A UK-based manufacturer of deployable security camera systems relies on rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion cells across its product portfolio. The compact 18650 format suits deployable cameras where size matters, while lithium-ion chemistry provides the power required for field operation.

Each camera uses three 18650 cells. Larger power supply units, used in daylight-saving lamppost applications, can incorporate approximately 40 to 175 cells per unit. These larger systems cycle roughly once per day, making long-term battery performance increasingly important over the operating life of the equipment.

The cell count adds up quickly

The previous solution

Before adopting Voltaplex LIFE™, the manufacturer used Panasonic 18650 cells sourced from China. When evaluating alternatives, the company was interested in LIFE in part because of the added stability provided by its separator technology.

The objective was not simply to find another 18650 cell, but to identify a solution that could meet the performance and environmental requirements of equipment designed for deployment in the field.

Qualifying LIFE in their own application

Before moving forward, the manufacturer conducted qualification testing within its own application.

According to the manufacturer, LIFE performed well in both evaluations. Following successful testing, the company moved forward with Voltaplex LIFE for its products.

From evaluation to standard cell

What began as an evaluation has developed into broader adoption. The manufacturer reports that it currently uses Voltaplex LIFE across all of its projects — three LIFE cells per deployable camera, and approximately 40–175 cells per lamppost power supply unit.

Several years of field experience

Beyond initial qualification testing, the manufacturer has now accumulated several years of experience with batteries deployed in its equipment.

Over the last few years, the company reports it has not had any devices returned due to battery failure.

For field-deployed security equipment, that reliability is particularly valuable. Battery-related failures can mean more than replacing a cell — they can require equipment retrieval, servicing and additional time in the field.

Why cycle life matters more than capacity

The opportunity for long-life cells becomes even more significant in the manufacturer's larger power supply applications. A single daylight-saving lamppost power supply can contain approximately 40–175 cells and cycle once every day.

In applications like these, battery performance should not be evaluated solely on initial cell capacity. The more important question becomes:

How much useful energy can the battery system deliver over its operating life before replacement becomes necessary?

This is where Voltaplex LIFE is designed to provide value — maintaining useful performance over repeated cycling and potentially reducing the frequency of battery replacement over the lifetime of the equipment.

The takeaway

For Voltaplex, the application is an important example of LIFE moving beyond laboratory cycle testing and into real-world security equipment.

For other security-camera and remote-monitoring manufacturers, it demonstrates how battery selection can be evaluated not only around initial capacity, but around long-term reliability, lifetime energy delivery and the requirements of the complete deployed system.

Cycle-life figures based on internal C/2 charge, 1C discharge testing. Actual performance varies based on application and operating conditions. Customer details shared with permission.