In this time of "I need it yesterday" and "No Downtime", our networks have made battery back-up a complete necessity. A year ago it seemed there was no end in sight to how much lead would go up and the manufacturers couldn't keep up with demand. The idea for distributors was to stock up before it got too bad, but there in lies the problem.
When you stock up, you must ship out because batteries are not "patient" when they sit on the shelf, even in optimal conditions. One very important factor in deciding on a battery is the date code, or how long those have been sitting around since they actually left the factory. Recently, the lead times and prices for telecom batteries have slightly improved. Now that the lead times are more reasonable (4-5 weeks rather than 18-20), you can guarantee yourself a better battery by making sure yours comes straight from the assembly line.
There's nothing worse than counting on your batteries to keep you running for 8 hours until you can get back up and having them drop out after 10 minutes. Now, don't get me wrong, they can be brought back from storage damage IF they are not too far gone. According to Northstar Battery Company the storage life of most telecom batteries while in storage is 2 years at +25°C (+77°F). Most manufacturers recommend that batteries be stored in a cool dry place, away from an ignition source, and properly ventilated. However, many storage facilities are not climate controlled, and due to this, the storage life of a telecom battery may be significantly less than 2 years.
Graph below shows that the storage life of a battery is reduced as the temperature is increased above +25°C (+77°F).
