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Archive for the ‘Power’ Category

Widget Wednesday – Extending Operational Capability

Wednesday, October 17th, 2018

Many electronic end-user devices in use today will only run for a few hours before their batteries need to be replaced or recharged. But no-one wants to carry a ton of extra batteries, and stopping for a prolonged period of time to recharge batteries isn’t always tactically feasible either.

With the PTX range of solutions our mission is to enable you to perform your missions more effectively by extending your electronic operational capabilities. We do this by enabling the Warfighter to reduce the amount of different batteries they have to carry, to repurpose the batteries they have across different types of electronic equipment, and to recharge those batteries when off-the-grid or in austere environments. Sometimes this involves a full kit of power management systems and accessories, sometimes this involves a simple smart cable that connects an end-user device to an external battery of higher capacity.

Speaking of external batteries, we have developed a range of cables, adapters, connectors, and pouches that enable end-users to connect radios, tablets, smart phones, and other devices to high capacity, wearable, external batteries and power packs such as the Inventus CWB 85 and 150, the SoloPack® and SharePack® batteries from Revision Military, the Li-80 and Li-145, the Ultralife LM-145 and M-1, the Goal Zero Sherpa®, and more.

Find out more about the wide range of equipment, applications, and mission sets we enable at www.PTXnomad.com

Revision to Showcase Large-Scale Platform Power Capabilities for Military Vehicles at AUSA

Friday, October 5th, 2018

Essex Junction, Vermont (October 5, 2018) – Revision—a world leader in developing advanced integrated soldier systems and power management solutions —will showcase the company’s latest vehicular power management systems at the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., from October 8-10. Two platform power solutions will be on display at Revision’s booth 320: the Nerv Centr SWatPack™—modular lithium-ion power cells that make up Revision’s Silent Watch Battery Pack (SWBP)—and the Nerv Centr SWitchPack™—an advanced lithium-ion 6T vehicle battery.

“Revision has been developing these solutions, focusing our efforts to design, engineer, test and certify them with the ultimate goal of reducing sound, weight, and thermal signature while boosting lifespan,” said Revision CEO Jonathan Blanshay. “These innovative vehicle power solutions are built in response to those actively seeking more reliable energy performance, longer runtimes, and superior signature concealment. In developing these energy solutions, and working with leading OEMs, we’ve put some of today’s highest-priority power shortfalls in the crosshairs.”

Revision’s Silent Watch Battery Pack (SWBP) is a modular lithium-ion power platform composed of up to 10 independent 28V, 160Ah modules (SWatPacks), plus a power manager (SMS). Revision can develop customized enclosures to house more or fewer SWatPacks, as needed, as well as to accommodate different attachment methods. Individual SWatPacks are made from seven high-end lithium polymer cells (rather than hundreds of smaller cells, typical of most current systems); fewer connection points means less potential for failure, thus greater reliability and lower lifetime maintenance costs.

Each SWatPack can last up to 6,500 cycles (approximately 10 years), and multiple redundant safety measures have been incorporated. SWBP systems and individual SWatPack cells are available now for global forces.

Revision’s lithium-ion 6T (SWitchPack) engine starter battery—designed to be MIL-PRF-32565 compliant—mounts in vehicle crew compartments. In accordance with U.S. military standards, the SWitchPack battery is designed to meet Type 1 safety standards, but to provide near-Type 3 capacity. SWitchPacks are made from 14 high-end lithium polymer cells, similarly reducing connection points and boosting reliability. Revision has conducted comprehensive preliminary testing and validation of the li-ion 6T SwitchPack, and is currently engaged in Qualified Products List (QPL) qualification. SWitchPack batteries are expected to be in production and available by mid-2019.

Across all these products, one of the chief features is signature concealment, reducing thermal and heat signatures when idle for sustained covert ground operations. This emphasis on stealth and remote operability offers a scaled-up take on Revision’s dismounted power management solutions. Combined with the Nerv Centr SharePack™ and SoloPack™ batteries, the unveiling of these platform power solutions marks Revision’s arrival as a key power provider for both mounted and dismounted warfighters.

For more information, visit www.revisionmilitary.com, write media@revisionmilitary.com, or call +1 802-879-7002.

See Protonex at Modern Day Marine 2018 – Power Anything, Anywhere, from Any Source

Thursday, September 27th, 2018

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If you’re at MDM, be sure to check out the PTX range of power management solutions from Protonex – they can be found on the Protonex booth , number 1110.  The SPM-622 in-field charging solution for the FirstLook® lightweight, throwable UGV can be found on Endeavor Robotics booth, number 1017.

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For further background on the SPM-622 Squad Power Manager and its full range of capabilities, check out this online article from MILITARY TECHNOLOGY magazine.

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PTX Widget Wednesday – Alligator Clip Cable

Wednesday, September 12th, 2018

One of the most salient features of the Global War On Terror has been the proliferation of electronic devices at the individual and small unit level. These developments give our troops unprecedented levels of situational awareness (regardless of the time of day), the ability to communicate over vast distances (in any terrain), and the power to dominate the battlespace in even the most austere environments.

However, it also usually means having to hump a lot of extra batteries. For example, on a long patrol in Afghanistan, an Airborne Infantryman could carry as many as seven different types of batteries for 12 electronic devices – totaling up to 16 pounds in battery weight. That’s more than the weight of a dozen fully loaded 30-round 5.56 mags! (The need to continuously stop and replace batteries also causes disruption to operational capability and impairs mission effectiveness.)

With the SPM-622 troops are able to reduce their battery burden, recharge their batteries in the field, and repurpose those batteries to power other devices (the SPM automatically adjusts, balances, and/or converts power from any source to match a device’s power requirements). Initially, SPM kits included adapter cables for solar panels, solar blankets, vehicle ‘cigarette lighter” plugs, and generator power outlets. Feedback from special operations unit end-users working in a very austere environment led us to develop another rather simple-looking solution – jumper cable type alligator clips.

Their feedback was that it would be very useful to have the ability to scavenge power from the civilian truck, car, and motorcycle batteries prevalent in operational areas. And so the Alligator Clip cable was born. Although it might look kind of “low-tech”, our Alligator Clip cable is smart – the firmware embedded in the cable informs the SPM of the voltage of the battery it’s connected to, it also monitors the battery’s state-of-charge and tells the SPM to stop drawing power from it before it gets too low to start a vehicle.

This particular type of cable proved very useful for at least one team that used a locally-sourced motorcycle battery as a power source, and enabled them to complete a high-value mission despite a shortage of specific batteries.

For more information about PTX power management systems from Protonex, visit www.PTXnomad.com or contact us at Team.Room@Protonex.com

Protonex to Exhibit PTX Power Manager Systems at MSPO

Sunday, September 2nd, 2018

Visit booth # F-20 in the US Pavilion at MSPO 2018 next week in Kielce, Poland to see the PTX range of tactical power management solutions in action.

Included in the display will be the industry-leading ABC-812 Adaptive Battery Charger and the operationally-proven SPM-622 Squad Power Manager. Visitors will be able to see how the ABC and SPM can be used to keep AUV and UGV platforms fully operational in austere environments. They will also be able to see a demonstration of how to draw power from any vehicle – NATO or former Warsaw Pact – and keep dismounted troops powered up and in the fight.

PTX power management systems are also featured in the Sept. issues of ‘Armada International’, ‘FRAG OUT!’, ‘Infantry Bugler’, ‘Military Technology’, and ‘Marine Corps Gazette’.

Widget Wednesday: PTX SAT-P Android App

Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

The latest Widget created by the Brainboxes at Protonex is the PTX Situational Awareness Tool for Power (PTX SAT-P). The SAT-P provides an all-in-one solution for managing your PTX SPM-622 Squad Power Manager from your Android phone or tablet.

The app allows users to easily monitor their energy usage in real time and to quickly see key information such as:
• What devices are connected and consuming power?
• What power source is connected and in use?
• How long will the battery last at present rate?

The app also allows users to monitor and update their Power Manager firmware version.

The PTX SAT-P App requires a phone or tablet that will accept an external keypad and is running Android 5.0 or higher, and is available on the Google Play Store at: play.google.com/store/apps/details

For more information about PTX power management systems from Protonex, visit: www.PTXnomad.com

BE Meyers & Co Upgrades MAWL With New Toolless Capability

Thursday, August 16th, 2018

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B.E. Meyers & Co. has enhanced the capabilities of the Modular Advanced Weapon Laser (MAWL®) with its latest offering, the EndCap 2 (EC2). In keeping with B.E. Meyers & Co.’s unwavering commitment to the end user, the EC2 introduces two new features for improved performance with the MAWL:

1. A Threaded battery cap that allows for replacement of the MAWL’s battery without tools.
2. Redesigned remote fire ports for easy access when the MAWL is mounted to a platform.

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Performing a battery change on the MAWL is simplified with the EC2. Its threaded battery cap can be loosened or tightened by hand, and makes the MAWL easy to maintain in environments where time is critical, and small tools may not be available or practical.

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The redesigned geometry of the EC2 moves the remote fire ports to the top of the endcap and spaces them apart to facilitate quick access when the MAWL is mounted to a rifle. This extended spacing also provides additional clearance for any other wiring or accessories mounted to the platform.

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The MAWL is an inherently modular device, allowing for the three components, head, body, and end cap, to be easily swapped or exchanged.  

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The EC2 is fully compatible with the entire MAWL family of weapon lasers, and can be purchased individually or as part of a complete MAWL.

For more information about the EC2 visit www.bemeyers.com.

Widget Wednesday:  Supported Equipment

Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

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Over the past decade we have worked closely with Program Offices, Commands, and Units to develop a wide range of adapters and cables to bring true plug-and-play power capability to end-users.

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Our Power Management systems currently support more than 200 different types of electronic equipment, including:
• military and commercial primary and rechargeable batteries
• UAV and UGV systems (both platforms and control units)
• high-performance military radios
• military and commercial SATCOM systems
• laptop and tablet computers
• EOD equipment
• field medical equipment
• GPS systems
• Laser markers and designators
• Smart phones
• And more…

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To see the full list of equipment that we can provide solutions for, check out the SUPPORTED EQUIPMENT page on our website at www.PTXnomad.com /supported-equipment /.

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If you don’t see what you need, contact us at Team.Room@Protonex.com and we will lead you through the process of developing a bespoke solution.