An Iron Solution

An Iron Solution

Delivering a breakthrough in industry technology

One of the primary criteria for any surveillance, access or security system is the requirement for a consistent and reliable power source, as even the most complex and expensive system solutions will be rendered useless if power is interrupted. Consequently, almost every DC operated power and transmission product deployed today includes some form of battery charging and back-up to help ensure that mission critical systems continue to operate when their primary AC input source is disrupted.

For more than 40 years, Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) battery charging and back-up has been the longstanding go-to solution, but now there’s a new and extremely efficient option available.

Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, also known as LiFePO4 batteries, usher in a new generation of DC power that, for all intents and purposes, will eventually render Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries obsolete. LiFePO4 batteries are being used with great success in a myriad electronic devices ranging from drones and smoke detectors to recreational vehicles and solar energy systems.

LiFePO4 are quickly becoming the batteries of choice given their superior longevity, high level of efficiency, and improved safety compared to SLA batteries. Lithium Iron Phosphate battery technology is now becoming a cornerstone of power and transmission devices, first introduced by Altronix, which provides security professionals with a unique value proposition to ensure continuous operation of critical systems and at lower overall cost.

LiFePO4 batteries offer a tremendous improvement over legacy SLA batteries and back-up solutions. Although the initial purchase price of a LiFePO4 battery is more than a conventional SLA battery, it offers a significantly lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with a cost per cycle of approximately $0.31 versus $0.92 for SLA batteries. Factors impacting these calculations include the fact that LiFePO4 batteries can cycle up to 5,000 times over their life span versus only up to 500 cycles for SLA batteries.

Additionally, LiFePO4 batteries have a 10 year shelf life which allows resellers the ability to leverage their buying power as SLA batteries require charging every six months while not in use.

Also, because LiFePO4 batteries allow for rapid charging and discharging, they deliver more uptime, keeping systems running longer. Another key feature of Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries is that they operate more efficiently in high-stress environments where temperature fluctuations can adversely affect SLA battery life. It’s easy to see that LiFePO4 batteries provide increased operational efficacy for critical systems.

'LiFePO4 batteries are made from light metals, which results in a weight reduction of 33 to 50 percent versus conventional SLA batteries. This reduces shipping costs and provides an environmental benefit since they do not contain toxic chemicals that cause decay in SLA batteries. This makes recycling and redistribution both easier and more cost-effective by reducing the added cost and time associated with disposing SLA batteries.

'The first power and data transmission security products featuring LiFePO4 battery backup technology is Altronix’s new series of Net- Way Spectrum Hardened PoE+ Switches. The products in this new series are optimized to leverage the numerous benefits of LiFePO4 battery charging and back-up with unique features to eliminate the necessity and weight of four SLA batteries by allowing for a single 12VDC LiFePO4 battery to provide 48VDC backup.

'The introduction of LiFePO4 battery charging from Altronix, for demanding power and transmission solutions, represent a significant breakthrough for the professional security industry. It’s an innovation impacting virtually all surveillance, access, security and fire systems by greatly improving the reliability, uptime and TCO of new and existing systems.

This article originally appeared in the April 2019 issue of Security Today.

About the Author

JR Andrews is the national sales executive at Altronix.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities