The evaluation program I mentioned was wide ranging, and it is important to appreciate that it was to become critical in how we were to approach VRLA batteries in the future.
The program involved testing and most importantly field trials and experience. To make it clear, the program only considered the batteries available to Telstra that were claimed to be long-life telco product at the time.
Briefly, it was established very early, that 10-year operational life claims were just that. In the 80s, no one could demonstrate unaltered product with a 10-year track record in the field. Indeed, the 80s was all about fixes problems on the run.
So, the technology was maturing. Our expectations should be modified to suit.
This really meant learning to focus on using what was available, on the reasonable assumption that things would get better. We started thinking in terms of “fit-for-purpose” and “service-life”.
