The effects of intermittent charging on VRLA battery life expectancy in telecom applications

A survey of a 2.5-year testing of VRLA batteries at elevated ambient temperature of 43/spl deg/C is reported. The batteries were charged using float charging and standby charging or intermittent charging principles. The goal of the research was to verify the assumed adverse effects of continuous float charging in respect to intermittent charging. No clear correlation with the charging modes was noticed. The shorter than expected life of VRLA batteries may be addressed to the shortages in charging procedures rather than to continuous float charging. It was also noticed that the ineffective charging might be more harmful when using intermittent charging than when using continuous float charging.