3M PAPR Battery Maintenance

Learn How To Correctly Maintain Your 3M PAPR Battery With Help From ABL Distribution

Proper maintenance of your 3M Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) battery is crucial for safety and reliability in demanding environments Learn the best practices for extending battery life, troubleshooting common issues, and ensuring your equipment is ready when you need it most. From storage tips to routine checks, keep your PAPR system in top shape with these simple maintenance steps.

What Is 3M PAPR?

3M Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) is a type of supplied air respiratory protection used to protect individuals from a range of harmful airborne contaminants, ensuring the safety and well-being of workers in exposed areas. ABL Distribution offer a range of PAPR Kits, units, and spare parts to ensure workers are fully protected for the job and can do it in comfort. 

Why Is It Important To Look After Your Batteries?

3M PAPR Battery Packs come with a quick-charging multi-use lithium-ion battery, similar to those that you find in a laptop or electric scooter. These batteries can be highly dangerous if they are not properly charged, stored, or handled. These batteries can lead to fires, explosions, and vent toxic gases in cases of improper use. 

So how can you ensure that you are maintaining your PAPR batteries safely whilst also getting the most out of them?

3M has a suggestion of best practices to get your battery working the best for you.

Best Practice For Battery Longevity

1. Firstly, the battery should be put on charge immediately and fully upon receiving your PAPR unit. Additionally, it is important to recharge the battery to full capacity at least every 9-12 months. All batteries have a life-cycle and may need replacing around the 2-year mark.
2. Next, when you place the battery onto the cradle to charge, ensure you are careful to align the pins on the charging cradle. These pins are very delicate and if they are damaged it could impair the batteries ability to be recharged. This could result in needing to purchase a new battery pack. 
3. Another key tip is to clean the battery packs and cradles with a damp cloth and mild detergent or isopropanol-- the 3M 504 Respirator Cleaning Wipes (SKU:5078) are also great for this. Cradles may not be able to charge units properly if they are covered in dust. Research has shown that stronger solvents weaken the plastic of the cradle and battery packs. Ensure that after cleaning the units they are fully dried and no liquid is left on the gold-plated terminals. 

PLEASE NOTE: TR-600 batteries are sealed have the capacity to be temporarily immersed for cleaning where necessary. Please refer to the user instructions for further information.

Implementing these best practices will improve the longevity of your PAPR Battery packs and increase the safety of the workers using them, both from the airborne contaminants and the lithium-ion batteries.

If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to our friendly office staff who would be more than happy to help at 07 5618 5100 or sales@abldistribution.com.au. Alternatively, we also have Live Chat available.