Abstract: A rechargeable DC power supply includes a housing including an interior, an exterior, and an integral heat sink including a heat absorbing surface formed in said interior and a heat dissipating surface formed in said exterior. The rechargeable DC power supply includes a rechargeable battery having battery terminals positioned in said interior, power supply terminals positioned at said exterior of said housing, and a first printed circuit board (PCB) assembly including a bidirectional DC-DC converter module connected between said battery terminals and said power supply terminals. The first PCB assembly is in coplanar contact with said heat absorbing surface.

Abstract: A telecommunication switching station includes telecommunication equipment, a DC power supply having an output connected to the telecommunication equipment, and a plurality of rechargeable DC power supplies connected in parallel with the output of the DC power supply. Each DC power supply includes a pair of power supply terminals, a rechargeable battery, and a bidirectional DC-DC converter module connected between the rechargeable battery and the pair of power supply terminals. The DC power supply provides power to the telecommunication equipment and recharges the plurality of rechargeable DC power supplies. The plurality of rechargeable DC power supplies serve as a back-up for the DC power supply.