Parameter adds IECEx cell-level battery module

Batteries in hazardous areas need constant checks because a single weak cell can drag down an entire backup string. Parameter said April 21 it launched the DCM6-L-IECEx to monitor those cells in Zone 1 and Zone 2 sites. (businesswire.com) The Fort Collins, Colorado, company described the DCM6-L-IECEx as a battery-monitoring module built for IECEx-certified operation in hazardous environments where flammable gas or vapor may be present. It said the product is designed for industrial battery systems that support mission-critical power. (businesswire.com) (morningstar.com) Parameter said the module gives cell-level visibility, which means operators can see the condition of each battery cell instead of only reading the total voltage of the full string. The company also said the hardware supports remote telemetry for off-site monitoring and maintenance planning. (parameter-tech.com) In plain terms, intrinsic safety limits the energy inside the device so it cannot ignite the surrounding atmosphere during normal operation or certain faults. Parameter said that approach lets the DCM6-L-IECEx avoid the larger explosion-proof housings often used to isolate electrical equipment in dangerous locations. (businesswire.com) (hazardexonthenet.net) IECEx is the International Electrotechnical Commission system for certifying equipment and services used in explosive atmospheres. The IEC says the system is intended to help industry, regulators, and site operators verify that Ex-area equipment meets recognized safety requirements. (iec.ch 1) (iec.ch 2) Zone 1 and Zone 2 are common classifications for places where explosive gas atmospheres may appear during normal operation or only infrequently, such as oil and gas, chemical, and petrochemical facilities. That is why battery monitoring matters there: backup power is essential, but the electronics used to watch those batteries also have to meet hazardous-area rules. (hazardexonthenet.net) (iec.ch) Parameter said the new module plugs into its Cellwatch battery monitoring and management platform, extending that system into sites that need IECEx-certified equipment. The company framed the launch as a way to catch failing cells earlier and reduce outages tied to battery faults. (businesswire.com) (parameter-tech.com) The pitch is straightforward: if operators can watch every cell in a hazardous area without adding bulky protective boxes, they can keep backup batteries under closer watch where failures are hardest to inspect. Parameter is now selling that argument with an IECEx label attached. (businesswire.com)