What is a battery cabinet?

Battery cabinets are a convenient storage solution that encourages staff to maintain the correct handling and storage procedures. By charging and storing batteries in the one location, you are reducing the likelihood of batteries being lost, stolen, damaged or left in unsafe conditions (such as outdoors).

Should UPS batteries be installed on racks or in cabinets?

Early on in a UPS design a decision must be made on whether batteries should be installed on racks or in cabinets. Both have pros and cons. The following are typical design considerations.

Do battery cabinets have top clearance?

Battery cabinets are frequently criticized for their lack of top clearance. For example, in a cabinet containing multiple strings of low ampere-hour batteries, there might be several shelves, each with one string of cells. The cell units on each shelf might be arranged two, three, or more cells deep.

Why do you need a battery cabinet?

Ease of use is one of the principle selling points for battery cabinets. It is convenient to service the equipment when the UPS and the battery (ies) are right next to each other. Conversely, it is inconvenient to have to go to a separate room when open-rack batteries are installed.

How many cells can a battery cabinet hold?

One cabinet should be able to hold at least one complete string of cells. Best practice is that strings should not be split between two cabinets in order to ensure reliability of the entire string. Figure 1 - Battery cabinet with top terminal cells

Do battery cabinets need to be locked?

Battery cabinets must enclose the batteries behind locked doors accessible only to authorized personnel. As long as the cabinets are kept locked, they can be located in a computer room or other rooms accessible by non-battery technicians.