The invention describes a battery
discharge device (10) for discharging batteries (20) in the context of a disposal process, comprising a first
battery terminal (12.1) for connecting a first battery (20.1), a second
battery terminal (12.2) for connecting a second battery (20.2), at least one third
battery terminal (12.3) for connecting a third battery (20.3), and a load terminal (14) for a load (16) for dissipating electrical power during the
discharge of the batteries (20). The device also includes a
discharge circuit (18) comprising a first
voltmeter (22.1) arranged to measure a first
battery voltage (U20.1) across the first battery terminal (12.1), a second
voltmeter (22.2) arranged to measure a second
battery voltage (U20.2) across the second battery terminal (12.2), and a third
voltage meter (22.3) which is arranged to measure a third
battery voltage (U20.3), which drops above the third battery terminal (12.3), and has a
control unit (27), wherein the
control unit (27) is configured to automatically perform a procedure comprising the steps of: for all voltmeters (22.i), detecting the respective battery
voltage (U20.i) when the respective battery
voltage (U20.i) exceeds a predetermined minimum voltage (Umin), switching or holding the corresponding battery (20.i) switched in series with at least one other battery, and when the respective battery voltage (U20.i) does not exceed the minimum voltage (Umin), removing the corresponding battery (20.i) from the series, wherein the minimum voltage (Umin) is selected such that runaway of the battery is avoided, and the discharge circuit (18) having a first short-circuit switch (24.1) for short-circuiting the first battery terminal (12.1), a second short-circuit switch (24.2) for short-circuiting the second battery terminal (12.2) and a third short-circuit switch (24.3) for short-circuiting the third battery terminal (12.3) and is configured for removing the corresponding accumulator (20.i) from the series connection by means of the corresponding short-circuit switch (24.1, 24.2, 24.3), wherein a load (16) connected to the load terminal (14) is in the form of an
inverter (17) for generating an alternating voltage (UAC) of a predetermined frequency (f) and voltage and / or a DC-
DC converter for generating a
DC voltage of a predetermined voltage from a
DC voltage applied to the load terminal (14).