Battery Back-Up System

[lacubs]

I had 2 that died that die within a year, do you need charge them? or what i am do wrong?

thanks

 

[TheKrell]

I don't know what the issue is with your UPS's. But I usually get 5 years out of my SmartUps batteries. Are you saying the batteries will no longer hold a charge after only a year?

 

[fred555]

I had 2 that died that die within a year, do you need charge them? or what i am do wrong?

thanks

What brands?
Please explain "died".
Batteries need to be changed when warning lights come on.

 

[harshness]

If you don't keep them powered most of the time (or frequently run them until they shut down), it will shorten their lifespan significantly. Most of them consume power monitoring their input power (or absence thereof) and that drains the batteries over time if there's no AC input. Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries are by no means "deep cycle" batteries that can stand up to being substantially drained between charges.

My batteries usually last 5-6 years and then I price replacements to decide whether to replace the batteries or the whole UPS.

It is important not only to recycle the batteries but also the UPS itself.

 

[lacubs]

What brands?
Please explain "died".
Batteries need to be changed when warning lights come on.

right now i have "Cyber Power" Brand, i keep the UPS plugin all the time, the front light only come when the power go off, and its shows low Batteries, the only thing it does right now my house alot of a little power problems, and it helps with them but if big power outage my computer goes completed off! i took a picture but i just ran an test that why the numbers are so low

 

[primestar31]

I bought a Cyberpower 1500 watt UPS from Amazon in 2009. It runs all my electronics for my tv, dvrs, etc, etc. I have frequent power outages, so it gets used a lot. It can keep everything UP for about 1 hour before dying. I finally had to replace the batteries at the end of 2015. So, the batteries lasted 6 years for me.

That doesn't mean however that they will last 6 years for everybody, but even with other UPS's that I have, 5 years is the minimum time I've ever had to replace a set.

When you FIRST get a new UPS, and also after a battery replacement, you really should just plug it in with nothing else connected, and let it FULLY charge a minimum of 24 hours before plugging your equipment into it. Not doing this can cause your batteries to die an early death.

 

[fred555]

Batteries + Bulbs carries new batteries for most UPSs at a good price.
Bring the UPS there and they will replace the batteries for you if you want.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/store-locator?search=erie+pa&lat=&lng=

I would replace the batteries first, if that does not work, you need a new UPS.
Or just buy a new UPS.

 

[Foxbat]

I just went through this a few weeks back with the UPS in the basement powering my wireless access point and NAS. The unit was an older APC Back-UPS 650 that nobody wanted so for the price of a new battery I had a functioning UPS. That battery lasted about 4 years and I took the battery back to Batteries+ to recycle it. What I didn't realize after spending $50 for the new replacement battery was APC is offering up to a 25% trade-in allowance if you buy a new APC unit and recycle your old UPS to APC.

The APC Trade-UPS Program gives you:

• Up to a 25% discount on new APC UPS(s)
  The APC Trade-UPS program* is a cost-effective way to upgrade your existing units and protect your latest investment. Trade in any UPS, regardless of its manufacturer or its working condition, for the latest APC UPS technology and receive up to a 25% discount on your new purchase.*** The Trade-UPS program is currently available in the United States, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden.** This program is applicable for original equipment owners only.
• Up to a 25% discount on APC accessories
  As a benefit to our customers, now you can also buy additional APC accessories at a significant discount, if purchased along with your Trade-UPS.
• Upgrade to four times the VA of your current UPS capacity
  Trade in up to 4X the VA of your current UPS capacity or trade in two UPSs for one larger unit.
• Up to a 3 year factory warranty on new units
• Free removal and/or shipping of existing units
  Order new units today and receive free return shipping of your retired units back to APC. APC will also pay to have larger UPSs picked up and returned.* *Applicable only to defined easy access areas
• Proper ecological disposal of returned UPSs and batteries for free
  All old units, including hazardous UPS batteries, returned to APC will then be properly and ecologically disposed of according to Environmental Protection Agency standards (a $5 to $500 value depending on the UPS).

Something I would have taken advantage of if I had known about it beforehand! Link: http://www.apc.com/shop/tradeups/us/en/tradeups/overview.jsp

 

[harshness]

8% is certainly low for a fully-charged battery. The test doesn't take much out of the battery as it only lasts for a few seconds.

I recommend shopping AtBatt.com for SLA batteries. They typically have great prices and the shipping is reasonable.

http://www.atbatt.com/ups-backup-batteries.asp

They list 147 will-fit batteries for CyberPower UPSes.

 

[harshness]

What I didn't realize after spending $50 for the new replacement battery was APC is offering up to a 25% trade-in allowance if you buy a new APC unit and recycle your old UPS to APC.

Note that the Tradeups program runs under DIRECTV's omnipresent CYA caveat of "up to" a 25% discount. I've found that I can usually buy APC UPSes outright and delivered for at least 25% off list + shipping so the Tradeup is probably a wash under ideal conditions.

For the last six months or so my local Costco is pushing the CyberPower 1300 and that seems to be a pretty good unit for $99.

I rarely run APC replacement batteries anymore as the aftermarket is providing good enough batteries for half the price.