This presentation will describe a methodological approach to visual inspection that if followed will help the maintainer spot potential problems. The procedure is liberally illustrated by photographs and descriptions of actual problems experienced by the author and the causes and effects will be discussed.
The author calls the visual inspection procedure detailed in this presentation, the “From the Top Down” procedure and the methodology is designed to make sure that nothing is missed. It also encompasses one’s other senses that can be important in battery inspection, those of smell, feel, and hearing.
About Eagle Eye Power Solutions
Headquartered in Mequon, Wisconsin, Eagle Eye Power Solutions is a manufacturer of critical power solutions, services, and education for utility, data center, and critical power applications. With a growing portfolio of engineered solutions and a focus on reliability, safety, and performance, Eagle Eye partners with customers to support mission-critical infrastructure worldwide.
Allen Byrne
As a 40-year veteran of the battery-backed power industry, J Allen Byrne was a Technical Advisor and Instructor for Eagle Eye Power Solutions. He was a Senior Member of the Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers (IEEE), where he sat on the Power and Energy Society’s Stationary Battery Committee (PES SBC). He was also a member of the IEEE Standards Association and the vice-chair of two IEEE battery standards. Allen was one of the founders of Battcon, the International Stationary Battery Conference, where he was the chair for 16 years. In 2005, he was voted the Battery Person-of-the-Year, just four years after being honored in 2011 with induction into the Battcon Battery Hall-of Fame. Allan passed away in December 2025 leaving a lasting legacy on the DC Power Industry he so very much loved.
