What Is Philadelphia Scientific?
Philadelphia Scientific is a global leader in industrial battery maintenance technology, specializing in solutions like intelligent watering systems, voltage monitoring tools, and corrosion inhibitors. Their products optimize lead-acid battery performance in forklifts, telecom backup systems, and renewable energy storage. Key innovations include the patented Single Point Watering System (SPWS), which automates electrolyte management, reducing maintenance labor by 90% while preventing sulfation and premature failure.
What products does Philadelphia Scientific offer?
Philadelphia Scientific provides battery watering systems, cell voltage monitors, and anti-corrosion sprays. The SPWS series dominates their lineup, using gravity-fed valves to maintain electrolyte levels within ±3% accuracy. For testing, the Battery Data Manager (BDM) tracks voltage, temperature, and resistance trends.
Deep Dive: The SPWS-XL model supports 2V–48V battery banks, with polypropylene components rated for 500+ refill cycles. Pro Tip: Pair SPWS with their OptiMizer SC-1200 spray to neutralize terminal corrosion, which can increase resistance by 40% if untreated. For example, a warehouse using SPWS on 50 forklift batteries reduced monthly watering time from 20 hours to 2.
| Product | SPWS | Competitor A |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | ±3% | ±8% |
| Cycle Life | 500+ | 300 |
Beyond product offerings, their Battery University training program educates technicians on IEEE 1188 standards. But what if a battery bank has mixed ages? The BDM flags outliers via dynamic impedance thresholds, alerting users to weak cells before cascading failures occur.
How do Philadelphia Scientific’s innovations extend battery life?
Their technologies tackle sulfation, corrosion, and thermal runaway through precision engineering. The SPWS prevents electrolyte stratification, a major cause of sulfation, by maintaining optimal fluid levels.
Deep Dive: Stratification occurs when acid concentration varies between cell layers, reducing capacity by 15–20% annually. SPWS’s closed-loop refilling ensures uniform electrolyte density. Pro Tip: Combine SPWS with monthly equalization charges to dissolve sulfate crystals. For instance, a data center using SPWS and BDM increased VRLA battery lifespan from 3 to 5 years.
| Method | SPWS | Manual Watering |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Cost/Year | $200 | $2,500 |
| Failure Rate | 3% | 12% |
In practical terms, their Microcat Hydrocaps recycle evaporated water, cutting top-up frequency by 70%. Why does this matter? Unattended batteries lose 30% capacity after just 5mm of plate exposure. Transitional systems like the HydroLink adapter allow retrofitting SPWS to older batteries, slashing upgrade costs.
Battery Expert Insight
FAQs
Yes, SPWS works with flooded, AGM, and gel types. However, valve-regulated batteries (VRLA) require Hydrocaps to manage recombination gases safely.
How often should I use their testing tools?
Run BDM scans monthly—impedance shifts ≥15% from baseline indicate impending failure. For high-cycling apps like forklifts, test weekly.
Can SPWS prevent thermal runaway?
Indirectly. By maintaining electrolyte levels, it reduces heat buildup from high internal resistance. Pair with temperature sensors for full protection.