Telecommunications organizations who depend on active equipment to keep their networks running must have a backup power system in place in case of an expected power outage.
Many organizations plan for power outages by installing an on-site generator or having generators on-hand to deliver to their sites when needed. But for some, they depend on this active equipment so much that even a short-lived power outage can harm their network and/or their ability to serve their customer base. In those cases, just having a generator at the site or ready to go isn’t always enough. They need power at a moment’s notice, which means they need some sort of backup battery system.
This ultimately means they need a way to store those batteries, which can be numerous and large, near their equipment. In some cases, they will dedicate cabinet or shelter space to the battery system. In others, they’ll set up a cabinet with the sole purpose of housing the batteries.
Let’s take a look at the different battery backup systems and storage solutions and explore how American Products can help.
Battery Storage Solutions
At American Products, our team has helped telecommunications organizations house VRLA (valve regulated lead acid), lithium and UPS (uninterrupted power system) battery setups.
There are three ways we can do that.
The first is by designing a dedicated battery storage solution into a cabinet or shelter that is already slated to house other equipment. In this method, we allot shelf space solely for the battery backup system. There is nothing else separating the batteries from the rest of the equipment in the enclosure. This method allows the organization to store their battery backup without purchasing extra cabinets or boxes.
The second way is to design a separate, self-contained battery box that will go under the main cabinet containing the equipment. In this case, two pieces of metal (the floor of the equipment cabinet and the ceiling of the battery compartment) separate the batteries from the equipment. The battery compartment is passively vented, allowing cool air to flow through and keep the temperature down while also removing any potentially harmful gases from the box. This keeps the batteries close to the equipment they’ll power in the chance of a blackout, but still separate just in case of gases or a fire.
The third method is with the AP BATTERY™ cabinet, an enclosure designed solely for storing battery systems, not equipment. These cabinets can feature one or two bays. The single-bay version can store up to five strings of batteries, and the dual-bay version can hold up to 10 strings. This method is ideal for telecommunications organizations who want to store a lot of battery systems in one place. Telecommunications organizations often deploy these outside of their central office or near an overcrowded headend facility. In colder or hotter environments, American Products can outfit this cabinet with a fan-cooled air exchange system or HVAC system to keep the interior temperatures within ideal operating range for the batteries.
When choosing which solution meets their needs best, organizations should consider a few factors, starting with the type of batteries they will store.
Key Considerations
VRLA
VRLA batteries are the most common battery type currently in use. When working with a network provider on a solution for these, we start by determining what type of battery they want, e.g., hardened or high-temp. Determining the temperature tolerances will help us offer the correct climate control system.
If the batteries are hardened and can withstand high temperatures, we might recommend a passive fan system. But if they are sensitive to extreme heat, we would lean toward an active cooling/heating system. If cold, but not heat, is a concern, we can install heating pads for the batteries to rest on.
In addition, the type of battery determines the type of shelf needed. Most VRLA batteries will be fine on a standard shelf, but some can be weigh up to 150 lbs. each. In a string of four, that’s can be up to 600 lbs. on one shelf. In that case, we can offer a heavier duty shelf that won’t deflect under the additional weight. These upgraded shelves are also great in cabinets where space is tight and there is little extra room between shelves.
We can also install battery monitoring systems that allow organizations to remotely check in on the status of their backup system.
Older VRLA batteries were known for emitting flammable hydrogen fumes, so organizations typically preferred to keep them separate from their equipment. Newer versions don’t have that same issue, though, so they are safe to store in any of the three enclosure solutions.
Lithium
Even though they are more expensive than VRLA batteries, lithium batteries are becoming more popular due to their hardiness, sophisticated monitoring systems and long lives.
They are different sizes than VRLA batteries and therefore require their own consideration when designing a storage solution.
For one, they are not set up in “strings” like VRLA systems. This means the batteries can just be stored on a 19” or 23” rack. In addition, lithium batteries can handle extreme temperatures better, so we can install a simple passive cooling system.
While not an issue as much anymore, lithium batteries used to be known for being volatile and possibly combusting. Many organizations therefore chose to store these in dedicated cabinets away from all equipment. Newer batteries are much less volatile, though, and can usually be stored alongside equipment without issues.
UPS
The least common backup system American Products encounters is the UPS, which is only for AC powered equipment. Sometimes, if a company has AC equipment and they have a 48V power system, the American Products team will add an inverter so they can use VRLA or lithium systems with their equipment.
But, if the telecom organization prefers a UPS setup, likely because they don’t want to lose power for even the smallest amount of time, our team can help.
For these systems, our team will determine the size of rack they need. We will also ask about the environment to determine the proper climate control option.
American Products can help telecommunications organizations with every aspect of their battery backup systems. We can help them hone in on what battery system will work well for them, their needs and their budget. We can calculate how many batteries they will need based on their equipment, battery selection and how long they want backup power to run. We can then design a turnkey enclosure solution that provides the features they need and want, including monitoring systems, climate control, remote breakers and more. In the end, they can purchase the complete backup system and storage solution, including the batteries, cabinet and all add-ons, through us to receive a turnkey solution that meets all their needs just right.
To learn more about how American Products can help you safely and securely store your battery backup systems, click here to contact our enclosure specialists.