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A lithium bank is the one part of a Kent system that can never be switched off at the source. These rules apply before, during and after every battery task.
DANGER — a battery is always live. Terminals carry full pack voltage at all times. Verify polarity before closing anything, keep tools insulated, remove metal jewellery, and never work on terminals with the battery breaker closed.

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Before you start

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Handling and moving packs

  • Packs are heavy — use mechanical handling and correct lifting technique; never drag a pack by its cables or terminals.
  • Do not stack loose packs during a move; keep the pack upright and protected from impact.
  • Lithium transport falls under dangerous-goods rules (UN3481 class) — packs travel in their packaging, by the book.

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Storage rules (warehouse, dealer stock, site delays)

  • State of charge before storage: 30 % to 60 %. Never store a pack full or empty.
  • Storage life is temperature-tiered: 12 months at −20 to 35 °C · 3 months at −20 to 45 °C · 1 month at −20 to 55 °C.
  • Store ventilated, clean, dry, dust-protected, no condensation, no direct sunlight on the equipment.
Pending Kent validation. [KNB-VAL-20] The maximum window for recharging a pack after a full discharge is under confirmation with the Kent battery team. Until published here: recharge as soon as practical after any deep discharge or long outage — never leave a pack flat, and never put a flat pack into storage.

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Damaged, leaking or misbehaving packs

  • A pack that is swollen, dented, leaking, hissing or smells burnt is out of service on the spot: isolate the bank if safe to reach, keep people away, and call Kent service.
  • Faulty batteries are never reused and never sent as normal freight — disposal goes through Kent’s channel.
  • Keep used or damaged packs away from high temperature, direct sun, humidity and corrosive environments while they await collection.

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What no one opens in the field

Cells, BMS boards and the pack’s internal protection are factory territory — there are no field-serviceable parts inside a pack, and the inverter’s battery-circuit fuse is not field-replaceable either. Escalate, do not open.

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Common mistakes

  • Storing “spare” packs full “so they’re ready” — the storage band is 30–60 % SOC.
  • Working on terminals with rings or a metal watch strap still on.
  • Treating a swollen pack as “still works, still ships” — it is a hazard, not stock.
  • Jump-charging a dead pack from a bench supply — wake it the official way; see Not Charging / Not Discharging.

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When to escalate