> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://learning.kent.co.in/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Kent Lithium Battery Safety Rules for Field Installers

> Always-live terminals, isolation order, safe handling, storage SOC bands, temperature-tiered storage life, and what to do with a damaged pack.

A Kent lithium battery carries full pack voltage at its terminals at all times — there is no upstream switch that makes it dead. Every battery task, on any Kent platform, starts with these rules.

<Warning>
  **DANGER — battery terminals are always live.** Full pack voltage is present at all times. Verify polarity before closing any connection, keep all tools insulated, remove metal jewellery, and never work on terminals with the battery breaker closed.
</Warning>

## Before you start

* **Isolation order: battery first.** For any battery work, open the battery breaker before anything else and confirm it is locked out before you touch a terminal.
* Torque values and cable sizes are **platform-specific** — take them from the Kent M1 or Kent G3 battery wiring guide, never from memory.
* PPE for all terminal work: insulated gloves and insulated tools, minimum.

## Handling and moving packs

Packs are heavy. Use mechanical handling and correct lifting technique throughout.

* Never drag a pack by its cables or terminals.
* Keep packs upright during transit; protect them from impact and do not stack loose packs during a move.
* Lithium transport is classified under dangerous-goods rules (UN3481 class). Packs travel in their original packaging, by the book — no exceptions.

## Storage rules

<Note>
  These rules apply to warehouse stock, dealer inventory, and any pack that will sit on a shelf or site before installation.
</Note>

Store packs at **30–60 % state of charge (SOC)**. Never put a pack into storage full or empty.

Storage life is temperature-dependent:

| Maximum ambient temperature | Maximum storage period |
| --------------------------- | ---------------------- |
| −20 °C to 35 °C             | 12 months              |
| −20 °C to 45 °C             | 3 months               |
| −20 °C to 55 °C             | 1 month                |

Store packs in a ventilated, clean, dry, dust-protected space with no condensation and no direct sunlight on the equipment.

<Warning>
  **Pending Kent validation.** \[KNB-VAL-20] The maximum safe window for recharging after a full discharge is under confirmation with the Kent battery team. Until updated here: **recharge as soon as practical after any deep discharge or extended outage — never leave a pack flat, and never put a flat pack into storage.**
</Warning>

## Damaged, leaking or misbehaving packs

Take a pack immediately out of service if it shows any of these signs:

* **Swollen** casing
* **Dented** housing
* **Leaking** electrolyte
* **Hissing** sounds
* **Burnt smell** or scorch marks

If any of these appear: isolate the bank if it is safe to reach, keep people away from the area, and call Kent service. Do not transport, reuse, or return a damaged pack as normal freight — disposal goes through Kent's channel only. Store any damaged or used pack away from high temperature, direct sunlight, humidity, and corrosive environments while it awaits collection.

## No field-serviceable parts

There are no user-serviceable components inside a pack. Cells, BMS boards, and internal protection circuits are factory territory. The inverter's battery-circuit fuse is also not field-replaceable. If something inside a pack is suspect, escalate — do not open.

## Common mistakes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Storing packs full to keep them 'ready'">
    The storage band is 30–60 % SOC. A pack stored full degrades faster and presents a higher thermal risk.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Working at terminals with a metal watch strap or rings on">
    Metal across live terminals is a short-circuit hazard. Remove all jewellery before starting terminal work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Treating a swollen pack as 'still works, still ships'">
    A swollen pack is a thermal-runaway hazard — it is out of service on the spot, not reduced-stock.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Jump-charging a flat pack from a bench supply">
    A dormant or deeply discharged pack must be woken the official way. See [Not Charging / Not Discharging](/battery/not-charging-discharging) for the correct wake-up procedure.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Related pages

* [BMS Comms Basics](/battery/bms-comms-basics)
* [Not Charging / Not Discharging](/battery/not-charging-discharging)
* [Kent M1 Battery Wiring](/m1/battery-wiring)
* [Kent G3 Battery Wiring](/g3/battery-wiring)