What are central battery emergency lights
As the name implies a central battery emergency light is one where it’s power comes from one source somewhere within your building. These emergency lights do not have a battery inside them. They rely on the central battery to supply the whole system in the event of a power cut. Inside the light will be a pcb and a LED light strip, all the control of when to switch on is done by the central system.
The central battery itself will have one or more batteries and supply the lights with either 24V, 50V, 110V or 240V. The system comes in either maintained or non-maintained. It is also the point where you control the testing and monitoring. The central battery emergency lights must be connected to the battery with fire rated cables. Otherwise if a fire burnt through the cables then all the connected emergency lights would go out.
Zones. In larger buildings the system can be split into zones, perhaps floors. The main lighting can be monitored in that zone. When it detects a power cut to that area it will turn the emergency lighting on for that zone.
Why central battery and not self contained emergency lights
Although a central battery emergency lighting system is more expensive to install it still has many benefits over self contained emergency lights.
Because the central battery emergency lights have no batteries in them, they are less susceptible to changes in temperature. For example if you wish to install emergency lights into a cold room you either have to have special batteries, or house them outside where the temperate can be kept within the battery range. With a central battery system you can control and monitor the state of the batteries in one place.
Testing is also simplified. There is only one place that you start the process when doing your monthly and yearly tests. One place to return to, to ensure that your system is back up and running once complete. Central battery systems can also come with sophisticated testing configurations and alarms, should anything go wrong.
Batteries are also designed to last 10 years plus as compared to 4 years for a self contained emergency light. This is a big cost reduction in maintenance over the years.
Voltage
Central battery systems come in various voltage outputs. As a general rule of thumb if you have a large building where the central battery emergency lights are a long way from the battery you would need a bigger voltage. This is to combat the problems associated with voltage drop. The smaller the premises then the smaller the voltage. This also means smaller batteries and less physical space required to put it.
Most lights can be fitted with the correct voltage gear for your central battery system. In the UK they are normally either 24V, 50V, 110V or 240V systems. We have a selection ready to be despatched to you, but if you would like any other housing altering please let us know.
