FAQs - UPS Batteries
UPS batteries used for backup power and long duration runtimes in server room and datacentre for power protection.
A Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) battery is a type of battery used within a applications that require a back-up or standby power source. Examples include uninterruptible power supplies, emergency lighting systems, security panels and generators (for the starter motor).
The term ‘battery block’ refers to a complete individual battery. Multiple battery blocks can be connected into a battery string. A battery cell is an electrical circuit within an individual battery block consisting of positive and negative electrodes or plates, an electrolyte and separator. The battery cell will have a Vdc and will be arrange to make up the overall Vdc of the battery block. For example a 12Vdc battery block may comprise of 12×1Vdc battery cells.
Lead acid batteries are typically designed for either 5 years or 10 years. This is known as their design life. Battery life is also dependent upon a number of other factors including ambient temperature, charging technique and the number of charge/discharge cycles. A typical 5-year design life battery will require replacement around years 3-4 of operation and a 10-year design life battery around years 7-8.
The F1 and F2 terms refer to the push-on terminal size. F1 terminals are 0.187inches wide and F2 terminals are 0.250inches wide. Typical applications for F1 sized battery terminals include standby power emergency lighting and for F2 size terminals the most common application is emergency power backup including DC power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies.
Some batteries are sized in Watts and others in Ampere-hours (Ah). To convert Watts to Ah divide the Watt figure stated for the battery by the dc voltage of the battery. For example a 360W 12Vdc battery is a 30Ah battery.