Purchase now: Allen-Bradley 1756-BA1 Lithium Battery
Purchase now: Atlantechdrives provides you the 1756-BA1, an absolutely critical industrial-grade lithium battery assembly engineered specifically by Rockwell Automation to protect the volatile memory of legacy ControlLogix programmable automation controllers (PACs). In massive automated manufacturing facilities, the PLC program represents thousands of hours of highly customized engineering. The older generation of ControlLogix processors—specifically the 1756-L55Mx series and the wildly popular 1756-L6x (Series A) controllers—rely entirely on volatile RAM to store this user program and critical machine tagging data. If the main electrical power to the control cabinet is lost, this RAM will instantly wipe itself clean. The 1756-BA1 battery is the sole lifeline preventing this catastrophic data loss. It provides a continuous 3.0V DC trickle charge to the memory circuitry while the main power is off, ensuring that when the factory power is restored, the machine boots up flawlessly and resumes production without requiring a massive, time-consuming reprogramming effort by a specialized automation engineer.
Technical Specifications of the 1756-BA1
This is a primary (non-rechargeable) lithium cell designed for incredibly long shelf life and stable voltage output across harsh industrial temperature ranges. It features a specific white, two-pin connector designed exclusively for the Series A logic boards.
- Part Number: 1756-BA1
- Platform Compatibility: ControlLogix 1756-L55x and 1756-L6x (Series A only)
- Battery Chemistry: Lithium (Primary cell, non-rechargeable)
- Nominal Voltage: 3.0V DC
- Capacity: 1200 mAh (approximate)
- Connector Type: White, 2-pin polarized plug
- Function: Volatile RAM memory retention during power loss
Expert Tips: The Hot-Swap Replacement Protocol
When the red «BAT» (Battery) LED illuminates on the front panel of your ControlLogix L6 processor, it indicates the 1756-BA1 is critically low and must be replaced immediately. Expert Tip: A fatal mistake made by inexperienced technicians is turning off the main PLC power before changing the battery. If you turn off the power with a dead battery installed, the program is instantly lost. You must absolutely perform a «hot-swap.» Leave the ControlLogix chassis fully powered on and running the machine. Open the front door of the processor, unplug the old 1756-BA1 battery, and plug the new one in. Because the main backplane power is actively supplying the RAM, the memory is totally safe during the physical battery exchange.
Maintenance: Lithium Passivation and Shelf Life
Maintenance departments often buy 1756-BA1 batteries in bulk and leave them in a drawer for years. Lithium batteries are subject to a chemical phenomenon known as «passivation.» Over time, a thin resistive layer forms on the lithium anode to prevent self-discharge. If a battery has been sitting on a shelf for three years, installing it in a PLC might trigger a false «Low Battery» fault because the passivation layer initially restricts the voltage flow. It is always recommended to rotate your battery stock and check the manufacturing date codes. Furthermore, because these contain lithium, they are considered hazardous materials and must never be incinerated or thrown into standard industrial trash compactors; they must be disposed of via certified chemical recycling protocols.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the physical difference between the 1756-BA1 and the 1756-BA2?
A: This is the most critical distinction. The 1756-BA1 is designed strictly for the older 1756-L6x Series A processors and features a larger white connector. The 1756-BA2 is designed for the 1756-L6x Series B processors and features a completely different, much smaller micro-connector. They are physically incapable of being plugged into the wrong processor series.
Q: Will this battery work in a modern 1756-L71 or L81E processor?
A: No. The newer L7 and L8 ControlLogix processors completely eliminated lithium batteries. They utilize an Energy Storage Module (ESM) with supercapacitors to save the program to an SD card during a power loss.
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This lithium battery is essential for data backup on legacy processors; for modern L7 series alternatives, see the 1756-BA2 energy storage module.
