How to Identify an Emergency Lighting Battery

Not sure which emergency lighting battery you need? You're not alone.

Every day, electricians, maintenance teams and facilities managers are faced with the same problem: a failed emergency light, an old battery with faded markings, and no obvious replacement part number.

The good news is that identifying an emergency lighting battery is usually much easier than it looks.

Step 1: Check the Battery Voltage

The first thing to look for is the battery voltage.

Common emergency lighting battery voltages include:

• 2.4V
• 3.6V
• 4.8V
• 6.0V
• 7.2V
• 8.4V
• 9.6V

The voltage is usually printed directly on the battery pack label.

If you cannot see a voltage, count the number of cells in the battery pack. Most emergency lighting cells are 1.2V each, so:

• 2 cells = 2.4V
• 3 cells = 3.6V
• 4 cells = 4.8V
• 5 cells = 6.0V

Step 2: Check the Capacity (Ah or mAh)

The capacity tells you how much energy the battery can store.

Common capacities include:

• 1.5Ah
• 2.0Ah
• 2.2Ah
• 4.0Ah
• 4.5Ah

You may also see capacity shown in mAh instead of Ah.

For example:

• 2000mAh = 2.0Ah
• 4000mAh = 4.0Ah

The replacement battery should normally match the original capacity wherever possible.

Step 3: Identify the Battery Chemistry

Most emergency lighting batteries use one of the following chemistries:

NiCd (Nickel Cadmium)

Traditionally used in older emergency lighting systems.

NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride)

Common in modern emergency lighting fittings and often used as a replacement for NiCd batteries.

LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)

Found in some newer emergency lighting systems and specialist applications.

Always match the battery chemistry unless the manufacturer specifically approves an alternative.

Step 4: Check the Cell Configuration

Emergency lighting batteries come in many shapes and layouts.

Common examples include:

• Side by Side
• End to End
• Stick Pack
• Flat Pack
• Inline Pack

Two batteries can have identical voltage and capacity but still be physically different.

Take note of the arrangement of the cells before ordering.

Step 5: Check the Connector

The connector is one of the most common causes of ordering mistakes.

Look carefully at:

• Number of wires
• Connector shape
• Connector colour
• Pin configuration

If the connector doesn't match, the battery may not fit your emergency lighting fitting.

Step 6: Check the Manufacturer Part Number

If the label is still readable, look for a part number from manufacturers such as:

• Tridonic
• Liteplan
• Mackwell
• ELP
• Yuasa

A part number is often the quickest way to identify a replacement battery.

Why Choose Battery Vault?

We specialise in emergency lighting batteries.

Whether you're replacing a Tridonic battery, a Liteplan battery, a Mackwell battery or an obsolete pack with no visible part number, we'll help you find the correct replacement quickly and confidently.

Because spending twenty minutes trying to identify a battery is twenty minutes you're not getting paid for.