New Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries are ushering in a new generation of DC power that will eventually render Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) batteries obsolete. And for good reasons, as they deliver significant performance and long-term cost-saving benefits for both end-users and installing dealers.
Myriad electronic devices, from smoke detectors and cell phones to laptop computers and electric cars, are already leveraging the superior longevity, efficiencies and improved safety advantages that LiFePO4 batteries deliver compared to SLA batteries.
This same technology is now becoming a cornerstone of power and transmission devices, providing security professionals with a unique value proposition to ensure continuous operation of critical systems and at a lower overall cost.
Although the initial purchase price of a LiFePO4 battery is more than a conventional SLA battery, it offers a significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with a cost per cycle of approximately $0.31 versus $0.92 for SLA batteries. Factors impacting these calculations include the fact that LiFePO4 batteries can cycle up to 5,000 times over their life span versus only up to 500 cycles for SLA batteries. Additionally, LiFePO4 batteries have a 10-year shelf life which allows resellers the ability to leverage their buying power as SLA batteries require charging every 6 months while not in use.
LiFePO4 batteries also allow for rapid charging and discharging, delivering more uptime to keep systems running longer. Another key feature of LiFePO4 batteries is that they operate more efficiently in high-stress environments where temperature fluctuations can adversely affect SLA battery life.
Additionally, LiFePO4 batteries are 33-50% lighter in weight than conventional SLA batteries. This reduces shipping costs and provides a significant environmental benefit since they do not contain toxic chemicals that cause decay in SLA batteries. As a result, recycling and redistribution are both easier and more cost-effective by decreasing the cost and time associated with disposing SLA batteries.
These attributes alone make it easy to see how LiFePO4 batteries provide increased operational efficacy for critical systems.
Altronix’s new series of NetWay™ Spectrum Hardened PoE+ Switches with LiFePO4 battery charging and back-up deliver a host of unique features, while replacing the necessity and weight of four SLA batteries with a single 12VDC LiFePO4 battery for 48VDC backup.
The introduction of LiFePO4 battery charging from Altronix for demanding power and transmission solutions is a game changer for the professional security industry. It’s an innovation impacting virtually all surveillance, access control, security alarms and fire systems by greatly improving the reliability, uptime and TCO of new and existing systems.
