Megger BVM600 Battery Voltage Monitoring System

Megger BVM600 Overview

The Megger BVM600 battery voltage monitoring system logs the voltage of each battery cell or block while a capacity (discharge) test runs in critical power applications. It is ideal for battery rooms in electric power generation plants and substations, telecommunications infrastructure and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) installations. By measuring each cell’s voltage — including while the string is under load with a Megger TORKEL load unit — the BVM600 helps maintenance teams confirm that every cell is healthy, identify weak or failing cells early, and run fully automated battery-bank capacity tests.

Who the Megger BVM600 is for

The Megger BVM600 is aimed at battery maintenance teams in substations, power plants, telecom exchanges and data-centre UPS rooms who run full capacity (discharge) tests and need every cell or block logged, not just the total string voltage. A weak cell usually shows itself near the end of a discharge, and the BVM600 records the voltage of each one for the whole test so it can be named in the report.

How a BVM600 test is set up, according to the Megger BVM datasheet (V09a):

• One BVM unit sits on each cell or block and plugs into the next one in a daisy chain; every unit is identical, so any unit fits any position
• Auto Discovery lets the host count the units and number them in order, so nobody has to map the string by hand
• The red dolphin clip goes on the most positive pole of the bank; the chain then feeds a power & signal connector
• Data leaves the chain over an Ethernet cable to the BVM USB port of a TORKEL 900, or to a PC running PowerDB or TORKEL Win

Measurement figures from the same datasheet:

• 0 to 20 V DC per unit with 1 mV resolution, so it reads 2 V cells as well as 6 V and 12 V blocks
• Inaccuracy below 0.1% of full scale ±0.01 V DC, with 1 MΩ input impedance
• 300 V DC maximum per loop; between 300 V and 500 V the system is run as two loops with opto couplers (HC-50040) and ungrounded supplies
• Up to 2 × 120 cells (121 units per loop) can be monitored from one TORKEL 900
• Operating range 5 °C to +50 °C; the 61-unit kit weighs 12.5 kg in its 575 × 470 × 205 mm case

The BVM600 works with the Megger TORKEL 930 and Megger TORKEL 950 load units (the TORKEL 910 has no BVM function). For smaller strings there is the Megger BVM300 with 31 units, and for currents above one TORKEL the Megger TXL865 extra load. See all battery testers or the Megger brand page. Figures above come from the Megger BVM datasheetPDF.

Key features of the Megger BVM600 battery voltage monitor

What the Megger BVM600 adds to a battery test:

• Per-cell voltage monitoring – measures individual cell/block voltage across the battery string, including under load.
• Scalable BVM system – small 75 × 64 × 25 mm units (each 0.07 kg) daisy-chained across the string; the BVM600 kit (CJ-59096) contains 61 of them.
• TORKEL integration – works with Megger TORKEL load units for automated battery-bank capacity testing.
• Robust protection – overvoltage, reverse-voltage, transient and ESD protection for reliable field use.
• Universal mains – 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, 50 VA maximum.
• CE compliant – meets LVD 2014/35/EU, EMC 2014/30/EU and RoHS 2011/65/EU.

Megger BVM600 applications

Where the Megger BVM600 is used:

• Cell-by-cell voltage logging during capacity tests in generation plants and substations.
• Battery-string capacity testing with TORKEL load units.
• Telecom and UPS back-up battery maintenance.

What’s in the box – Megger BVM600

Supplied in the Megger BVM600 kit:

• 61 BVM units (BVM600, Megger CJ-59096)
• Dolphin clips for the battery poles
• Power & signal connector and power supply
• Connection cables
• Carrying case

Number of BVM units and TORKEL integration are configured to your battery string; confirm with MME when purchasing.

Megger BVM600 FAQ

Questions battery engineers ask about the BVM600:

• How many cells can the Megger BVM600 cover? The kit has 61 units. In Megger’s connection examples a loop of 120 cells uses 121 units, so 61 units suit a string of up to 60 cells or blocks. Extra single BVM units (CJ-59090) can be added.
• Do I need a TORKEL to use it? No. A TORKEL 930 or 950 reads it directly, but the BVM600 can also be run from a PC with PowerDB or TORKEL Win alongside older TORKEL models or another load bank.
• What happens on strings above 300 V? Each loop is limited to 300 V DC. From 300 V to 500 V the datasheet shows two loops with opto couplers. Above 500 V the TORKEL cannot be the load, so the BVM is used with PowerDB or TORKEL Win and another load or the UPS load.
• Can it connect to battery posts that don’t take a clip? Yes. Megger lists 0.5 m extension leads (04-30050), M8 ring-connector cables (KG-00690), 6.3 mm flat-connector cables (KG-00692) and M8 pole bolt adapters (40-06300).

Why buy the Megger BVM600 from MME in UAE

Tell MME how many cells or blocks are in the string, the nominal string voltage and which TORKEL (or other load) you will discharge with. We will check whether the 61-unit BVM600 covers it, whether the 31-unit BVM300 is enough, or whether opto couplers are needed above 300 V, and then quote.