Saft’s “Uptimax” nickel-technology battery provides operators with a direct replacement for lead-acid batteries in industrial standby installations, like solar. It is ideally suited for mission-critical applications where reliable backup power is essential, such as oil and gas exploration and production, as well as for utilities and manufacturing plants. With the New Uptimax, Saft is targeting the industrial standby battery market.

Nickel-technology batteries have significant advantages over lead-acid technology in terms of reliability, calendar life, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and predictable performance with no risk of ‘sudden death’.

“The New Uptimax is perfect for operators who want to upgrade from lead-acid to nickel-technology batteries as it eliminates the need to modify their existing charging systems. It is also ideally suited to very demanding backup applications, especially in the Middle East, due to its ability to tolerate extreme temperatures,” Mikael Greis, Saft product manager said.

The Uptimax battery is a direct replacement for lead-acid batteries because it is compatible with all commonly used DC (Direct Current) charging systems and operates in a narrow voltage window, with no need for a boost charge. This reduces the cost of charging systems as there is less need for components such as dropping diodes or DC/DC converters. It also has a fast charging capability that can achieve 95% state of charge in eight hours for a fast return to service after a power failure.

Further benefits of the new battery include maintenance-free operation with no need for topping up with water throughout the entire service life and compliance with all relevant safety standards. It is also ideal for applications in the Middle East as it offers a long operational life of over 20 years at +25°C and can tolerate extreme temperatures (- 40°C to + 70°C) for short periods.

The battery is designed to form the heart of uninterruptible power supply and backup power systems that operate in the event of a loss of the main power supply to facilitate the safe shutdown of processes, safeguard computer data and provide a bridge to standby power. Typical applications will include substation switchgear, process control systems, emergency lighting, fire alarms and security systems.

Saft manufactures the Uptimax batteries in Oskarshamn, Sweden.

News item from Saft