As battery technology improves, exit signs that use battery backup systems have become smaller, more energy-efficient and can fit almost anywhere. Emergency LED signs utilizing maintenance-free Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) battery packs keep lights lit during power failures for at least 90 minutes – keeping businesses open to keep operations going smoothly during outages.
Selecting an SLA battery suitable for use with your CSA certified steel running man exit sign involves reviewing its voltage, dimensions and terminal type – something which should prove far less complex than expected!
Choosing the Right SLA Battery for Your Exit Signs
Most exit signs use a dual-power system that draws electricity from both sources: main power and battery back-up – keeping the fixture lit during power outages or during fire or other hazardous conditions in a facility. This emergency lighting meets UL 294 regulations to help safeguard people against harm during an incident or emergency situation.
Emergency exit lights use batteries of various kinds; depending on their model and design they could use either sealed lead acid (SLA) or Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries – with SLA cells often taking the shape of baby car batteries while NiCd cells look more like standard household AAA cells.
Rechargeable lithium iron phosphate batteries have become increasingly popular for LED exit signs in recent models, offering longer operational lives than NiCad or NiMH types and holding more energy for emergency exit signs with higher power requirements than their predecessors. They make ideal candidates for emergency exit signs with higher load requirements than their predecessors.
Volts
Most exit signs utilize SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries for charging, with most using built-in chargers to maintain a constant float charge state – these standby or back-up batteries may also be known by other names.
SLA batteries can be easily tested using a basic voltmeter. When fully charged, SLA batteries should read at 12.6 volts or higher; otherwise they require replacing immediately. A commercial battery shop or you yourself can check this for you using sealed gas (SG) readings; though note that even new SG readings will read about half to one volt higher than actual voltage readings.
ZEUS Battery Products provides an assortment of emergency light batteries, from SLA battery sizes to self testing diagnostic (SDT) technology that simulates discharge and recharge cycles to extend battery life while decreasing man hours required to perform OSHA tests. These batteries are also compatible with many exit signs, including their CSA certified running man exit signs.
Dimensions
Your emergency light manufacturer likely uses one or more of three main battery cell types: nickel cadmium (NiCad), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), or sealed lead-acid. Each type has various sizes and capacities available; when replacing an existing cell it’s important that both terminal placement and overall dimensions align for an ideal fit.
NiCad batteries resemble small black bricks with contact points on either end of each cell. With up to 10 years of lifespan and various capacities available to suit different needs, these NiCad batteries make for reliable power supplies.
This CSA certified steel running man exit sign is constructed from commercial 20-gauge steel with a standard white finish and designed for heavy usage areas, accepting both USA and Canadian 120 or 347-volt circuits. Additionally, this versatile egress marker comes equipped with single or double face configurations featuring or without chevron directional strips and can be mounted either ceiling-side (wall)- or flag mount for optimal installation.
Terminals
Although many exit signs require electrical power, others don’t. Non-electric units include photoluminescent and self-luminous exit signs illuminated with tritium gas which produces a red or green glow in sealed tubes containing it. Although these signs don’t need electrical wiring for operation, they should still be manually tested and recharged periodically to stay reliable.
All emergency exit signs, whether electric or not, must include a battery backup that keeps their light illuminated during an electrical power failure for at least 90 minutes. While older systems were cumbersome and costly, modern backup batteries can easily be integrated into fixtures.
Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) or Nickel Metal Hydride cells are among the most frequently used batteries, and both look similar to AAA batteries in terms of shape and functionality. High Temperature NiCds should be selected if your sign will be installed in an environment with extreme temperatures.
