Wednesday, April 7, 2010

New Energizer inverters and backup power units available

The Power Source is now carrying the Energizer All in one units plus many others check out our supplier
Universal Power for specs. http://upgi.com/Products/energizer.aspx

Energizer®

* All-In-One
* Jumpstart 200
* Jumpstart 400
* Inverter 200
* Inverter 400
* Inverter 1000
* Maintainer 1000
* Maintainer 2000
* Maintainer 4000

In today's electronic world we often want portable power on the go these battery accessories are really beautiful and well designed and the price is right too. Call us for pricing many are in stock and can be shipped today!

When is comes to custom battery assemblies, sealed lead acid batteries, Nicads or Nickle metal Hydride nobody has done it longer since 1976 or with more personal service than The Power Souce.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Shipping Lithium Batteries

There has been a lot of controversy on shipping lithium batteries. Some companies ship just about anything over .5 grams as hazmat.  But some use the following and ship ground commercial.

From DOT CRF49

"...Effective October 1, 2008, when transported
by motor vehicle or rail car, lithium cells or
batteries, including cells or batteries packed
with or contained in equipment, are not
subject to any other requirements of this
subchapter if they meet all of the following:
a. The lithium content anode of each cell,
when fully charged, is not more than 5
grams.
b. The aggregate lithium content of the
anode of each battery, when fully charged, is
not more than 25 grams.
c. The cells or batteries are of a type proven
to meet the requirements of each test in the
UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (IBR; see
§ 171.7 of this subchapter). A cell or battery
and equipment containing a cell or battery
that was first transported prior to January 1,
2006 and is of a type proven to meet the
criteria of Class 9 by testing in accordance
with the tests in the UN Manual of Tests and
Criteria, Third Revised Edition, 1999, need
not be retested.
d. Cells or batteries are separated so as to
prevent short circuits and are packed in a
strong outer packaging or are contained in
equipment.
e. The outside of each package must be
marked ‘‘LITHIUM BATTERIES—
FORBIDDEN FOR TRANSPORT ABOARD
AIRCRAFT AND VESSEL’’ on a background
of contrasting color, in letters:
(1) At least 12 mm (0.5 inch) in height on
packages having a gross weight of more than
30 kg (66 pounds); or
(2) At least 6 mm (0.25 inch) on packages
having a gross weight of 30 kg (66 pounds)
or less, except that smaller font may be used
as necessary to fit package dimensions.
f. Except when contained in equipment,
each package containing more than 24
lithium cells or 12 lithium batteries must be:
(1) Marked to indicate that it contains
lithium batteries, and that special procedures
should be followed in the event that the
package is damaged;
(2) Accompanied by a document indicating
that the package contains lithium batteries
and that special procedures should be
followed in the event that the package is
damaged;
(3) Capable of withstanding a 1.2 meter
drop test in any orientation without damage RULES
to cells or batteries contained in the package,
without shifting of the contents that would
allow short circuiting and without release of
package contents; and
(4) Gross weight of the package may not
exceed 30 kg (66 pounds). This requirement
does not apply to lithium cells or batteries
packed with equipment...."

If you want the full article give me a call.

Monday, October 12, 2009

It all started in 1976

The Power Source was started by my Dad and Walt Cherry in 1976, to be a distributor for Eagle-Picher and stock their sealed lead acid batteries.  Abbott Engineering at the time was a manufacture's Rep that my Dad started in the 1960's which represented Eagle-Picher among other companies like Cherry Electric. Eagle-Picher believed that they needed a stocking distributor and Abbott Engineering was not able to find a suitable partner so a company was born.  I was still in high school then and thought nothing of The Power Source, except I remember them naming the company one Saturday morning in my parents kitchen and the name was sure to be a winner.   As the years went by other lines were added, Power Sonic and Basler were early on.  Later we added, Sanyo Batteries, Panasonic Batteries, Ultralife Batteries, Evergreen, Universal Power Renata Batteries. Then when Basler went out of the Class two plugin business we added Potter Signal, (Amseco) and Honeywell. 
Much of the business had been customer driven, a customer has a project and we are asked to help with prototypes or samples and then pricing and delivery.  By keeping inventory for a particular customer we are able to support the fast pace that Silicon Valley has come to be know for.  Batteries are like vegetables they got to be fresh, so you have to watch your inventory and know what lead times are running.  We also try and direct customers to the most cost effective solutions so we will often suggest something that we know is a high runner, that way the customer will be able to take advantage of efficiencies in the market place.  It takes experts who deal with particulars parts to guide engineering into the most cost effective battery solution. We we are selling Sealed Lead Acid batteries or a custom battery assembly the customer always comes first.  Without the customer where would we be?