Backup power for Devonport Royal Dockyard

A PB Design and Developments product story

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Oct 18, 2001

When DML was looking for reliable backup for its critical power supply, the company chose a variety of switch tripping and closing battery systems tested to military standards from PB Design.

When DML, owner and operator of Devonport Royal Dockyard, was looking for reliable backup for its critical power supply, the company chose a variety of switch tripping and closing battery systems tested to military standards from Bristol based PB Design.

Plymouth has been at the forefront of maritime affairs since the days of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Devonport's origins date back to 1691, when William of Orange commissioned the construction of a new dockyard to support naval activity in the Western Approaches.

Over the years, the yard has steadily grown in size and complexity to match the changing and increasingly sophisticated requirements of the Royal Navy.

Today, Devonport covers some 330 acres with over 3 miles of deep water berths, five fitting out basins and 14 dry docks, all supported by a wide range of workshop facilities.

DML employs over 4000 people and has a turnover of over ?350 million.

To help the dockyard maintain its critical power supply, Bristol based PB Design supplied a variety of different sized switch tripping and closing battery systems with full alarms and 'Vantage' Nicad cells, comprising a mix of single and dual systems rated from 30 to 110V.

The units passed rigorous safety tests including seismic testing at the National Engineering Laboratory in East Kilbride, shake testing to BS/EN 600 68-3-3and EMC testing to MoD/DML.