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Conference ssdevo::hsz40_product

Title:	HSZ40 Product Conference

Moderator:	SSDEVO::EDMONDS

Created:	Mon Apr 11 1994
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	902
Total number of notes:	3319

773.0. "Clarification of Battery Date Codes ?" by SVCVAX::GAMBARDELLA (Gamby Gumba) Thu Feb 20 1997 10:37

We have been having HSZ writeback cache battery problems at one of our large 
sites.  This weekend we are shutting down 2 large DECsafe environments 
to reconfigure the disk farms.  I thought I would be proactive and check all
the batteries and make sure they are rev B01 PEP batteries (or higher).  I 
read the latest blitz about installing the patches and making sure the 
batteries are at rev B01.  The patches have been installed for a while 
(v27z-2) and we still had some problems.  This is why I want to doublecheck
all the revision levels/date codes.

I ordered 4 sets of batteries just in case.  The new batteries do not have
a revision level and came in with date codes of 4-96.  They are manufactured by
PEP.  Should I use these new batteries even though the date code is almost a
year old?  

/mike

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
773.1		SSDEVO::T_GONZALES		`Sun Feb 23 1997 16:53`	1
	I BELIEVE A DATA CODE OF LATER THAN 3-96 YOU ARE OK.
773.2	Toss those 4-96 batteries!	TOPTEN::AVERBACH		`Wed Feb 26 1997 11:23`	9
	Per engineering, (Larry Cress and Paul Thompson) "DO NOT USE BATTERIES DATED MORE THAN 3 MONTHS OLD". There is a shelf life associated with the batteries. You need batteries dated 12/96 or later. We have had some success ordering the individual batteries with p/n 12-40235-01 and directing logistics to make sure the date code is within the above dates. Regards and good luck, Joe
773.3	Refurbished Batteries??	SVCVAX::GAMBARDELLA	Gamby Gumba	`Fri Mar 21 1997 13:50`	17
	RE .2 - I opened an IPMT case and was told the same thing - Do not use batteries with a date code of more than 3 months. They do not have a long shelf life. Now a for new twist - I just got refurbished batteries from logistics. They had a sticker over the original date code that was marked Mar 1997. When I peeled the sticker back the original date codes were 5-96 and 6-96. I was told by logistics that we are now refurbishing batteries. The batteries get sent back to the manufacturer for a recharge /retest and then get shipped back to us. Does anyone have any experience with these refurb'ed batteries? I am somewhat skeptical at this point. I have a large site and we have been fighting battery problems for a long time. I just want to be sure before I use these refurb'ed batteries. /Mike Gambardella
773.4		TINCUP::RIDGE	I don't know where I'm at, but I'm nearly there!	`Fri Mar 21 1997 16:15`	17
	You may be skeptical, but that is your choice. The batteries were appropriately recharged and date coded to reflect that. That is why they are marked so. This is not a refurbishment, but a recharging operation in order to ensure their "freshness" date so that they appropriately behave at boot-up time and are declared good within the 10 hour window. Possibly the original label should have been removed, then would you have felt better?? It would have been false security - would it not!. You may not trust everyone, but believe this... there are many people working to put the best battery possible into the logistics pipeline.
773.5		SVCVAX::GAMBARDELLA	Gamby Gumba	`Thu Mar 27 1997 10:24`	21
	RE:.4 Please don't take offense. Just try to look at this from my point of view. I lost count of how many times I changed batteries at this site. We went through the battery FCO, then I installed all the HSxxx patches for the battery issues, then last summer I replaced the batteries to make sure they were 3/96 or later. Everyone of these events was done early mornings or weekends. Even after all this we are still having battery problems. I have about 2 dozen HSZ/HSJ controllers at this site and I just wanted to know what was up with this new batch of batteries. Granted I could have worded my note nicer. I also realize that engineering has been fighting this battery problem on a much grander scale then 24 HSZs. I think I was showing my frustration. I have to get up at 3:30AM to be onsite by 5:00. I just wanted to have the best chance of installing good batteries and not going through this again. A readme included with the batteries or a blitz explaining this new process would have helped. not_skeptical_maybe_just_gun_shy /Mike Gambardella
773.6	hang in there!	TINCUP::RIDGE	I don't know where I'm at, but I'm nearly there!	`Fri Mar 28 1997 12:07`	27
	.re -.1 .ohhh no offense. I'm one who chooses ONLY to see it from your perspective... But it gets exceedingly hard when people immediately start making declarations about what batteries to order, when I know for a fact that the material isn't available at that time that meets that criteria. ..Yes special things may be done to address specific IPMT cases so that they may be closed, but those same solutions don't immediately translate into implementation across the whole of MCS. ..MCS logistics is working very hard with the manufacturing counterparts to secure the necessary materials so that we can "clean out our pipeline", establish a smoother order flow, and minimize any issues that may exist with shelf life. Likewise, the ordering, and use of materials further out along the logistics food chain to the individual SDU will have to come under review. MCS logistics (GSO) will be communicating to their counterparts in MCS World Wide on the issue. ... and gun shy is ok!!...