White Papers
Short Circuit Battery Installation Damage
Introduction An electrical contractor created a short circuit during a battery installation. In 2016, we received a called for assistance from one of our customers when their “embedded” electrical contractor installed two battery systems in a new unit at their...
Testing Internal Resistance of VRLA Batteries
Introduction Battery system maintenance and monitoring are key elements in the reliability of any DC battery powered system and are IEEE and NERC requirements. Also, most battery manufacturers require regular maintenance and maintenance records of purchased batteries...
Tubular vs. Flat Plate Battery Design
Introduction Lead-acid batteries have been around for more than 150 years. While flat plate models with a lattice grid represented a technological leap forward in 1881, tubular construction is a more robust technology with many advantages. With advancements such as...
Battery Damage Caused by Unqualified Installers
Introduction An electrical contractor damaged jars during installation resulting in delayed leaks surfacing after new battery and battery building was turned over to plant operations. In 2017 we received a call from a utility customer who reported leaking cells in a...
Battery Warranties Explained
Introduction: Battery Warranties The idea of the 20-year warranty began in the 1960s as a marketing campaign for lead calcium batteries. With newer battery technologies being developed with different design, performance and construction principles, the industry finds...
The Risks of Unmonitored Hydrogen in Motive Power Applications
Introduction: Hydrogen Risks in Industrial Settings From lead acid to LiOn to NiCad, all batteries produce flammable hydrogen gas during normal charging. Overcharging, excessive heat and many other factors can quickly cause batteries to produce even more hydrogen. As...
Managing Temperature Extremes in Substation Battery Applications
Introduction • Over the course of one year, SBS assessed multiple 125-volt DC substation battery systems in Wisconsin and Florida which were housed in enclosures that were not temperature regulated • The battery systems in Florida were regularly exposed to extreme...
EquaLink Battery Management System
Product News Release – Announcing New Battery Management System
The EquaLink Battery Management System (BMS), delivers a complete and comprehensive diagnostic and monitoring solution for critical battery maintenance programs and required NERC / IEEE reporting.
Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, February 5, 2016 – SBS Testing and Monitoring, a division of Storage Battery Systems, LLC (SBS), an industry leader in battery testing equipment and Power Solutions™, is pleased to announce the release of their new EquaLink Battery Management and Monitoring System.
Women in Manufacturing
Careers in manufacturing and engineering present a wide variety of interesting and exciting roles which play an essential part in our economy. In this blog, Exponential Power is featuring female team members throughout our organization who help make us a leading provider of stored power solutions and who encourage other women to consider a career in this important industry.
Exponential Power Acquires Power Product Services
MENOMONEE FALLS, WI – Exponential Power, Inc. has acquired Power Product Services, expanding the company’s position as an industry leading supplier of DC power solutions and growing the geographic reach of its telecom services division to span the continental U.S.
Exponential Power Acquires Elite Technologies & Communications
MENOMONEE FALLS, WI – Exponential Power, Inc. has acquired Elite Technologies & Communications, expanding the company’s position as an industry leading supplier of DC power, products, solutions and services. Elite Technologies & Communications (Elite Tech) specializes in advanced network communications, including central office engineering, DC power installation, transport, access and switching.
Exponential Power Acquires MaeTec Power, Inc.
Menomonee Falls, WI – Exponential Power, Inc. has acquired industry-leading MaeTec Power, Inc., expanding the company’s position as a best-in-class supplier of DC power, products, solutions, and services. MaeTec Power is known for its outstanding service in the...
National Forklift Safety Day
National Forklift Safety Day is June 14, 2022. Exponential Power’s team of professionals is proactive in creating and nurturing safe workplace environments, and we’re honored to be part of this national focus on forklift safety.
Which Link Controls the Life of Your Battery System?
The length of how long a battery system will reliably remain in service is determined by all the links below. Each step in the life cycle of a battery system plays a significant role and can add or subtract actual years of service life.
Exponential Power Launches DoD Hydrogen Gas Detector
Menomonee Falls, WI – Exponential Power, Inc., a leading provider of stored power solutions, has developed and launched an industry leading hydrogen gas sensor and monitoring system that meets rigorous US Department of Defense (DoD) requirements. The detector is an upgrade of the company’s popular SBS-H2 system, providing improved Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) detection levels.
Exponential Power, Inc. Acquires Dry Creek Enterprises
Menomonee Falls, WI – Exponential Power, Inc., a leading provider of stored power solutions, announced that it has joined forces with Bakersfield, California-based Dry Creek Enterprises. The acquisition enhances the company’s presence in the reserve power industry and supports its mission of delivering reliability, advancing technology, and providing an unmatched experience for its customers.
Exponential Power, Inc. Acquires Static Power
Menomonee Falls, WI – Exponential Power, Inc., a leading provider of stored power solutions, announced its strategic acquisition of Maryland-based Static Power, a well-known provider of critical power systems.
Part 2: Can your generation plant survive an unplanned or emergency trip without sustaining major damage?
TEST EQUIPMENT
The equipment used in a capacity test should be a computer-based battery discharge test system with automatic data logging.
It should be capable of conducting single or multiple steps, constant current or constant power (kilowatt) discharge tests. It should include a video display of all pertinent data relating to a discharge test such as individual cell voltages, load current, overall battery voltage, average cell voltage, minimum cell voltage, maximum cell voltage, elapsed test time, program step number and program step elapsed time, battery location and battery identification number.
We are now Exponential Power – the power of many!
Exciting and powerful changes are happening at Storage Battery Systems, Nolan Power Group, Quality Standby Services and Summit Power Systems. We are proud to announce we are now collectively Exponential Power!
Exponential Power is built on the foundation of four great companies that provide industry leading service and cutting edge technology led by battery experts that have been powering you since 1915.
5 Common Mistakes in Battery System Capacity Testing
IEEE and NERC both require battery capacity testing as a means of predicting a battery system’s ability to perform when called upon during a loss of AC power, for acceptance of new installations, and in determination of end of life criteria for system replacement. While NERC is very vague and just states that “Capacity testing must be done at said interval”, IEEE 450, 1106 and 1188 have clearly defined frequencies, prerequisites and instructions on how these tests should be conducted.
From results that are submitted to us for warranty consideration or review, a group of common errors have come to light. Below are the top 5 most common mistakes that are seen in capacity testing.