Batteries for radio systems

6 July 2011 Power Electronics / Power Management

Radio Comms Warehouse (RCW), a Webb Industries company, is promoting its Nova range of batteries. According to RCW’s sales manager Kirk Risch, the batteries boast a number of technical features which have helped the company’s power modules to secure SABS certification.

Most Nova batteries use a flexible PCB. While this is more expensive, it is significantly more reliable than using jump wires, which consistently fail drop testing. The batteries have a polyswitch or thermo-breaker for short circuit or overheating protection. This is a feature lacking in many competitive products, which is risky as accidentally joining the +/- contacts could cause serious injury.

RCW’s batteries have an NTC thermistor that signals the charger when the battery is fully charged, in order to automatically halt charging and prevent damage. Nova also uses a diode for reverse current protection on the charging contact of the battery pack. The batteries use high-quality battery cells from Sanyo, Panasonic Yuasa or GP, which are subjected to life-cycle tests before use.

Nova uses silicon glue to hold the pack between the case and the cells (as opposed to double-sided tape) to ensure mechanical integrity. The pack is then sealed with an ultrasonic machine. Nova battery packs always withstand a 2 metre drop test.

RCW’s range of Nova products includes power modules and battery packs, battery chargers, heavy duty belt clips, earphone sets and more. It was allegedly the first company in South Africa to get NRCS - LOA clearance to the applicable SABS IEC 60950 standard for its power modules in the radio communications industry.

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