Listen in this episode of DC Power Hour for a lively Battcon recap. Ryan Wallace sits down with Rodney Padilla, Eagle Eye consultant and longtime power instructor, about his first experience at the conference. Then Matt Kanter debuts a new segment, Kanter’s Korner, with Lucas Berndt, Eagle Eye Product Manager for battery chargers, to dig into his technical paper on slew rate and real-world charger performance.

Episode Highlights

1:16 – Rodney Padilla shares his extensive Bell System background and the long road to finally attending Battcon

6:16 – First impressions of Battcon: pre-conference classes (NERC PRC-005 and Advanced Battery Basics), technical papers on supercaps, and the value of past-present-future content

10:57 – Standout session on NFPA 855, hazardous mitigation, gases, fire marshals, and collaborating with the fire service

18:18 – What is slew rate and why does it matter for battery chargers?

19:52 – SCR vs. switch-mode (SMR) technology, micro-discharges, and how faster response protects long-term battery reliability

Special tribute episode, featuring longtime friends, respected colleagues and Hall of Fame contributors reflecting on the profound impact of J. Allen Byrne—a pioneering expert, educator, Battcon founder, IEEE Senior Member, and International Battery Hall of Fame inductee—whose decades of leadership in stationary battery systems, DC power solutions, and industry education shaped modern practices and inspired generations.

Episode Highlights

5:45 – We convinced Allen to leave Marconi Space and Defense, and he came and joined us in Saudi.

15:14 – He was the titan. They called Gauss the titan of electricity. But Allen Byrne was the titan of energy storage, and you could always bet on him. Having an answer to whatever question you asked him.

22:26 – He was always trying to look out for everybody else and make sure everybody else felt comfortable. But he was definitely, as I said before, a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

28:05 – We both agreed that once the last of the old guard is gone, also going to be gone is hundreds of years of experiences and knowledge and the willingness to share that, to stand up alone when needed to help the industry be better.

45:04 – Allen's interest went way beyond just batteries and he, he has a lasting impact.

Join Allen for an engaging episode of DC Power Hour, where he moderates a dynamic panel discussion featuring Battcon Hall of Fame members Tom Carpenter and Pete DeMar, alongside industry experts Ryan Wallace and Lucas Berndt. Together, they dive into the highlights of Battcon 2025, sharing key takeaways, memorable moments, and insights from the premier battery technology conference.

Episode Highlights

11:02 – Was there any real concerns at, Battcon about lithium ion respect to safety?

29:34 – What did you think of the panel session sessions?

44:25 – It was a fantastic Battcon. It, the venue, the subjects were great. They were diversified and every single paper teaches me something.

52:44 – Building those relationships, getting to know those people, that's the true value of being involved in coming to events like Battcon.