Marketing

Somebody has to lay the track. Before real change can happen, someone, or many people, must do the dirty work. Take the side by side image of the British Underground as exhibit A.  I wonder what the word on the street was regarding that original project?

Expensive proposition to build put a train underground, in major cities, I’m sure.  A railroad across the country? That will be expensive!  Solar panels? Expensive.  Wind turbines?  Expensive.  Electric cars? Expensive.  Battery backup for residential and commercial properties?  Expensive.

Continuous battery monitoring? Exp…now wait just a minute!  Not anymore!  If you haven’t priced out BatteryDAQ monitoring systems, you should.  And, when you do, get ready to smile.

April 14, 1912 – The best ship, the best captain, the best crew, indulgent passengers, calm seas, no moon, full speed, discounted warnings of ice, and a false sense of security.

“Iceberg, right ahead!”

Too late.  Titanic sank, on its maiden voyage, 103 years ago this month.  The lessons from that fateful night were immediately carved into history, never to be dimmed by time.  Yet, those same lessons are repeatedly unheeded, even today.

Technology keeps improving and allows data and consumables to be delivered, stored, accessed, and analyzed with seeming ease.  At least, that is what the average consumer believes.  From appliances to smart phones, our lives are becoming more dependent on energy and data.

In 2015, we have the best devices, the best minds, the best inventions, indulgent consumers, unlimited plans, increased speed, discounted warnings of infrastructure concerns, and a false sense of security.

See what I did there?

Thermal runaway is the disaster no one saw coming until it is too late.  It sounds like a horror movie, and it could well be, if batteries are not properly maintained.

Every article on the subject will point out something like “If the design of the battery, coupled with the installation location, allows for proper dissipation of increased battery temperatures, thermal runaway is unlikely”.

If, just isn’t a strong enough word, is it?  There are plenty of corny sayings that grandparents used to proclaim about “ifs and buts”, to make anyone realize things like possible battery explosions shouldn’t be left to chance.

So, what is “Thermal Runaway” besides a cool name for trouble with a capital “T”?  Well, thermal runaway is a failure mode of a battery when it is on a constant voltage charge at an elevated temperature, which leads to its destruction through internal heat generation, due to high charging current.

The result?  Here is a picture.

Allow me to boast.  As I write this blog, on a plane heading to Florida, a BatteryDAQ Sentry 0212S15 continuous battery monitoring system is in the overhead compartment above me…in my carry-on bag…business clothes included.  The complete battery monitoring system for 30x12V batteries, wiring and all, weighs in at an impressive 8.5 pounds and fits into an 18” x 24” box.

Tomorrow, I am meeting with a decision maker, and I will hand her the package that contains everything needed for installation.  No other comprehensive battery monitoring system manufacturer could even contemplate such a show and tell.

In this case, size matters. As the need for battery backup continues to explode, space is at a premium, whether it be on a rack, or inside a cabinet.

The continuous battery monitoring revolution has arrived, and BatteryDAQ is leading the charge.

But wait, I’m not done boasting yet.

It is an established practice for design engineers to follow a process for selecting the best battery for a project or application, by submitting the choices through a balanced approach that compared technical requirements and goals, to cost and ongoing maintenance requirements.

The established process includes several factors:
•    Application and duty cycle outlooks
•    System interface and communication issues
•    Geographic location and ease of visitation
•    Environmental conditions
•    Initial price
•    Installation cost
•    Ongoing maintenance cost
•    Replacement schedule and cost