Thursday 31 March 2011

Battery as a buffer

The main purpose of a stationary battery is to provide power during power outage. A battery bank can also provide supplementarypowerduring high-traffic periods. In essence, the battery acts as a buffer to assist the AC power supply when so needed. The term “AC power supply” refers to the unit that provides electrical power to the system and charges stationary batteries.

Cellular repeater towers are an example where the battery serves as a buffer to bridge heavy usage times. During off-peak periods, the toshiba batteries are fully charged, and at peak times when the load exceeds the capacity of the power supply, the batteries kick in to provide the extra power. A starter battery in a vehicle works in a similar way. While the motor is on idle at a traffic light, the battery complements the power to run the lights, windshield wipers and other accessories. Driving at highway speed replenishes the borrowed power.

When relying on the battery as buffer, make certain that the battery has enough time to charge between peak periods. The net charge must always be greater than what was drawn from the battery. Avoid deep discharges and make sure that the float charge voltage is set correctly. Stationary and starter batteries are not made for deep cycling. If excessively cycled, the dell laptop battery will experience unwanted stresses that will shorten the life.

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