PEPFAR/USAID/ CDC Medical Programs in Haiti Real World Installation Considerations for Inverter/ Charger/ Battery Equipment

摘要

The Haiti National Reference Laboratory and The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Program are in the process of expanding and improving the health facility laboratory infrastructure throughout Haiti. The success of this effort is highly dependent on the provision of stable and reliable electricity to these labs to support increasingly sensitive laboratory equipment being deployed throughout the country. Haiti is plagued with unreliable electricity in both quantity and quality. Where the grid exists, it is often not energized. When it is energized, the quality of electricity in the lines is poor and cannot support lab equipment. Additionally, many health centers in the country are not even served by the electrical grid. This situation has led many health system providers in the country to take action for providing clean and reliable power to their equipment. A key action that is seen widely throughout the country is the installation of inverter / chargers, and battery banks to provide utility back-up. These systems are installed with and without generators; as well as with and without solar panels. The inverter / charger / battery bank equipment forms the core of a variety of on-grid and off-grid power solutions. However, field visits to numerous hospitals and health centers throughout Haiti have revealed that one or more of these important installation practices have not been adhered to, leading to early battery failure, or in many cases - complete shutdown of the system. There is a need for a how-to-guide that addresses the most common problems observed in the field and discusses practical field applications necessary for proper installation of the inverter / charger and battery equipment. This short manual from USAID is intended to serve that purpose. This manual is based on the Xantrex Model SW inverter, observed most frequently during field visits, and is applicable to models SW 4048 and SW 5548, which were most prevalent. This manual is prepared to be used as a supplement to the SW Owner's Manual and is not a substitute for it. With minor variations, this manual can be applied to Outback Power equipment and other manufacturers' equipment.