On 22/04/17 01:12, Mick Duncankitbuny@... [TramsDownUnder]
wrote:
>

>> (Yes, I do realise that battery technology has come a long way from

>> the days of lead-acid cells.)

>>

>> https://youtu.be/vty24w5R37U

>>


You will probably then surprised at how many applications still use
them. My 'state of the art' uninterruptable power supply for the
computers at work has something like 96 little 'SLA' batteries in it.
You can get these devices with more exotic chemistry batteries, but most
installations stick with the lead-acid. It's tried and true and doesn't
do things like burst into flames when abused.
(I've had a UPS develop a DC side fault and vaporise a thick copper bus
bar - the entire inside of the 'power module' had a nice copper plating!
- but the batteries were OK)

Where weight (and size) isn't an issue, it's still hard to beat
lead-acid chemistry for reliable simplicity and the 'AGM' and 'SLA'
variants did away with most of the issues of having liquid electrolyte
sloshing about. But they are the same chemistry.

Also rather amusingly most electric cars have 12v lead acid batteries in
them and if the 12v battery goes flat, you can't 'start' your high tech
electric car!
(With out the on board electronics, you can't get the main isolation
contactor to pull in and bring the high voltage traction batteries on line.)