Battery cutoff timer

A battery cutoff timer for use with a plurality of data communications devices, the communications devices being divided into critical devices and non-critical devices, all of said devices configured to be powered at least in part by storage battery power during unavailability of primary power input, said timer comprising:

• (a) a monitor device for monitoring the availability of primary power input for the data communications equipment;
• (b) an alarm device for sensing a failure event in primary power for the data communications equipment;
• (c) a timing device for being initiated by said alarming device and for counting-down a predetermined time interval following the failure event;
• (d) a cutoff device for cutting off storage battery power to at least one non-critical device upon elapsing of such predetermined time interval during continuation of unavailability of primary power input;
• and;
• (e) a power restoring device for restoring primary input power to the at least one non-critical device upon resumption of availability of primary power input.

A method of regulating electrical power flow among a plurality of loads, said method comprising:

• providing a plurality of loads coupled to a primary power input source, the plurality of loads divided into critical and non-critical loads;
• monitoring input of electrical power for the loads from the primary power input source;
• selecting at least one duration;
• triggering a timer to count down the duration upon occurrence of a change in a logic state associated with the primary power input source;
• selectably interrupting power flow to at least one non-critical load upon elapsing of said at least one duration counted down by said timer.