Industry Knowledge

For energy storage selection in telecommunications facilities and alternative energy systems such as solar, the first step is not to compare a single capacity figure but to confirm which hour rate that figure corresponds to. The parameter items BB Battery publishes include nominal capacity (Ah) at the 20-hour, 10-hour, 5-hour, 8-hour, 2-hour, 1-hour and 30-minute rates, together with rated power (W/cell) at the 15-minute rate. The nominal capacity of the same model differs between hour rates, so buyers and engineers should convert the actual discharge time of the load to the corresponding hour rate and take the value from the parameter table, rather than checking a short backup requirement against 20-hour rate data.

Telecommunications facilities mostly involve float standby duty, where the battery remains on charge in readiness and discharges only when the mains supply fails. For such applications, look for series suited to long-life float service; BPL, MPL, FTB and MSU are intended for long-life float applications such as telecommunications and UPS, and MSU is the telecom-grade standby series. Also confirm the voltage, the standard and optional terminal types, and the effect of weight (kg) on rack or cabinet loading.

Alternative energy storage such as solar is closer to cycling duty, where the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged. Zelus-GBS is the gel solar series, Zelus-GBC is the gel deep cycle series, BC is the deep cycle series and SHR is the high rate deep cycle series; the series names themselves state the cycling or deep cycle positioning. Gel batteries use gelled electrolyte, which resists high and low temperatures and vibration and impact, and addresses electrolyte leakage and corrosion, making them suitable for harsh environments. Cycling duty and float duty should be checked separately, and a float series should not be given a high-frequency cycling task.

Uninterruptible power supplies, data centres, and grid and electric power applications require short high-current discharge, where the 30-minute and 1-hour rate nominal capacities and the 15-minute rate rated power (W/cell) should be read rather than the 20-hour rate capacity alone. The high rate series HR, HRL, SH and SHR are generally intended for high-rate or very high-rate discharge, and suit cases calculated by power rather than by ampere-hours. Security systems, access control, emergency lighting and video surveillance, and medical equipment should be checked item by item against backup duration and load power, confirming that the chosen model meets the requirement at the corresponding hour rate.

The application list also covers road lighting and traffic signals, e-bikes and scooters, golf carts, mowers, wheelchairs, floor cleaning equipment and electric vehicles. The discharge regime differs markedly between these applications, so selection should first classify the duty as float standby or cycling drive and then move to the corresponding series. A suggested checking order is: confirm the voltage, establish the hour rate matching the discharge time, read the nominal capacity or rated power at that hour rate, check the terminal type and weight, and finally confirm that the series positioning matches the duty. All values are subject to the parameter items BB Battery publishes, without prior conversion or inference.