Now part of the Revision Military® Nerv Centr® suite of products, following the acquisition of Protonex® in October of 2018, the Squad Power Manager™ (SPM-622) is an impressive piece of equipment with an interesting backstory.

The current (4th) generation of the Squad Power Manager is a rugged and easily-carried “multi-tool” of power constructed around a suite of intelligent power management algorithms. These built-in smarts enable the Squad Power Manager to run electronic equipment and recharge batteries simultaneously – with no user programming or input required. The SPM also has the capability of scavenging power from any source in the 4-34 Volt DC range – with a converter it can also harness AC power anywhere in the world as well.

The ruggedness, ease-of-use, dependability, and flexibility of the Squad Power Manager have made it a “must have” tool for troops on extended operations and/or deployed in austere environments. So much so, that the National Infantry Association honored the Squad Power Manager with a special feature in the Winter Issue of its official publication, “Infantry Bugler”. A PDF of the article can be downloaded or read online at RevisionMilitary.com. The entire Winter Issue of “Infantry Bugler” can also be read online at the National Infantry Association’s website.

For further details about the Squad Power Manager, visit RevisionMilitary.com.

Units at the sharp end often need to integrate organic and non-organic equipment for dismounted or vehicle-based systems – providing reliable power for such systems can be a significant challenge. With the SPM-622 Squad Power Manager, an excellent solution for keeping the power flowing and maintaining continuous mission capability is readily available.

One such SPM-based integrated system is the C-REACH communications system from C4i Systems in the UK. The C-REACH is a modular, man-packable or light tactical vehicle mounted gateway system that provides Beyond Line of Site (BLOS) communications. Users deployed to the forward edge of operating areas have the ability to communicate mission critical information to tactical and strategic decision makers using almost any modern radio communication system. The C-REACH system allows users to achieve complete, secure BLOS communications of voice, video and data information on a global scale from a single, lightweight, self-sufficient solution.

Including the SPM-622 enables operators in even the most remote or austere environments to maintain full communications capability by harvesting and managing power from any available source – for however long the mission lasts.

For further information about the C-REACH system please visit C4i Systems.

The SPM-622 Squad Power Manager is also at the heart of several other integrated systems currently undergoing T&E with US, NATO, and Partner Nation forces. For further information about the SPM’s features and capabilities, visit www.PTXnomad.com or contact us at Team.Room@Protonex.com.

The SPM-622 Squad Power Manager Data Log capability allows small units to measure how much battery power they are actually using, so they can optimize their logistics, resupply, and mission loads – and reduce their Battery Burden.

The Data Log function of the SPM records:

• What devices are plugged into which ports of the SPM

• The voltage, average current and maximum current at each port in use

• The state of charge and temperature of any connected battery / batteries

• A real-time-stamp that includes the date and time of the entry

• Any errors or user alerts

The data log is stored in such a way that it does not disappear if power is lost, and the storage capacity is large enough to keep weeks-worth of usage data. Finally, data logging occurs automatically, but the standard settings can be overridden in order to capture specific or unique data of interest. Once collected, the data log can then be uploaded to a computer and displayed and analyzed using typical tools such as Excel, etc.

To access the data log function of the SPM-622, the operator uses the four buttons along the bottom edge of the SPM-622. From the main screen, press the right arrow Button once to enter the main menu. Once at that screen the operator will see the following display:

Selecting the data log option from the menu selection allows the User to view how much data has already been captured, or to change the data capture intervals. Pressing ‘Erase Log’ will delete all data in the log file.

If power usage data for a particular mission is desired, the User should clear the SPM’s data log before departure and then download the data after the mission is completed. As an example of the benefit of analyzing such data; a SOF unit deployed in a non-permissive environment was able to reduce the battery weight of their mission loads by over 30% – and still maintain full operational capability of their critical electronic equipment.

If you need further assistance, refer to the SPM-622 User Guide or contact Support@Protonex.com. Visit www.PTXnomad.com for further info about the wide range of applications and equipment supported by the SPM-622 Squad Power Manager.

An SPM-622 Squad Power Manager and a few cables is like having a multi-tool for power in your rucksack. With such a system, troops can “scavenge” power from vehicle batteries or power-out ports and from solar panels or blankets to recharge batteries and run equipment – anywhere, any time.

The SPM-622 is particularly useful as an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Simply connect the SPM to a rechargeable battery, an AC wall outlet, or portable generator, and the device, or devices, you want to keep powered up. As long as AC power is available, the battery is kept fully charged-up, and power for the radio is automatically converted, balanced and passed through by the SPM. The diagram below shows how this can be done to provide uninterruptible power to a SatCom radio system.

If the AC power fails, the SPM will automatically switch to drawing power from the back-up battery so that the radio remains powered up. The user is alerted to the change on the SPM’s screen, but no action is required. Once AC power is available again, the SPM will automatically revert to drawing power for the radio from the AC source, as well as simultaneously recharging the connected back-up battery.

Additional back-up power storage capability for critical equipment can be achieved by connecting up to 3 more batteries to the SPM. As long as AC power is available the SPM will keep all connected batteries topped-up, if/when the AC power fails the SPM will automatically switch to drawing power from the battery with the lowest state of charge – ensuring the most efficient use of the back-up power available.

If you need further assistance, contact Support@Protonex.com. Visit www.PTXnomad.com for further info about the wide range of applications and equipment supported by the SPM-622 Squad Power Manager.