Here’s the big question you hear often in the replacement battery business – what makes a good battery pack? Every merchant can be expected to claim that the battery packs they sell are good, high quality batteries - but as with everything there a few quick things that can help you distinguish a good battery from the rest.

It is important to note that all batteries are not created equal. There are stark differences between high quality, high performance, sorted, graded and tested battery packs and those that don’t utilize some of the components and practices discussed below. It is also a myth that the original manufacturer of the equipment (OEM) offer the best quality battery pack for the device they manufacture. For most OEM’s, batteries are a profit center as that is where they enjoy their greatest margins. History has documented several instances in which OEM’s cut corners to put together relatively poor quality batteries, that under perform high quality aftermarket alternatives.

Before we discuss the elements of a battery pack you can rely on, let’s first take a look at what a battery pack is. A battery pack is an assortment of a pre-defined number of individual cells that are organized in a certain order. These cells could be placed parallel to each other, in a linear series or in a combination of the two. The placement of cells is done keeping in mind the desired voltage or capacity that the battery pack should deliver. Portable battery packs are essential to power up various wireless devices for both consumer and business applications such as bar code scanners, bar code printers and two-way radios or walkie-talkies. In fact a good battery pack can make or break the way a portable device is useful in day to day business.

The hallmark of a good battery pack lies in the quality of cells inside it and in the way they are connected. Individual cell quality determines the life of a battery pack and the way cells are organized determines how it will stand in the face of rough handling. Japanese cell manufacturers such as Sanyo, Panasonic, Toshiba and Sony enjoy the best reputation for manufacturing the highest quality cells in the business. A battery pack is as good as the weakest cell it employs, so it is very important to identify suppliers who manufacture their battery packs with sorted and graded cells. Simply using Japanese cells do not guarantee a high performance, high quality battery pack. As a rule of thumb, battery packs assembled with Grade “A” sorted Japanese cells will outperform the competition. As a result they command a higher price. In recent years, several Chinese cell manufacturers such as high-flier Gold Peak have attracted a lot of interest from cell buyers because of significant improvements in the quality of cells they manufacture. Even so, Japanese cell manufacturers continue to maintain leadership in the quality department.

Another critical component of a good battery pack is the material connecting the individual battery cells together. The best battery packs have cells connected together with nickel plated copper strapping and the interconnections are resistance welded to ensure there is no displacement during rough handling of the pack.

A good battery pack should work for a reasonable time period without needing a recharge. If you end up charging the battery pack more often than you are actually using it, you’ve got a problem.

A high quality battery pack for business portable devices such as two-way radio batteries should also possess quality exterior housing. Look for a pack that uses high impact materials like ABS plastics or Polycarbonate plastics in the construction of the housing. This ensures you are buying a product that is durable and has greater tolerance against accidental abuse.

For Lithium based chemistries, be on the look-out for batteries that come equipped with a non reset-table polyswitch, specified by the cell manufacturer. The polyswitch will ensure that the cell pack is protected against overheating and damage to the device or the user.

Last but not least, it is a good idea to ask your battery supplier about the type of testing and analysis that is performed on the battery prior to its shipment from the factory. It is safe to trust battery manufacturers and suppliers that perform comprehensive testing including high altitude performance, vibration, mechanical shock, thermal cycling, external short circuit and overcharge test simulations on the batteries they produce.

Comparing a battery pack purely on the basis of price or by examining the exterior of the battery is not the smartest way to select a battery for the long haul. If you are in the position of purchasing small or large quantities of battery packs for your organization it is a good idea to compare prices, read reviews and educate yourself on the best battery solution for your specific application. Today, batteries play a vital link in the world we live and work in. A good battery can be the difference between life and death in a critical application such as EMS and public safety sectors. A good battery can help deliver greater productivity and increased profits in other commercial applications.