Falcon Electric Inc., a manufacturer of Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS) and exhibitor at the MILCOM 2009 Expo (booth #223), announced a new long-life battery in its SSG Series™ Industrial-Grade UPS Plus® product line. For environments with temperatures that typically exceed 40°C, like a factory floor, a desert setting or any computer rack, the batteries are rated to last at least twice the service life of standard five-year/40°C rated batteries. The new batteries, which are optional on all Falcon UPSes, are rated for ten years of expected life in a temperature-controlled environment (up to 25°C). Also, because of its true regenerative on-line design, the SSG Series UPS is free from the “over-cycling” of batteries caused by the “buck-boost” feature of less-expensive “switching”, or “line-interactive” UPSes. The SSG Series is the only UPS to carry a 55°C (131°F) UL listing for operating at high temperatures.

“The new long-life, high temp batteries, combined with SSG Series’ ability to shield the battery from heat, translate to a longer period between UPS maintenance cycles,” said Paul Newman, Director of Manufacturing-Engineering at Falcon Electric. “This will translate to significant cost savings, in terms of the time, money and manpower that is involved with something as simple as replacing a dead battery, especially in a remote location. A typical Falcon customer manages hundreds of devices and replacing UPS batteries is a huge headache.”

Compared with other industrial-grade UPSes available on the market today, the SSG Series’ robust design protects the internal batteries and components from the ambient heat much more effectively which ultimately leads to a more reliable UPS that is much easier and cost-effective to maintain. Available in models from 1.5 to 3 kVA and in both 120 Vac and 230 Vac versions, the SSG Series is capable of withstanding elevated temperatures of up to 55°C for prolonged periods of time. Most UPS vendors, including Falcon, use batteries that are rated for 40°C and last five years for controlled settings at room temperature, such as a laboratory or office. When used in a true on-line UPS at room temperature, this is a reasonable expectation. In a hostile environment with high temperatures and unstable utility-generated ac power, users typically replace UPS batteries every one to two years in on-line UPSes and more frequently in “switching” UPSes, due to the combination of over-cycling and higher temps.