They produce massive power for comparatively low weight and small size. Importantly, they hold their charge for very long periods when on standby or in storage. Shelf life can be as long as 15 years. Our GPUs can operate in very cold or hot climates, but being portable, they can be kept in sheltered conditions until needed, when they can deliver full high power on demand. They do not need cycling, or maintenance, other than charging after use. When they do become depleted, they can be refitted with new cells and returned to full service, a feature which makes for substantial savings over time.

Red Box chargers are high quality and use microprocessor or intelligent switch-mode technology. Our equipment has outstanding features including automatic voltage sensing, anti condensation and cold temperature conditioning. In the field, Red Box hand portable ground power units can be recharged from other voltage controlled DC sources, such as road vehicles or 28v DC power outlets, even direct from aircraft main engine generators, when ground return is available.
Red Box can also provide special DC/DC battery chargers for recharging GPUs while in transit.

Red Box experience, plus the feedback from thousands of users, has shown that one type of portable GPU cannot possibly support all commercial and military needs satifactorily. Our versatile range is designed to meet the needs of air, land or marine users and their widely varying operating requirements. Our hand portable ground power units are built to operate in harsh conditions. We can configure hand portable packs in either 12v or 24v operation and continous power supplies in fixed, switchable (14 / 28 volts) or vatiable configurations.

When heavy duty use is required always choose the largest capacity.

Corrected charging, float charging and the regularity of charging will also have an effect on battery life. It is most important to recharge the batteries as soon as possible after use to prevent the onset of sulphating of the plates. This condition will have an adverse effect upon the battery life and performance. It is also very important not to allow the batteries to become deep discharged, that is, discharged below 22.0 volts. If this occurs it will affect the battery life and it could result in the battery being very difficult, if not impossible, to recover to normal use. Generally, it is good practice to leave the power unit on the charger for as long, and as often as possible and it is recommended that when feasible they should be left on for 24 hours every 2 weeks or so, to allow full cell equilibrium to be achieved.

There is, therefore, no specific formula to calculate actual battery life but, Red Box has extensive experience, based upon the time from sale of some power units to the time that they were returned for new cells to be fitted. A rough rule of thumb suggest that the apporximate average life of these examples is around two years. Some units may be less and some considerably more.

It is therefore important to manage the portable packs and whenever possible, to keep or store them in as worm an environment as possible. It is important to fit the thermal covers and to avoid wind chill. These actions will delay cold soaking. The "High Tech" lead acid batteries used in Red Box power units will be less affected by cold than most aircraft batteries but even these batteries will eventually suffer if the cold problem is not managed.

The Red Box power units are maintenance free with regard to electrolyte replenishment. Maximum storage life, between charges, is 2 years at 25 C. (Less at higher temperatures). Total storage life is 15 years (not affected by humidity).

The TC range was initiated several years ago, to meet demands from customers either with larger aircraft than the hand portable pack could support alone, or with larger operations where several smaller aircraft are in more regular use. This led to the development of two concepts in highly manoeuvrable units. The provision of large capacity batteries for start power only or with the addition of high quality DC power supplies for both continous and start power.

The TC 400 series are designed for start power only giving a maximum of 6000 Amps if required in a highly portable package. The TC3000 series are a combination of the 400 series unit with addition of continuous DC supply giving 50, 100, 150 or 200 Amps at 28 Volts and up to 6000 Amps for starting.

These systems are suitable for a wide range of applications, from the supplying of auxiliary power for servicing, pre-flight checks, diagnostics, training or demonstrations.

They can be easily transported for use on the Ramp, in the Workshop or out in the Field. If required they can be simply and cost effectively transported to a different location or transported in an aircraft. These units can also be supplied for fixed installation use.

A compact highly manoeuvrable GPU which is supplied with separate high capacity charging unit. A weight - balanced design on pneumatic tyres with an optional towbar, this GPU is fully all weather operational and is specailly designed for the heavy duty starting of turbine and turbo prop aircraft. (3 capacities are available).
For use at fixed bases or on remote stations, these units can operate in extremes of temperatue, their power cells have excellent standby characteristics and do not need cycling nor have any memory effect. The essentially dry lead acid batteries are maintenance free and are replaceable on condition.

The largest unit is this range is the TC400/28 which is a genuine 28 volt unit using 14, 2 volt lead acid cells. This extra 4 volts can be vital on some airframes which are particularly sensitive to the voltage of the ground supply, especially during a heavy start or in arduous operating conditions.
Each TC400 unit is fitted with a digital voltmeter for voltage audible warning device to advise when the cells have reached a Low State Charge / Flat condition.
A separate, powerful, 20 amp DC charger is provided with the GPU and is available in 110v OR 230v AC. Power for feeding these chargers can be supplied from fixed mains or portable generators.
The units are delivered as standard with 2.5 metre heavy duty aircraft power cable, fitted with a 3 pin NATO connector. A 50mm, 'pin through ', tow bar is optional and units are ready to use out of the box.

This is an extremely compact, weight balanced design, hand maneuverable on pneumatic tyres. These GPUs are specially designed for heavy duty starting of turbine and turbo prop aircraft. They provide 50, 100 or 150 amps of continuous power at 28.5 volts DC. For use at fixed bases or on remote stations, these units can operate in extremes of temperature and their power cells have excellent standby characteristics and do not need cycling. The essentially dry lead acid batteries are maintenance free and are replaceable on condition.

A 50, 100 or 150 amps, 28.5 volt power supply / charger is installed within the GPU. This can also be used to provide continuous filtered power for general workshop use, pre flight checks, avionics work , weapon system checks or to recharge the internal batteries of the unit.

Supplied ready to use out of the box, all units are complete with a heavy duty aircraft cable fitted with a 3 pin NATO connector and a suitable mains lead. These units, due to their high power, are normally 220 volt 50/60 Hz input, but other options are available on request.

TC3000 units are available in 3 battery capacities and 3 contiuous rating, which have been combined in a selection detailed in the table below, to deal with most customer demands, however custom configurations are always available. All TC3000 units feature a digital microprocessor control system which monitors several parameters and displays the voltage, current and system status. This also monitors and controls the voltage output and the automatic charging of the batteries.

These units convert direct from AC Mains Supply to 28.5 volts DC using the latest technology, providing stable outputs capable of rapid response to a change in load. Together with remote voltage sensing, this provides high quality steady DC at the aircraft.

They can be provided in both static and mobile formats and are ideal for supplying aircraft which require high levels of DC power during turn-round, whether for powering lighting, gallery equipment, or climate control. Units for fixed installation can be in a variety of configurations, however these units to be mobile, keeping heavy cable runs and therefore voltage drops to a minimum.

They can have fixed or variable output voltage and frequences. Using highly reliable semiconductor technology, outputs can tolerate phase unbalances up to 100% and large transient overloads for equipment with high start up demands. The outputs can be monitored on a LCD digital display, indicating all phase voltages and frequencies, output power and effective power factors. These displays can be locked for simplified use. Together with clear information lights giving the unit status, this makes these units very simple to use.

Aircraft interlocks in both Military and Commercial variants are available with override facilities to provide compatibility with a wide range of airframes.

These units can be provided in both a static and mobile formats. Static units can be free standing, bridge, or skid mounted for more permanent installation, whereas the portable units are trolley mounted enabling complete maneuverability behind field vehicles.

Compact and lightweigth static frequency and voltage converters can be produced for any insutrial or marine application, offering both multiple / variable voltage and frequency input and output.

These units are in current use by NATO military and can be supplied in military or other colours to order.

The standard inspection camera has inbuilt cold LED lights and can operate in complete darkness.

The very compact display unit has a rotating screen so that, regardless of the camera orientation, the picture can always be viewed "head up".

Camera cables can be up to 100 metres and are supplied in modular lengths. The TFT screen is protected by a lexan outer cover.

Images can be downloaded for record purposes or for onward transmission to manufacturers.

SnakeCam can be easily attached to any model of borescope or fibrescope for reaching through small apertures.

SnakeCam is cost effective for technicians, inspectors and investigators to use this tool to save time and money in a wide range of applications.

Also available for SnakeCam is the very small digital audio and video recorder. The recorder is about half the size of a deck of cards and can record up to 15 hours of audio and visual data without recharging.