Lithium-ion battery packs for VR-series beds

Replacement battery packs for VR-7 and VR-5 beds are now lithium-ion, with longer life and 4.1 kg less weight.

From today, replacement battery packs for VR-7 and VR-5 beds are 24 V lithium-ion packs. They last about five years in normal use, compared with two to three years for lead-acid, and weigh 4.1 kg less.

Lithium-ion packs need controller firmware 4.10, which is released today in packages VR-7 2025.1 and VR-5 2025.1, and the charge profile must be set when a pack is fitted. Our engineers will install the update at each bed’s next planned maintenance visit. Customer information notice CI-UK-2025-03 explains what hospital engineers need to do.

Lead-acid packs remain available for beds that have not yet been updated.