US ARMY
Rechargeable Battery Program
CECOM, Fort Monmouth, NJ
Introduction,
NSNs, and Prices
DA Rechargeable Battery Policy . . . It's
Time to get all "Charged up"
The days of using Primary (non-rechargeable)
batteries for most training and garrison duties is a thing of the
past.
On 1
Oct 98 , the DA Rechargeable Battery policy went into
effect.
--Rechargeables are now the only way to go for
many missions! Power
Independence for the SIGO !
There are a couple of exceptions to the new
rechargeable battery policy:
- It
does not apply during war.
- When
the temperatures exceed the operational temperature range for
rechargeables- -4 degrees F to 130 degrees F
- When
recharging in remote locations is not practical.
In the above cases primary batteries will be
allowed.
You'll find this new battery policy in a
Department of the Army
memorandum from the Army
Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, DALO-SMR, 29 Aug 1997.
Specific policy questions please call or email
Mr.Chris Cigal, CASCOM at DSN: 687-0040 Comm: (804) 734-0040, cigalc@lee.army.mil.
Rechargeables initially cost more than
non-rechargeables, but their continued use will save
big bucks compared to the replacement costs of Primary batteries
(non-rechargeables). Here are the available rechargeables and the
primary batteries they replace:
THE BATTERIES:
|
Rechargeable
Battery
|
Primary
Battery
Equivalent |
Rechargeable
NSN:
|
FY02 AMDF
Price |
|
BB-390B/U |
BA-5590 |
6140-01-490-4317 |
$232.00 |
|
BB-388 |
BA-5588 |
6140-01-419-8190 |
$81.50 |
|
BB-516A |
NONE |
6140-01-419-8191 |
$67.50 |
|
BB-503A |
NONE |
6140-01-419-8193 |
$60.33 |
|
BB-2847 |
BA-5847 |
6140-01-419-8194 |
$153.86 |
|
BB-2600/U |
BA-5600 |
6140-01-467-5853 |
$159.74 |
|
BB-557/U |
BA-5557 |
6140-01-071-5070 |
$85.70 |
One of the raps on rechargeables was limited
operating time and that was true with the old nickel cadmium
rechargeable batteries. But the nickel metal hydride (BB-390 and
BB-388) battery lasts two or three times longer (depending on
application) than the Ni-Cads equivalents. The Army's new
BB-390B/U is a form fit, and function replacement for the
BB-390A/U. The
BB-390B/U can be charged in all Army chargers that charge the
BB-390A/U. The
"B" model is rated at 4.9 Amp Hours, has an improved case, and has a
4-year warranty from the manufacturing date on the battery. Here are some charging
tips to get the maximum run times from your BB-390s. Check out the power
point brief on rechargeable
management & BB-390 screening for your battery managers.
Here are some of the common run times:
|
Rechargeable
Battery |
End
item
Equipment |
Run
Time
(Hours) |
|
BB-390A
BB-390B/U |
SINCGARS |
8-18 (about 60% of
a BA-5590)
12-24 (about 70% of
a BA-5590 when fully charged) |
|
BB-388 |
AN/PRC-126 |
27 |
|
BB-2847 |
Thermal Weapon
Sight |
3-7 |
Knowing when to recharge is now easier, too.
The new rechargeable batteries have a state-of-charge (SOC)
indicator that lets you know the percent of charge remaining in the
battery.
THE CHARGER! PP-8444
A/U
You can also charge batteries more quickly
than before with the PP-8444A/U universal portable charger, NSN
6130-01-443-0970. ($577.22 FY02 AMDF)
A fully depleted BB-390 can be recharged in
about two (2) hours instead of the 10 to 12 hours to charge a BB-590
(Ni-Cad) with the old PP-7286/U charger.
The PP-8444 can charge two (2) batteries of the
same type (with a separately purchased adapter interface) at once in
two (2) hours in either AC or DC mode.
The AC power cord is provided and the DC power
cord is a separately purchased cable (J-6362).
The J-6362, 24-volt vehicular
Cable, NSN 5940-01-427-9395 ($115.64) is an 11.5 foot cable
that can power the PP-8444 from a vehicle's NATO slave receptacle
while a parked. For
mobile charging…..please see COTM info below.
The Adapter Interfaces Between Charger
and Batteries:
The PP-8444 requires separate adapter
interfaces for each battery type: Each adapter holds two batteries,
thus two batteries can be charged at the same time within 2 hours.
The adapters are as follows
|
BATTERY |
REQUIRED
ADAPTER |
ADAPTER
NSN:
|
ADAPTER FY02
AMDF Price |
|
BB-390 A or
B |
AP-390
(J-6358A/P)
*See note
below! |
5940-01-492-6570 |
$77.17 |
|
BB-388 |
AP-388
(J-6357/P) |
5940-01-427-8601 |
$36.09 |
|
BB-516 |
AP-516
(J-6356/P) |
5940-01-427-9183 |
$56.95 |
|
BB-503 |
AP-503
(J-6355/P) |
5940-01-427-9247 |
$36.09 |
|
BB-2847 |
AP-2847
(J-6354/P) |
5940-01-427-9278 |
$39.77 |
|
BB-2600/U |
AP-2600
(J-6521/P) |
5940-01-467-8813 |
$48.36 |
|
BB-557/U |
AP-557
(J-6523/P) |
5940-01-467-5852 |
Call!! |
|
ICOM
Battery |
AP-SI (
J-6556/P) |
5940-01-483-6772 |
$171.22 |
* Note: The new AP-390 is listed in
Feb 02 Fed LOG so your supply may not be able to order this
yet. Fix…The old NSN:
5940-01-427-9110 still can be ordered at $111.72, but you will be
charged and issued the new lower cost modeled.
A Multi Station Adapter NSN: 5940-01-467-1176
($411.60) for the PP-8444 or PP-8448 will now reduce the logistic
manpower required to charge/discharge large volumes of
batteries.
The
CHARGER ON THE MOVE (COTM), PP-8481A/U, NSN: 6130-01-494-9164
($2195.00) is another great forward charging tool.
.
In addition, a new device will assist in
conditioning and maintaining your BB-390 stock. The BB-390
Self-Discharge Cap (CAP) & Quick Battery
Check, PP-8497/U, NSN: 6130-01-490-4310, AMDF: $43.41.
The
information within this Website will assist you in making
rechargeables a success in your unit. We strongly recommend that
your unit develop in house standard operating procedure (SOP) that
is tailored to your commander's operations plan. A mix of rechargeables and
primaries is always good business. Good
luck...CECOM will be here for you.
If you have any questions about the
rechargeable batteries call CECOM at
DSN 992-4948 (732) 532-4948 or e-mail CECOM: Donald.Brockel@mail1.monmouth.army.mil
