3 Important Reasons to Use SuperCell Batteries in Your DCI Transmitters

In the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry, where reliability and precision are paramount, your choice of equipment is critical—especially the batteries powering your tools.

While it might be tempting to cut expenses with counterfeit or low-cost lithium-ion batteries, this decision can lead to serious consequences. If your batteries fail mid-drill, you risk inaccurate readings, unexpected equipment downtime, and damage to your transmitter and other vital drilling tools. Other dangers of using alternative batteries include overheating, which can cause fires or explosions, leading to property damage or personal injury. These consequences could cost you far more than your initial savings on the cheaper batteries.

To ensure optimal performance and minimize risks, it’s essential to invest in high-quality batteries. DCI’s SuperCell battery was specifically engineered for HDD applications and is backed by our reputation, making it the best choice for getting the most out of your DCI transmitters.

Choosing SuperCell batteries isn’t just about immediate performance; it’s a strategic investment in your long-term success and reliability in the field.

1. Battery Safety

Some of the biggest issues you can experience with cheaper or counterfeit batteries are safety related. In fact, the FBI recently warned that counterfeit batteries are dangerous to consumers and their devices, stating “batteries can cause injury if they are designed improperly, made of low-quality materials, assembled incorrectly, charged improperly, or damaged.” Similarly, cheap lithium-ion batteries typically come from factories with lower quality control, meaning that some of the batteries that pass through to you might not work—and likely weren’t built for the harsh underground conditions you encounter.

DCI’s SuperCell batteries are proudly made in the USA and therefore adhere to the highest manufacturing standards. In fact, we intentionally selected a manufacturer whose sole purpose is high-quality battery manufacturing and who prioritizes a safety-based culture, going above and beyond the already high “Made in the USA” standard.

Each SuperCell undergoes rigorous testing, with each battery quality tested not once, but twice to ensure you receive the highest quality product. With this meticulous attention to detail, you can feel confident that SuperCell batteries can effectively—and safely—power your transmitters.

2. Performance Assurance

When it comes to powering today’s high-power transmitters, SuperCell batteries stand out as the optimal choice for achieving superior performance. SuperCells are designed to deliver the highest wattage output, maintaining their capacity even at elevated current levels. This ensures much longer runtimes than their cheaper counterparts. In contrast, counterfeit batteries often experience significant capacity reduction, leading to unexpected shutdowns due to their inability to handle high current draws.

Did you know your DCI transmitters are equipped with a “high current shut-off” feature to protect their electronic circuitry? This can be triggered by the voltage drops of inferior batteries—including traditional alkaline batteries—resulting in a transmitter that stops working in the middle of your bore. When every minute on the job counts, you don’t want to risk unreliability in your transmitters’ performance.

Finally, by choosing SuperCell batteries, you get access DCI’s exceptional, 24/7 customer service team, providing peace of mind that counterfeit options cannot offer.

With SuperCells, you can expect much more consistent and dependable performance than with any counterfeit battery.

3. Made for HDD Environments

In the horizontal directional drilling industry, reliability in extreme conditions is paramount, and SuperCell batteries are specifically engineered to meet these demands. With an impressive working temperature range from -40°F to 302°F (-40°C to +150°C), SuperCells deliver the highest temperature ratings and wattage output, ensuring consistent performance in harsh environments. As noted in the manufacturer’s data sheet, SuperCells are "built to withstand extreme shock and vibrations," making them ideal for the rugged conditions often encountered on drilling sites.

In stark contrast, counterfeit batteries fall short in these critical areas, risking equipment failure and unreliable performance when it matters most. In fact, most SuperCell replacements online don’t have their manufacturer’s standards listed—so you won’t know what temperature ranges or vibration tolerances you’re getting.

Instead of taking a gamble on counterfeit batteries, feel confident in the performance standards of a battery made for HDD.

In summary, by choosing SuperCell batteries, you are not only ensuring optimal performance for your drilling equipment but also protecting your investment from the costly consequences associated with inferior alternatives.

You can only get SuperCells through authorized DCI resellers.

Visit your local dealer today.