The development of thin plate, pure lead VRLA batteries for telecommunications applications in challenging environments

A new range of thin plate, pure lead VRLA batteries has been developed for use in environments where the temperature conditions and power quality put limitations on the service life of conventional batteries. These batteries use punched grids with a special alloy containing a carefully balanced amount of tin which prevents the formation of insulating layers at the grid/active material interface under conditions of deep discharge. The use of punched grids permits the use of thinner plates than in conventional VRLA batteries leading to enhanced performance both on discharge and charge acceptance for recharge. This type of battery provides a solution to the more onerous demands of decentralised power with extremes of temperature, cyclic requirements and intermittent deep discharges that are increasingly found in telecommunications applications. The construction and technical performance of the battery will be described and areas for successful deployment outlined.