[NBLUG/talk] OT: Anyone ever replaced a battery in a UPS?

[Tim Preston]

IMHO, test and replace (the battery), first. Then, look into replacing 
the unit as a last resort. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Some things to look for are the ability for the unit to sustain 
prolonged battery use without damaging the inverter. Small home UPSs may 
not like the constant on off use. Like cheap surge suppressors, one good 
surge and they need replacing. Chargers also fail. check to see if the 
unit is still providing juice to keep the battery topped off. Usually 
around 14v with low battery, less when the battery is near full. 
Finally, batteries do fail. Type and material makes a big difference for 
batteries. When replacing batteries, check around for what types are 
available and how they may prolong your use.

APC units are generally strong units that can last many battery changes. 
Some new "off brand" units are also solid and can be revived with fresh 
batteries.

Currently I am working toward a solar sustaining system. I only have a 
few devices and could easily purchase a big battery (or two), Sine-wave 
inverter, and a couple solar panels. This provides very flexible use of 
emergency power and keeps the power bill down when running equipment 24/7.

Tim

Robert Hayes wrote:
> Seems the battery in my years old UPS just died.
>
> We have voltage drops here regularly during the winter. 
>
> Normally the UPS chirps and the world goes on as it should.
>
> Yesterday, however, the UPS chirped, the PC reset.  Yikes.
>
> Now when I hold the test button on the UPS I just get a rapidly declining 
> beeeeep to nothing. Sounds a lot like R2-D2 dying.
>
> What's the conventional wisdom on this topic? My unit has a small battery, 
> like a motorcycle. Do people replace the cells, or is the whole thing 
> recycled and replaced?
>
> TIA
>
> Robert
>
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