UPS replacement batteries

[hermosabeach]

A recent power outage reminded me that my UPS battery is DEAD...

I was going to run off to Frys... but then I started to google the battery model...


I found a few places that are half the price of frys..... I just don't know if they are legit.....


My question- Where do you buy your UPS batteries?

[OutlawStar]

Batteries are batteries; if they have the correct voltage and verified mAH rating, they'll do what they say. Some people like to use different construction batteries such as the nickel batteries instead of lipo because of longevity, but if you're constantly running them down to 0 charge, you wouldn't want some batteries.

I've seen commercial server racks use car batteries in an array with a power controller acting as a UPS. Few hundred dollars every decade to replace the batteries, and maybe update the power controller, makes for a cheap industrial solution, but its rather ugly and often intimidating having open wires connecting terminals if you're not familiar with the electricity ratings.

[MaHoTex]

Batteries are batteries; if they have the correct voltage and verified mAH rating, they'll do what they say. Some people like to use different construction batteries such as the nickel batteries instead of lipo because of longevity, but if you're constantly running them down to 0 charge, you wouldn't want some batteries.

I've seen commercial server racks use car batteries in an array with a power controller acting as a UPS. Few hundred dollars every decade to replace the batteries, and maybe update the power controller, makes for a cheap industrial solution, but its rather ugly and often intimidating having open wires connecting terminals if you're not familiar with the electricity ratings.

I will disagree with the statement "Batteries are batteries."

OP, go with the PowerSonic and do not even consider trying to save a few bucks on some other brand.

I have tried a few cheap replacements and had duds on more than one occasion. There are many places online, just watch out for the shipping charges. Amazon is reasonable source as well.

[the86d]

Sometimes UPS batts. have different Terminals on the cheaper models, but the terminal type can also be a factor:

https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/terminal-type-f1-f2-tabs.html

It was on my last purchase, but I need to get some too.

My UPS on my FiOS equip in the garage has never been replaced... time to probably swap that one I have been forgetting about...

[Marauder2003]

I agree if voltage and mAh are the same you are OK. But I also think the type has to match. NiMH vs NiCad vs Li-ion. They have different charging characteristics that the charger in the device has been designed for.

[the86d]

I have only seen sealed lead acid batts. in a UPS.

I haven't seen a UPS use NiMH, NiCads, or Lithium* in a UPS yet.
They have them?

[MaHoTex]

As far as the terminals, there are F1 and F2 type.

Go here to see the difference:

http://www.batterymart.com/battery-blog/2009/10/25/f1-vs-f2-terminals/

Some batteries come with an adapter to convert from F1 to F2 type, but beware, this extends the connector and you may have a fitment problem. I know this to be true on the APC units.

[NYT]

people who pay retail do not own their own company.

op, i go here for my APC batteries which i change out every other year.

http://www.technologygalaxy.com/UPS_APC_Batteries/c/277

i have 6 2200s, about 30 1500s and 30 750s. batteries cost us quite a penny so we look for super deals.

[MaHoTex]

^^^ Wow, that is a very expensive place to get batteries.

[NYT]

^^^ Wow, that is a very expensive place to get batteries.

you think so? where would you go for better deals? i have been using these guys for three years so far, ever since they were UPSGALAXY.

[MaHoTex]

you think so? where would you go for better deals? i have been using these guys for three years so far, ever since they were UPSGALAXY.

Though not intended to come off this way, there is no way to say it besides coming out and saying it, so, I will just spit it out.

Anywhere is cheaper than there.

For example, the very first cartridge listed on their website is the RBC35 for $36.75. Amazon is $20 w/ free shipping. Batterysharks is $10.50 + $6.00 shipping.

Honestly, if you just type in the model number in google, you will be hard pressed to find a more expensive place to buy from.

I did not go through the entire list, so maybe others are more cost effective. Maybe next time you need batteries use BatterySharks, or do a google search and see what comes up and compare against them. Battery sharks or Amazon have had the best deals from what I have seen. I am not in the business of maintaining UPS equipment, but I have to buy for the 6 or so units that I own.

[2shotjoe]

mine died too on the last blackout in another neighborhood, surge turned my ups off. it wouldn't turn on. at first i was looking for replacements, 30 total online or 60 bucks local.

then, i looked for a car battery charger. found one that was 12 volts. charged both for a hour. put batteries back in and the UPS turned back on and now works.

test your batteries first, could be just a low charge on them.

[NYT]

Though not intended to come off this way, there is no way to say it besides coming out and saying it, so, I will just spit it out.

Anywhere is cheaper than there.

For example, the very first cartridge listed on their website is the RBC35 for $36.75. Amazon is $20 w/ free shipping. Batterysharks is $10.50 + $6.00 shipping.

Honestly, if you just type in the model number in google, you will be hard pressed to find a more expensive place to buy from.

I did not go through the entire list, so maybe others are more cost effective. Maybe next time you need batteries use BatterySharks, or do a google search and see what comes up and compare against them. Battery sharks or Amazon have had the best deals from what I have seen. I am not in the business of maintaining UPS equipment, but I have to buy for the 6 or so units that I own.

battery sharks looks to only sell generic batteries and not APC branded. is this what you are referring to? if so, yes lol, generic batteries are indeed cheaper elsewhere.

i only buy APC branded because if you buy anything else, schneider electric will not back their APC UPS.

[MaHoTex]

battery sharks looks to only sell generic batteries and not APC branded. is this what you are referring to? if so, yes lol, generic batteries are indeed cheaper elsewhere.

i only buy APC branded because if you buy anything else, schneider electric will not back their APC UPS.

Yeah, that is what I was talking about. If you only want to run APC batteries then you are hosed. UPSs, to me, are a commodity item. Just throw it in the trash and get a new one when it fails. That is what the IT does where I am at anyway. For the smaller UPSs it is darn near the same price to buy a new UPS as it is to replace with APC batteries.

Electrically speaking, there is no reason to use a battery with an APC label on it over some other replacement brand. If you go with a quality replacement like PowerSonic, it will perform as well as the APC labeled battery. Here's the deal though, you said you replace batteries every two years. APC only warranties UPSs for two years. After that you are on your own. That said, does it makes sense to continue to feed the APC money generation machine? They make a boat ton of cash in battery sales. The kicker is they don't even make their own batteries, at least 3-4 years ago they didn't. So, they are buying the same cheaper batteries I buy, replace the label, and mark it up to 2-3X the amount. Just my thoughts on the subject for what they are worth.

Granted, if you told Schneider Electric you are running any other brand they will not back it, but after 2 years they are not going to back it anyway. The company where I am at has many hundreds of UPSs and they replace with PowerSonic in most cases and the units seem to run flawlessly.

[NYT]

yeah, if i were buying the small ups' like you find at bestbuy or frys they are a throw away item.

i only buy the smart ups'. the cheapest one i have is around $1k.

i have no doubt APC batteries are the same as other generics, they prob all come from the same plant in china. i am bound by requirements though and have my warranties through schneider to protect assets. the only way i have found to save a few bucks was to buy from the company mentioned above because they ship the batteries to me for free and i get rebates on the ones i ship back. schneider is none the wiser because i dont tell them how long ago i purchased the UPS.

if one goes down and causes an issue with my hardware, i can use their insurance to get some sort of compensation. i was able to get a $2500 check a few months ago for this very situation. The APC failed so i sent the unit back to schneider, they verified the issue was their fault and wrote me out a check.