Now that I said some good things about VRLA batteries in a telco. Now that I have given concession and said it’s OK that these batteries don’t last for a trillion years, I do have to table some things that aren’t OK.
Leaks. It is beyond my belief that leaks can still occur. The industry has had heaps of time to get it right and there should be now no excuses. Too many manufacturers can get it right to allow the claim that it’s too hard. For Telstra, it is now policy that if your product leaks, you’re out (probably for ever).
The non-battery on-costs associated with staff issues and duty of care over acid greatly exceed the costs of any battery.
Remedial actions such as just add water. It’s not on! If your product needs water, it’s not performing as represented at sale, so go away, and take you battery with you, and I’ll have my money back. The same principle applies to fancy recovery schemes and/or equalisation regimes.
I want to get out of commissioning to prove your product. I want to stop using my resources to get the capacity that I paid for. Telstra now uses 100% formation & 100% capacity rating at delivery as grounds for accept or reject.
Customer relationships should be sound by now to get over this one. On this matter of warranty….