The EnerSys PowerSafe SBS-100F is a 12V, 100Ah front terminal VRLA battery built on EnerSys Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL) technology for telecom cell sites, CATV power supplies, and critical DC standby systems that run hot, cycle often, and can't afford a failed string. Front terminals mean you install and maintain it from the aisle side of the cabinet without pulling the bloc. Rated for over 10 years in float service at 77°F, with a 2-year shelf life and a -40°F to 122°F operating window.
SBS-100F Specifications
| Nominal voltage | 12V (6 cells) |
| Nominal capacity | 100Ah at 8 hr rate to 1.75 Vpc at 77°F (25°C) 100Ah at 10 hr rate to 1.80 Vpc at 68°F (20°C) |
| Technology | Thin Plate Pure Lead (TPPL), AGM separator, valve regulated (VRLA) |
| Terminals | Front terminal, M6 male, tin-plated copper |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 15.6 x 4.3 x 11.3 in (395 x 108 x 287 mm) |
| Weight | 71.9 lb (32.6 kg) |
| Internal resistance | 5.6 mΩ (reference only) |
| Short circuit current | 2,210 A |
| Float charge voltage | 2.27 Vpc at 77°F (13.62V per bloc); 2.29 Vpc at 68°F (13.74V per bloc) |
| Design life | Greater than 10 years float service at 77°F (25°C) |
| Shelf life | Up to 2 years |
| Operating temperature | -40°F to 122°F (-40°C to 50°C); recommended 68°F to 86°F |
| Case | Flame retardant UL94-V0, shock and vibration resistant |
| Compliance | Telcordia SR-4228, NEBS GR-63-CORE; ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 manufacturing |
| Transport | Non-spillable, non-hazardous cargo per US DOT 49 CFR and IATA/ICAO Packing Instruction 806 |
Constant Current Discharge (Amps to 1.75 Vpc at 77°F)
| 15 min | 30 min | 1 hr | 2 hr | 4 hr | 8 hr | 10 hr | 20 hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 196 A | 126 A | 75.4 A | 43.1 A | 23.7 A | 12.8 A | 10.5 A | 5.8 A |
Full discharge tables at 1.75, 1.80 and 1.85 Vpc are in the EnerSys PowerSafe SBS performance specification linked below. Size your string to the end voltage your rectifier or inverter actually cuts off at, not the nominal 1.75 Vpc figure.
Why TPPL instead of a standard AGM
Conventional VRLA batteries use lead-calcium alloy grids. EnerSys stamps the SBS-100F's positive grids from high-purity lead, which corrodes slower and lets the plates be thinner. Thinner plates mean more surface area per bloc, so you get higher energy density, lower internal resistance, faster recharge after an outage, and much better tolerance of the heat inside an outdoor cabinet. That's the difference between a battery that survives a 122°F enclosure through summer and one that's dead in 18 months. The electrolyte is high-purity acid absorbed in the AGM mat, which keeps self-discharge and float current low and makes the bloc non-spillable.
Applications
- Cell site and wireless base station DC plants (-48V strings, 4 blocs in series)
- Fixed-line telecom central office and remote terminal standby
- Cable TV (CATV) and broadband node power supplies
- Utility substation and SCADA backup
- UPS and data center DC backup
- Emergency lighting, power generation, offshore and petrochemical standby
- Unreliable-grid sites where the battery cycles daily and needs fast recharge
Installation and charging notes
- Front terminal layout allows aisle-side connection and impedance testing in 23-inch relay racks and outdoor cabinets without removing the bloc.
- Use a constant voltage charger. Float at 2.27 Vpc (13.62V) at 77°F and temperature compensate; EnerSys recommends the compensated float never drops below 2.21 Vpc.
- Very low ventilation requirement, suitable for cabinets and equipment rooms; a dedicated battery room is not required.
- Integrated lifting handles. At 72 lb this is a two-person lift in a rack.
- Torque M6 terminal hardware to the EnerSys installation manual specification and use the supplied hardware.
What's in the box
One (1) EnerSys PowerSafe SBS-100F battery with terminal hardware. Inter-cell connectors and cabling are not included; contact radioparts.com if you need connectors for a full string.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the "F" in SBS-100F mean?
F is EnerSys' designator for front terminal. The SBS 100 (no F) is the same 12V 100Ah TPPL bloc in the same 15.6 x 4.3 x 11.3 in footprint with top terminals. Use the F version when you need aisle-side access in a rack or cabinet.
Is the SBS-100F an AGM battery?
Yes. It's a valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery with an absorbed glass mat separator. What sets it apart from a standard AGM is the thin plate pure lead grid construction, which is why it carries a 10+ year float life rating and a 122°F maximum operating temperature.
How many SBS-100F batteries make a -48V telecom string?
Four blocs in series. A 4 x SBS-100F string delivers 100Ah at the 8 hour rate to 1.75 Vpc, which is 42V end of discharge for the string.
What is the correct float voltage?
2.27 volts per cell at 77°F, which is 13.62V per bloc or 54.5V for a 4-bloc string. Raise to 2.29 Vpc at 68°F and lower with temperature. Do not let the temperature-compensated float go below 2.21 Vpc.
Can the SBS-100F ship by ground and air?
Yes. It's classified non-spillable and approved as non-hazardous cargo under US DOT 49 CFR and IATA/ICAO Packing Instruction 806. No hazmat surcharge applies.
How long can it sit in inventory before installation?
Up to 2 years shelf life from date of manufacture at 68°F thanks to the low self-discharge of pure lead. Check open circuit voltage before installation and boost charge if it's been in storage more than 6 months.
What is the SBS-100F design life?
EnerSys rates it at greater than 10 years in float service at 77°F (25°C). Actual life depends on cabinet temperature, float voltage accuracy, and cycle depth.
Documentation
Why buy the SBS-100F from radioparts.com
radioparts.com has supplied LMR, RF and site infrastructure parts to two-way radio shops, integrators and carriers for over 16 years. We stock and source EnerSys reserve power batteries for the same cell sites, repeater shelters and CATV plants we ship antennas, duplexers and combiners to, so if you're building or refreshing a site, one PO covers the DC plant and the RF path. Need a full string, a quote on 8 or more blocs, or freight to a remote site? Request a quote and a real person in our Florida warehouse will answer.
