terminals will offer LVD (though make sure to check since some don’t).
• Some regulators will have different current ratings for battery vs load connections. Ensure the model you’ve chosen have a load current rating that is suitable for your load requirements.

• If the loads can be segregated into essential and non-essential circuits, install an extra LVD on the non-essential circuits and set it to shutdown at a higher voltage threshold compared to the primary battery protection LVD. This will reduce the draw from the battery and give more time to operate the essential loads before the ‘final gatekeeper’ LVD activates.

• If the system is connected to a telemetry or remote monitoring platform, setup pre-alarms so that the user is notified of the imminent failure – preferably sufficiently in advance that action can be taken to mitigate or even prevent the system from failing!