Abstract :
In telecommunication plants high reliability is requested for the whole system and, consequently, for each component. Where digital equipment is employed, air conditioning is vital. Therefore it has become essential in the latest years a general use of Diesel Engine Generator (DEG) as standby power supply, not only for telecommunication equipment, but mainly for air conditioning systems. Due to the role of the DEG in the reliability of those plants, a dependable electric starting is requested. For this purpose SIP (Italian Operating Telephone Company) and FIAT S.p.A. have developed a new specially designed (ironclad) starter battery, able to supply high currents for very short periods and to withstand floating charge conditions for long time. Actually, standard SLI batteries, used up to day, have very good high, power performance, but very short expected life in floating service especially with occasional deep discharges, while special types with pasted positive plates and glass mat separators have shown a slightly longer life, but less power and, consequently, increased costs. The new developed type has a thin tubular positive plate fitted with an antimony free alloy spine, already tested and extensively applied by SIP, and narrow pitch between plates, leading to compact design. The paper reports mechanical and electrical performance of the new type of battery and results of extensive laboratory and field tests.
