Emergency Lights: Should I Change the Battery or Entire ...

02 Jul.,2024

 

Emergency Lights: Should I Change the Battery or Entire ...

Emergency lights typically have a battery back-up that will operate the light in the event the power goes out, regardless of if there&#;s a generator for back-up power. Exit signs can and should also have a battery, especially if the building doesn&#;t have generator.

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Often during fire department inspections, they check that your emergency lights are operational, both with and without power. Emergency lights must be kept properly maintained to meet all federal and state requirements, so when installing new ones or updating old ones, should you just change the battery or replace the entire fixture?

Requirements For Emergency Lights

Emergency lights are required to illuminate areas when something goes wrong, such as a fire. Commercial buildings must have emergency and exit-path lighting to illuminate and identify hallways, stairwells, and exits. Lighting must emit at least 1.07 lux of light along the emergency exit path at floor level and must remain illuminated for at least 90 minutes.

Even if a building does not have a centralized inverter or backup generator, emergency lighting must still be distributed. This requires dedicated emergency lights or battery backup LED drivers in certain fixtures. In many cases, lights that are required to be battery powered will use different circuitry in the event of a power outage.

When To Replace Batteries In Emergency Lights

There are two main types of batteries used to power exit signs and emergency lights:

  • Nickel-cadmium batteries
    • Smaller in size.
    • Turn in any direction.
    • Lighter weight, requiring less installation support.
    • Can cost more.
    • Are affected by extreme temperatures.
    • If battery is not fully charged in beginning, it will never be fully charged.
  • Lead-acid batteries
    • Most affordable.
    • Less affected by extreme temperatures.
    • Heavier, requiring additional support when installing.
    • Must be upright.
    • Larger in size.
    • Cannot be deep cycled.

Battery life typically ranges between 2-4 years, they are available in different voltages and amperages, and maintenance is relatively quick and simple. Batteries for emergency lighting must be regularly cleaned and tested to ensure they are still operational and the lighting is not dimmed. A fully charged battery in good condition should power an emergency light for at least 90 minutes. You must replace the battery if the 90-second or 90-minute emergency readiness tests prove unsatisfactory (meaning the lights fail to illuminate or are not bright enough).

Note that each battery must be tested separately on a regular basis and replaced as soon as possible if necessary.

Even if a battery is still functional after the maximum operational lifespan (typically four years), it&#;s a good idea to replace it. For organization purposes, it&#;s much easier to replace all batteries at once rather than one here, one there. If the building is very large, perhaps your system might call for replacing batteries by floor, as an example. Also replace if they are showing any wear and tear, though some battery damage can damage the entire fixture and require a full replacement.

When To Replace Emergency Light Fixture

There are a number of reasons you may want or need to replace your emergency light fixture.

Illumination technology has changed drastically over the last decade, including wide-spread adoption of LED lighting technology that:

  • Uses less energy.
  • Is more efficient.
  • Allows for smaller, safer lighting products.
  • Can maintain minimum 90-minute illumination period regulated for all emergency lights without using an additional battery pack.

Lights themselves are also smaller now in comparison to traditional incandescent and halogen bulbs, producing less heat. There are new, sleeker designs to choose from, which may be an attractive option for commercial or apartment buildings.

If an emergency light contains traditional halogen or incandescent lightbulbs, it&#;s much larger than others on the market and it&#;s likely at least 10 years old, so consider replacing it with an LED light.

Obvious signs of wear and tear (dirty, discolored, hazy lamp heads, film) can all impact light performance. If the fixture shows these signs, consider replacing it. Additionally, if a fixture&#;s battery is showing signs of corrosion, is leaking, is foamy, or is crusty, this is a clear sign of age and it should be replaced.

 

Why Would I Just Change the Battery?

One might ask, why would anyone change the battery and not just get a new fixture? With LED lighting technology improving, prices aren&#;t what they used to be, so why not spend a little bit more and get a new fixture versus putting in a new battery?

  • Changing a battery is often much easier than changing a fixture. Your property might have several employees that are skilled enough to replace hundreds of batteries, but you might not have someone on staff that is able to replace an entire light fixture where wiring is involved. Typically, a licensed electrician is best suited for this task, which can be more costly and take more time.
  • When changing an entire fixture, an electrician will most likely want to turn off the power in the area where they are working. Turning off the power when people are in the building and working takes a lot of coordination, and you will likely have a few tenants that aren&#;t happy. Typically, changing batteries does not require the power to be shut off.
  • As mentioned, batteries don&#;t always function properly in cold weather or if they get wet. In this instance, an electrician might choose to have an inside fixture&#;s battery, power and remote head outside, for example. While it&#;s not an issue, this is something that needs to be taken into consideration so nothing gets missed.

Ready To Upgrade Your Emergency Lighting?

Bay Lighting has more than 70 years of combined lighting and electrical experience. Our experienced technicians can help you install new emergency lights at your commercial building or residential property. Contact Bay Lighting today to schedule a free estimate and learn more about upgrading your facility&#;s emergency lighting systems.

Emergency Light Battery: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Emergency Light Battery: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

Different Types Of Emergency Light Battery.

Lead Acid Batteries

Lead-acid batteries have gone through decades of market research. Sealed lead-acid emergency light battery are available in lead, lead dioxide, sulfuric acid, lead sulfate and aqueous solutions. These deep cycle batteries are standard on most emergency lights. They have a lower upfront cost, but don&#;t last as long as other battery options (3-5 years with little maintenance).

Sealed lead-acid batteries are heavy, can only be discharged to 50% without damaging the battery. And last only about a 10th as long as their lithium counterparts.

Nickel Cadmium Batteries

Nickel cadmium (NiCd). Cadmium is highly toxic and is one of only 6 substances banned by the EU&#;s RoHS Directive. However, an exemption is in place for batteries in emergency lighting because till recently there have been few suitable alternatives. NiCd batteries are widely used in stand-alone emergency lighting fixtures and in emergency conversion kits.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

A lithium-ion battery is the most famous invention in recent years, which is not limited to emergency light and covers many other portable devices. These batteries use lithium ions between two electrodes while charging and discharging.

Although lithium ion emergency light batteries are more expensive because of their Lead-acid versatile features, you can&#;t find their match in power and efficiency. The charge cycles confirm the long-life span and reliability of these batteries. Unlike other batteries, lithium ion emergency light batteries have a shallow self-discharge rate and can be used after a long time. In addition, they don&#;t require regular maintenance as compared to lead-acid.

Why Are Lithium Batteries The Best Choice For Emergency Light Battery?

Light Weight

Lithium ion emergency light batteries are equipped with the latest technology, and emergency light battery manufacturers especially put effort into reducing their weight. Lightweight is the reason you will not face any problem while replacing them, maintaining your cart, or even cleaning it after use. That&#;s why they allow a smooth run of your emergency light and enhance your experience in the ground. In contrast, lead-acid batteries are heavier and cause issues while replacing your emergency light battery. This heaviness of lead-acid batteries will not only make your experience

Longer Life

Lead-acid batteries are notorious for their short lives, especially when used in emergency light. It&#;s common to see users replacing their battery pack after every 3-5 years only, whereas the lithium ion emergency light batteries can easily last for 6-10 years.

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No Memory Effect

One of the biggest problems with lead-acid batteries is that they suffer from a so-called &#;memory effect.&#; This means that if you don&#;t fully discharge them before recharging, they will gradually lose capacity. Lithium-ion batteries don&#;t have this problem, and you can top them up at any time without affecting their performance.

Better Performance

Lead-acid batteries reduce their performance with time due to sulfation caused by repeated charge and discharge cycles. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries provide high power and deliver excellent performance at any time. Moreover, lithium ion emergency light batteries have a longer battery life as compared to lead-acid emergency light batteries.

Higher Energy efficiency.

LFP is more efficient than NiCd in two ways.

Self Discharge.

All rechargeable batteries lose charge over time, but with LFP the rate is only 3-5% per month. NiCd can lose 15% in the first 24 hours, falling to 10-20% per month (depending on temperature) after that. The result of this is that the charger in an emergency fitting with NiCd or NiMH batteries is working almost continually, whereas the charger in an LFP circuit is working at low current in short and infrequent bursts.

Charge Efficiency.

Energy is lost in the form of heat during the charging process of any battery. With LFP the charge efficiency is very high, about 95%. With NiCd the charge efficiency is also very high, but only in the earlier stages of charging. Once the battery reaches 70% capacity heat starts to be generated and the charging efficiency falls to c 85%. This is significant because in normal use a NiCd battery in an emergency light fitting is being continually trickle-charged to keep it at near 100% capacity.

High Depth of Discharge

The term &#;Depth of Discharge&#; refers to the available capacity used in a single charge. For instance, the depth of discharge will be 50% if you consume half of your battery capacity. Using batteries beyond that point without recharging affects the performance and shortens the lifespan.

High Number of Cycles

Generally, the lifetime of emergency light batteries is not measured in years but in cycles. A charge cycle is equal to a one-time complete charge and discharge, and every battery has a specific number of cycles before dying.

Lead-acid batteries for emergency light are not so convenient because of a smaller number of cycles between 500 to . After that, the battery would start creating problems, and you have to replace it. On the contrary, lithium ion emergency light batteries operate between - cycles which is way more than the other batteries. As compared to lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries provide higher power output, which is advantageous in the long run.

Maintenance Free

The best thing about lithium ion emergency light batteries is their maintenance-free manufacturing. Since they are completely sealed compared to lead-acid, you don&#;t need to worry about regular maintenance. All you need to do is keep them clean and dry and make sure that the terminals are free of corrosion. This can be tiresome for users who are constantly busy with work.

Eevironmentally Friendly

Lithium battery

Lithium-ion batteries do not contain any heavy metals and rare metals (nickel-metal hydride batteries require rare metals), non-toxic (SGS certified), non-polluting, comply with European RoHS regulations, and are green batteries.

However, Cadmium is highly toxic. Cadmium is highly toxic to almost all animals and many plants. It is also very persistent in the environment, being not easily combined with other elements that would render it harmless. NiCd batteries therefore have to be recycled with great care. LFP batteries must also be recycled, but the materials used are inherently less harmful than those used in NiCd and NiMH batteries.

Cadmium has a limited future use. Now that superior alternatives to cadmium are available for use in batteries it is to be expected that the RoHS directive will be amended to eliminate the exemption that has been allowed till now ().

How Long Do Emergency Light Battery Last?

If you use a lead-acid battery in your emergency light, you can expect to replace the battery within one to five years, depending on use.

Lead-acid batteries typically last between 500 to 1,200 charge/discharge cycles. The lifespan of these batteries will decrease if you discharge them to more than 50% of the battery capacity or expose them to extreme temperatures.

However, as mentioned earlier, lithium-ion batteries can last 10 times that of a lead-acid battery. They can go for between 3,000 to 5,000 charge/discharge cycles. Plus, lithium batteries are less susceptible to damage that can shorten their lifespan when compared to lead-acid batteries. For example, you don&#;t have to worry about over-discharging your lithium battery.

Where To Get The Emergency Light Battery?

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