Lithonia ELB 1201N Emergency Light Replacement Battery 1.2V 1200mAh

Lithonia LX S W 3 G 120/277 EL N — 1.2V Ni-Cd Replacement Battery (ELB 1201N)

This is a 1.2V, 1200mAh Ni-Cd cell that replaces the OEM ELB 1201N battery in Lithonia emergency lighting fixtures. It fits the LX S W 3 G 120/277 EL N, LQM S W 3 R 120/277 ELNSD, LE S 1 R 120/277 EL N SD, LE S 2 R 120/277 EL N SD, and seven additional Lithonia emergency lighting models. Dimensions are 42.35 x 16.80 x 16.80mm — confirm your existing cell matches before installing.

• Multi-model fit across Lithonia EL-suffix fixtures: These fixtures share a common charge controller voltage rail and connector footprint. Any fitting in this family that carries the EL or ELNSD suffix uses the same 1.2V cell format, so one part number covers the full range without wiring modification.
• Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this cell through a charge-discharge sequence on the Lithonia charge controller. The BMS accepted the cell without fault and held float charge at the expected 1.4V trickle threshold. No cut-off events during load simulation.
• First-cycle test requirement: Within 24 hours of installation, hold the test button for the full rated duration. This confirms the new cell accepts load and lets the charge controller register actual cell capacity before your next scheduled compliance test. Skipping this step is the most common reason a new cell fails its first duration inspection.

Charge indicator staying red after new battery installation

Lithonia's charge controller uses a float-acceptance window to confirm the cell is charging correctly. A replacement Ni-Cd cell that has been in storage for several months will arrive at a lower resting voltage — sometimes below the window the controller expects. The controller reads this as a fault condition and holds the red LED rather than transitioning to green. Allow the fitting to charge uninterrupted for a full 24-hour period. If the LED has not moved to green after 24 hours, check cell voltage directly at the terminals — it should be reading above 1.0V under no load before the controller will accept it.

Emergency light dims and fades during the duration test

This is different from a flat-out test failure. The light activates and runs, but output visibly drops within the first few minutes. The cause is an insufficiently conditioned cell — the charge controller has not yet established full capacity in the new Ni-Cd cell, so the lamp draws more current than the cell can sustain at full voltage. Run one complete manual test cycle immediately after installation, then allow a full 24-hour recharge before the formal compliance test. A properly conditioned cell will hold lamp output without visible dimming across the rated duration.