Being able to count on your power supply or battery to keep your customers’ systems up and running may be one of the most critical factors in selecting these devices. Not only does the device have to fit the application and meet building and life safety codes for power and safety, but the quality of the power has to be excellent.

Designing power specifically for the application is the best way to go. SDM subscribers were asked, via an Internet survey, about how they select batteries and power supplies. Reliability came through as an important factor in the selection process and some 25 percent cited this as a consideration in choosing a power supply or battery. Reliability also may relate to proper application specifications. Martin Souder, owner of T&M Alarm in Rome, Ga., offered this tip to his colleagues considering purchasing a new power supply: “Find the best supply for the specific application. Size and life are important, and don’t ‘undersize’ for the job.”