Purchase now: Allen-Bradley 1756-BA2 Lithium Battery
Purchase now: Atlantechdrives provides you the 1756-BA2, an absolutely essential, industrial-grade lithium battery assembly meticulously engineered by Rockwell Automation to safeguard the volatile memory of ControlLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs). Specifically, this battery is the mandated replacement for the highly prevalent 1756-L6x Series B processors. In major manufacturing hubs, the PLC’s internal logic program is the most valuable intellectual property on the factory floor. Because the legacy Series B L6 processors rely on volatile RAM, a sudden facility power outage will instantly erase the entire program if the battery is dead. The 1756-BA2 battery serves as the ultimate failsafe, delivering a continuous, perfectly stable 3.0V DC trickle charge to the memory circuitry while the main chassis power is disconnected. This guarantees that when electrical power is finally restored to the cabinet, the processor boots up with its memory completely intact, eliminating the disastrous downtime associated with finding a programmer to manually flash and download the logic code back into the machine.
Technical Specifications of the 1756-BA2
This primary (non-rechargeable) lithium cell is engineered for stable voltage output across harsh industrial temperatures. It features a highly specific, miniaturized connector designed exclusively to fit the tightly packed circuitry of the Series B logic boards.
- Part Number: 1756-BA2
- Platform Compatibility: ControlLogix 1756-L61, L62, L63, L64, L65 (Strictly Series B models)
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium (Primary cell, non-rechargeable)
- Nominal Voltage: 3.0V DC
- Capacity: 1200 mAh (approximate)
- Connector Type: Miniaturized 2-pin polarized plug
- Function: Volatile RAM memory retention during main power loss
Expert Tips: Decoding the Red BAT LED and Hot-Swapping
The front faceplate of every ControlLogix L6 processor features a dedicated «BAT» (Battery) status LED. Expert Tip: Under normal operation, this LED is completely unlit. When the internal voltage of the 1756-BA2 drops below a critical safety threshold, the BAT LED will illuminate solid red. This is a severe warning: you have roughly 10 to 15 days of memory backup left. You must replace the battery immediately. The most critical aspect of this maintenance procedure is the «hot-swap.» You must absolutely never turn off the main chassis power to change a dead battery, or the RAM will wipe instantly. You must open the processor door and physically exchange the 1756-BA2 battery while the PLC is powered ON and actively running the factory. The backplane power will sustain the RAM during the 30 seconds it takes to swap the plugs.
Installation Advice: Series A vs. Series B Hardware Mismatch
The single most common purchasing error in ControlLogix maintenance is confusing the 1756-BA1 with the 1756-BA2. When Rockwell Automation updated the L6 processors from Series A to Series B, they redesigned the internal logic board, requiring a completely different physical plug for the battery. The 1756-BA2 has a much smaller, micro-sized connector compared to the BA1. Before purchasing, a maintenance technician must physically look at the manufacturer’s label on the side of the processor to confirm whether the unit is a «SER A» or «SER B» device. Attempting to force a BA1 battery into a Series B processor will irreversibly destroy the delicate pins on the motherboard, ruining a processor worth thousands of dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the 1756-BA2 a rechargeable battery?
A: No. It is a primary lithium cell. When the BAT light turns red, the chemical energy is depleted, and the battery must be physically replaced and properly recycled. Never attempt to recharge an industrial lithium battery, as it can explode violently.
Q: Do I need this battery if I am using a newer 1756-L72 or 1756-L83E processor?
A: No. The modern ControlLogix L7 and L8 families completely eliminated the need for lithium batteries. They rely on capacitor-based Energy Storage Modules (ESM) to instantly write the RAM to a non-volatile SD card during a power failure.
Do you need more references from this brand? Explore our full catalog of Allen-Bradley here.
This high-capacity battery assembly ensures memory retention for mid-range controllers like the 1756-L71 processor.
