Powering homes efficiently
Summary
During that time, many new electronic devices have become commonplace in our homes, from smart meters to improved smoke alarms; a boom that has been driven by next-gen industrial-use and consumer-replaceable non-rechargeable batteries. Smart meters continually record energy usage, so their power consumption is characterised by very low background activity but with periodic high current pulses while measurements are being taken or during data transmission. As meters must operate without maintenance for up to ten years, the only battery chemistry that can meet the requirements is Lithium Thionyl Chloride (LiSOCl2) due to its high energy density and low self-discharge rate. The batteries required for these devices need to be able to operate continuously, with long idle times whilst no smoke is detected and periodic, short bursts of high current demand during testing or in the event of a fire. However, technological improvements are never-ending and Accutronics will be at the forefront of developing batteries and cells that utilise the latest chemistry, so that manufacturers can create the next-generation of devices for our homes.