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                                   BULLETIN
       FSB-059 - DISCONTINUING DISTRIBUTION OF LITHIUM DD BATTERY PACKS
                  DATE/REV:  01APR92 / 0 (previously FSB 8-2)
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ABSTRACT:  RDI has discontinued distribution of lithium DD battery packs.

INSTRUMENT/PROGRAM AFFECTED:  All users of lithium battery packs (primarily
SC-NBADCP systems and some DR-NBADCP systems).

DESCRIPTION:  RDI has discontinued distribution of all battery packs using
"DD" lithium battery cells as of 1 February 1992.  These cells include the
RD-LBP1-A, RD-LBP1-B, RD-LBP2-A, and RD-LBP2-B.  Until further notice, RDI
will be supplying "D" lithium battery packs to provide internal DC power sup-
plies for the ADCP.  RDI also has discontinued providing customers with "DD"
battery kits.  We will continue to provide "D" battery kits.

We have discontinued the distribution of these battery packs because of a
recent destructive failure of a "DD" lithium battery pack at our manufactur-
er's battery pack assembly plant.  The specific cause of the failure is not
known.  We are not aware of any evidence that suggests there are any inherent
design flaws in either the "DD" lithium battery cells or in the manufacture of
the "DD" lithium battery packs that would have caused this failure.  RDI's
action is a precautionary decision while awaiting a detailed report about the
battery failure from both the manufacturer of the "DD" lithium batteries and
the company assembling the "DD" packs.  RDI has no reason to expect problems
in ADCPs that are now deployed using these "DD" battery packs.  Hundreds of
the "DD" battery packs have reliably powered the approximately 200 Self-
Contained ADCPs sold during the last decade.  This is the first report of a
destructive failure of one of these packs.  This history suggests that the
recent isolated failure is unlikely to recur.

RDI regrets that in certain cases the unavailability of DD packs might result
in some inconvenience, but we trust that you will endorse our effort to mini-
mize risk wherever possible.

SOLUTION/ACTION:  Lithium battery packs RD-LBP5-A and -B will replace
RD-LBP1-A and -B.  Lithium battery packs RD-LBP3-A and -B will replace
RD-LBP2-A and -B.  The new packs do NOT have the same amperage hours (A-h) as
the discontinued packs.  Here are the capacities of the replacement packs.

      ----------+------------------------------+------------+-----------
                |                              |     V1     |     V2
       Part no. |         Description          | VDC | A-h  | VDC | A-h
      ----------+------------------------------+-----+------+-----+-----
      RD-LBP3-A | 600WH, V1 Lithium Battery    | 7.8 | 54.0 |  -  |  -
      RD-LBP3-B | 600WH, V1 Lithium Battery    | 7.8 | 54.0 |  -  |  -
      RD-LBP5-A | 600WH, V1/V2 Lithium Battery | 7.8 |  8.8 |  39 | 8.8
      RD-LBP5-B | 600WH, V1/V2 Lithium Battery | 7.8 |  8.8 |  39 | 8.8
      ----------+------------------------------+-----+------+-----+-----


The voltages are the nominal open-circuit voltages at 25 degrees C.  Capaci-
ties are nominal ratings at 0 degrees C based on RDI tests under typical load
conditions and are lower than manufacturer specifications.  This table derates
the manufacturer-specified capacities at 25 degrees C to 0 degrees C using a
factor of 0.73.

Each RD-LBP5 lithium battery pack has two sub-batteries to supply voltage V1
and voltage V2.  The initial purchase of an SC-NBADCP will include two
RD-LBP5-A battery packs.

You can place a total of four "D" lithium battery packs into the ADCP elec-
tronics chassis.  If you install two RD-LBP3-A and two RD-LBP5-A packs in the
ADCP, the total A-h for V1 will be 125.6, and the total for V2 will be 17.6. 
If you need higher capacities, RDI sells external battery pressure cases.  We
are looking for a replacement for the "DD" lithium battery packs.  Call us for
lithium battery pack pricing, availability, and options.

We have revised our SC-NBADCP Technical Manual to reflect these changes.  To
keep your manual up-to-date, call and ask for a free copy of this revision
(SC-NBADCP Technical Manual, Change 1, dated April 1, 1992).

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