Saft Launches Uptimax Nickel Battery as Replacement for Lead-Acid in Industrial Standby Applications


May 3, 2018 | Product Brief | Saft’s Uptimax nickel-technology battery provides operators with a direct replacement for lead-acid batteries in industrial standby installations. It is suited for mission critical applications where reliable backup power is essential, such as oil and gas exploration and production, as well as for utilities and manufacturing plants. With the New Uptimax, Saft is targeting the industrial standby battery market.

Nickel-technology batteries have significant advantages over lead-acid technology in terms of reliability, calendar life, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and predictable performance with no risk of ‘sudden death’.

The Uptimax battery is a direct replacement for lead-acid batteries because it is compatible with all commonly used DC (direct current) charging systems and operates in a narrow voltage window, with no need for a boost charge. This reduces the cost of charging systems as there is less need for components such as dropping diodes or DC/DC converters. It also has a fast charging capability that can achieve 95 percent State of Charge in eight hours for a fast return to service after a power failure.

Further benefits of the Uptimax battery include maintenance-free operation with no need for topping up with water throughout the entire service life and compliance with all relevant safety standards. It is also suited for applications in the Middle East as it offers a long operational life of more than 20 years at 25°C and can tolerate extreme temperatures (-40°C to 70°C) for short periods.

The Uptimax battery is designed to form the heart of Uninterruptible Power Supply and backup power systems that operate in the event of a loss of the main power supply to facilitate the safe shutdown of processes, safeguard computer data and provide a bridge to standby power. Typical applications will include substation switchgear, process control systems, emergency lighting, fire alarms, and security systems.