About this replacement
Kaufel C1 — 6V Ni-CD Replacement Battery (BGN2400-5AWP-A800EC)
This is a 6V 2400mAh Ni-CD battery for the Kaufel C1 emergency lighting unit. It slots into the C1 fitting and provides backup power to keep exit signs and emergency fixtures illuminated during a mains failure. Capacity is 14.4Wh, matching the original cell specification.
- Kaufel C1 fitment: The C1 charge controller operates on a trickle-charge float circuit sized for a 6V Ni-CD cell. Fitting a different voltage or chemistry disrupts the charge cycle and can trigger a permanent fault LED on the unit.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran this cell through a full charge cycle and a load discharge. The BMS accepted charge without thermal event, and cell voltage held within the expected range under sustained load across the full test.
- First test cycle after installation: Hold the test button for the full rated duration within 24 hours of fitting. This lets the charge controller register the new cell and confirms it accepts load before your next scheduled compliance inspection.
Charge indicator staying red after new battery installation
Ni-CD cells sit in storage for months before sale and self-discharge to well below the float acceptance window. When the C1 controller sees a cell voltage lower than its acceptance threshold, it refuses to enter normal charge mode and holds the fault or charging LED red. Allow 12 to 24 hours on charge before concluding there is a fault — most cells recover to acceptance voltage within that window. If the LED stays red past 24 hours, measure across the battery terminals: a reading below 5.0V after charging indicates a deep-discharged cell that needs a slow recovery charge at low current before the controller will accept it.
Emergency light dims and then cuts out partway through a duration test
This happens when the new cell has not completed a full conditioning charge before the test is run. A partially charged Ni-CD cell delivers rated voltage at the start of a load test but sags under sustained current draw, triggering the fitting's low-voltage cutoff before the required duration is reached. It is not a cell fault — it is a charge state issue. Charge the unit for a full 24 hours, then run the duration test again; a correctly charged 2400mAh cell at 6V should sustain the load for the full rated period without voltage sag.