The Introduction of an Automatic Standby AC Power Plant for Rural Telephone Exchanges

Over recent years it became evident that there would be a requirement for a small AC, single phase, automatic power plant to improve the operating power reserves of the small rural telephone exchange under extended mains failure conditions. These exchanges make up half of the 6300 telephone exchanges in the United Kingdom network. The present range of larger packaged power plants, installed in medium sized exchanges, were not considered suitable to be adapted to operate in existing buildings. This paper explains the background to the design and development of this new power plant.