Nowadays, customers are becoming more aware and don’t mind spending a few hundred rupees more for SMF batteries
Perceptions about batteries are changing fast, especially with industrial users realising that a battery is a critical link to ensure backup power. Today, sealed maintenance free (SMF) batteries are the most popular technology used in a host of applications—from small UPS systems to large systems deployed in huge industrial plants. SMF batteries do not need maintenance and are pollution free. The SMF battery industry is, thus, growing year by year. Currently, this technology is widely used in the telecom and power sectors, and to some extent in the railways. Of late, the solar power industry also offers good scope for the growth of SMF batteries.
“Nowadays, customers are becoming more aware and don’t mind spending a few hundred rupees more for SMF batteries. They know about the disadvantages and hazards of lead acid batteries,” says Kunwer Sachdev, managing director, Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd.
NEW TYPES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET
SMF VRLA batteries are far superior to conventional batteries. Their plates are made of lead calcium, which offers a longer life and higher efficiency due to low self discharge. SMF batteries are also environment friendly, require less space, and can be used in any position.
If we go by the rated capacity, SMF VRLA batteries broadly fall into three segments—small: 3 to 17 Ah; medium: 26 to 200 Ah; and large single cells: 2V 100 Ah to 2V 3000 Ah. Su-Kam offers SMF batteries from 4.5 Ah to 200 Ah, which are based on absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology. The company claims its batteries offer the best backup and a long life. “Its radial grid design enhances the performance of high rate discharge, while thicker grids and corrosion resistant alloys ensure a longer life,” explains Kunwer Sachdev.
Exide offers Powersafe and Powersafe NXT, which are highly reliable and are known for their quality. The Powersafe range was extended in 2010 by introduction of Powersafe NXT series. The hallmark of NXT is its enhanced deep cycling ability, faster recharge capability and superior life. It carries a warranty of three years.
Powersafe NXT is yet another unique product from Exide, which is developed by its R&D centre, keeping the customers’ technical needs and operational requirements. The wide portfolio of products, alongwith Exide’s sales and service network in the country offers, a unique and customised value proposition to all users in sectors like banks and financial institutions, insurance, IT and ITES, hospitals, education and many others. “Exide Powersafe range of SMF VRLA batteries for UPS application has been a preferred choice of customers and end users for the past decades,” claims the company spokesperson.
AGM and gel batteries: Currently, AGM batteries and gel (or gel cell) batteries are very much in demand across India. These are often colloquially called sealed lead acid batteries, but they always include a safety pressure relief valve. As opposed to vented (also called flooded) batteries, a VRLA battery’s electrolyte does not spill if it is inverted. VRLA batteries also use much less electrolyte (battery acid) than traditional lead acid batteries. High rate discharge batteries are also much in demand.
According to Sunil Bhatnagar, director, sales and marketing, Artheon Electronics Ltd, the fastest moving batteries in the market are SMF batteries with AGM separators, gel batteries, pure lead tin (PLT) batteries, traction batteries, batteries for e-bikes, generator starting batteries, solar lantern batteries, emergency lighting batteries and batteries for the telecom sector. Artheon offers SMF batteries from 4.5 Ah to 200 Ah, which are based on AGM technology. These are designed for tough solar applications, are tested at Solar Energy Centre, Ministry of Non Renewable Energy (SEC-MNRE) and are suitable for home lights, streetlights and solar lanterns. Apart from this, Artheon also sells North Star’s thin plate technology batteries for solar and telecom applications. These batteries have very thin plates and get charged very fast; hence, they save about 80 per cent of the cost of running a DG set.
Amptek has introduced SMF batteries for motorcycles, e-bikes and LED lighting. It has seven models of SMF motorcycle batteries—12V 2.5 Ah, 12V 5Ah, 12V 7Ah, 12V 9Ah, 12V 3Ah and 12V 4Ah. Amptek has also introduced various 4V SMF batteries exclusively for LED lighting applications like LED torchlights, LED solar lanterns, LED emergency lights, etc. Amptek batteries also offer deep cycle features, designed to be deeply discharged using most of its capacity.
Deep cycle batteries: Computech Systems is all set to launch deep cycle batteries. “Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged by as much as 80 per cent, time after time, and have much thicker plates. The major difference between a deep cycle battery and others is that the plates are made of a solid grid and lead of the highest purity. Although these can be cycled down to a 20 per cent discharge, the best way to get the optimum lifespan for the cost, is to keep the average cycle at about 50 per cent discharge,” informs Vikas Aggarwal, CEO, Computech Systems. These batteries comply to Japanese quality standards, which is acceptable to the Indian government.
“Nowadays, customers are becoming more aware and don’t mind spending a few hundred rupees more for SMF batteries. They know about the disadvantages and hazards of lead acid batteries,” says Kunwer Sachdev, managing director, Su-Kam Power Systems Ltd.
NEW TYPES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET
SMF VRLA batteries are far superior to conventional batteries. Their plates are made of lead calcium, which offers a longer life and higher efficiency due to low self discharge. SMF batteries are also environment friendly, require less space, and can be used in any position.
If we go by the rated capacity, SMF VRLA batteries broadly fall into three segments—small: 3 to 17 Ah; medium: 26 to 200 Ah; and large single cells: 2V 100 Ah to 2V 3000 Ah. Su-Kam offers SMF batteries from 4.5 Ah to 200 Ah, which are based on absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology. The company claims its batteries offer the best backup and a long life. “Its radial grid design enhances the performance of high rate discharge, while thicker grids and corrosion resistant alloys ensure a longer life,” explains Kunwer Sachdev.
Exide offers Powersafe and Powersafe NXT, which are highly reliable and are known for their quality. The Powersafe range was extended in 2010 by introduction of Powersafe NXT series. The hallmark of NXT is its enhanced deep cycling ability, faster recharge capability and superior life. It carries a warranty of three years.
Powersafe NXT is yet another unique product from Exide, which is developed by its R&D centre, keeping the customers’ technical needs and operational requirements. The wide portfolio of products, alongwith Exide’s sales and service network in the country offers, a unique and customised value proposition to all users in sectors like banks and financial institutions, insurance, IT and ITES, hospitals, education and many others. “Exide Powersafe range of SMF VRLA batteries for UPS application has been a preferred choice of customers and end users for the past decades,” claims the company spokesperson.
AGM and gel batteries: Currently, AGM batteries and gel (or gel cell) batteries are very much in demand across India. These are often colloquially called sealed lead acid batteries, but they always include a safety pressure relief valve. As opposed to vented (also called flooded) batteries, a VRLA battery’s electrolyte does not spill if it is inverted. VRLA batteries also use much less electrolyte (battery acid) than traditional lead acid batteries. High rate discharge batteries are also much in demand.
According to Sunil Bhatnagar, director, sales and marketing, Artheon Electronics Ltd, the fastest moving batteries in the market are SMF batteries with AGM separators, gel batteries, pure lead tin (PLT) batteries, traction batteries, batteries for e-bikes, generator starting batteries, solar lantern batteries, emergency lighting batteries and batteries for the telecom sector. Artheon offers SMF batteries from 4.5 Ah to 200 Ah, which are based on AGM technology. These are designed for tough solar applications, are tested at Solar Energy Centre, Ministry of Non Renewable Energy (SEC-MNRE) and are suitable for home lights, streetlights and solar lanterns. Apart from this, Artheon also sells North Star’s thin plate technology batteries for solar and telecom applications. These batteries have very thin plates and get charged very fast; hence, they save about 80 per cent of the cost of running a DG set.
Amptek has introduced SMF batteries for motorcycles, e-bikes and LED lighting. It has seven models of SMF motorcycle batteries—12V 2.5 Ah, 12V 5Ah, 12V 7Ah, 12V 9Ah, 12V 3Ah and 12V 4Ah. Amptek has also introduced various 4V SMF batteries exclusively for LED lighting applications like LED torchlights, LED solar lanterns, LED emergency lights, etc. Amptek batteries also offer deep cycle features, designed to be deeply discharged using most of its capacity.
Deep cycle batteries: Computech Systems is all set to launch deep cycle batteries. “Deep cycle batteries are designed to be discharged by as much as 80 per cent, time after time, and have much thicker plates. The major difference between a deep cycle battery and others is that the plates are made of a solid grid and lead of the highest purity. Although these can be cycled down to a 20 per cent discharge, the best way to get the optimum lifespan for the cost, is to keep the average cycle at about 50 per cent discharge,” informs Vikas Aggarwal, CEO, Computech Systems. These batteries comply to Japanese quality standards, which is acceptable to the Indian government.
