APC Smart UPS 1500

[true_blue]

Hi guys.. I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with this UPS as mine stopped working all of a sudden and just emits a solid audible tone when turned on.
I think it is probably the battery.. but for it to just work fine and then not within a day seems strange.. so before I buy a new battery, are there any tests I can do on the UPS itself to see whether anything else is the cause?

Also, where do you guys generally buy your replacement UPS batteries? I have read somewhere that a normal motorcycle battery will do the trick, and the branded APC ones are just a rip off. Is this true?

Sorry if this post is in the wrong section, I figured it would better fit in with PSU's rather than just "General Electrical"

[diif]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Does the tone last for 60 seconds ? It should go off every few hours to inform you the battery is on its way out. Have you got the APC software installed ? you can disable the warning in there.
Having recently seen a photo of a UPS that used cheap UPS batteries with them both melted inside, personally i would only use decent batteries.

[true_blue]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Thanks for your reply!

I think the tone was like that yes. It lasted quite a while then went off and came back on an hour later or something. But the battery didn't work at all, and as soon as I cut power to the UPS it failed completely. No battery backup even for a few seconds.. that is what I find strange. So could it still be the battery or would that be the UPS itself?

I always expected it to sorta slowly die out until it couldn't keep the power up for more than a few seconds in the end.. not just a sudden death.

Cool ok.. and where would you buy your battery if you had to? Ebay seems like it could be full of fakes.. and the delivery is obviously pretty costly for the weight of them.

Cheers mate!

[budm]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

I would try to get it locally so you can see the date codes on the batteries, you do not want to buy the batteries that has been sitting on the shelf for a long time, see page 16.

http://www.stevejenkins.com/blog/201...a-cheaper-way/

[diif]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Have you got he APC software installed ? The status is monitored through that from what I remember with the alarm sounding when the battery has fallen below its working level.
It's not something I've had to order but a quick Google turns up a couple of uk websites that focus on batteries. The one I've just looked at did £4.99 shipping.

[stj]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

so post the links.

[diif]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

My bad, I was on my phone.

http://www.mdsbattery.co.uk/shop/pro...uctGroupID=755
And
Hardwareexpress.co.uk

[stj]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

probably worth linking this.
http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrica...Acid-Batteries

[true_blue]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Wow thanks for the info guys. I read that great blog about the UPS batteries.. you should all read it if you haven't already! Thanks BudM!!
After following it, I was able to find a brand new battery for £25 on ebay with free delivery!!, and like the guy says on his blog.. it is likely just ONE unit that is dead.. so I can keep one of them and use the new one together with it.. if not I will find another somewhere else.

But apparently all these batteries are the same, regardless of brand name and I was right in my original post about APC and the like ripping people off. Its shocking some of the crap they pull.

Oh also, yes I had the APC software installed and was getting a error code which pointed towards dead battery.. but I just had a hard time believing the battery could go from (good for 2-3 hours powering my PC) to dead in a day. Is that normally how those batteries die? I thoroughly expected it to be a slow death where the capacity would just dwindle away.

If the UPS itself is faulty.. its only a £25 battery wasted which I am sure I can find a use for somewhere else. Fingers crossed though!!

I would also like to ask you guys if it is possible to repair/refresh the surge protection part of a UPS so that it is back to new? As I know that surge protection is only good for so many uses.

Cheers!

[stj]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

battery's are NOT all the same.
some are designed to be constantly flattened and recharged - for booster-packs, lanterns etc.
some are designed to just sit on tricklecharge waiting without damage - for emergency lighting/UPS etc.
and some are designed to handle very fast high current discharge - for starting engines for example.

the type you need for a UPS is the cheapest btw.

[true_blue]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Oh what I meant was there are no "special" type UPS batteries.. they are just common wheelchair / motorcycle batteries with an APC sticker whacked on.

If this £25 deal works out I will be really thrilled! Even the old APC SmartUPS 1500 I have is still pretty expensive to replace. Still around £275 here plus delivery!

Any thoughts about my surge protection question? I was reading an article the other day about surge protectors only having a certain amount of "goes" before they stop being useful. So I thought maybe there is a way to replace the parts inside them to reset them?

Cheers!

battery's are NOT all the same.
some are designed to be constantly flattened and recharged - for booster-packs, lanterns etc.
some are designed to just sit on tricklecharge waiting without damage - for emergency lighting/UPS etc.
and some are designed to handle very fast high current discharge - for starting engines for example.

the type you need for a UPS is the cheapest btw.

[diif]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

These are three years old and came out of a smart UPS 1000.
To echo stj, not all batteries are the same.

[kc8adu]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

you will have to replace both.even if the "good" one is usable it wont for long.
worse is its float current will be different than the new one and 1 will get overcharged.
order another and try to get it from the same lot as the first.

[kc8adu]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

was that a cell failure or a runaway charger?
hopefully you checked the float at the batteries rather than powerchute!

These are three years old and came out of a smart UPS 1000.
To echo stj, not all batteries are the same.

[true_blue]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Yeah as long as it works for a bit ill know the ups is still ok so that is my priority for now and then I'll try get that 2nd Newy. Sadly the listing had only 1 left but I'm gonna message them about more.

Cheers!

[Behemot]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

If it is more than 4 years old, definitelly replace all 22uF capacitors. General purpose, I use Chemi-Con KMG.

[sambul83]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Yeah as long as it works for a bit ill know the ups is still ok

If it doesn't, look through this thread: APC Back-UPS 1300 not charging battery.

[budm]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

@sambul, what happen to that thread? You never give us the follow-up.

[sambul83]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Sorry, I will definitely do that in a few days. Your help is unforgettable!

[true_blue]

Re: APC Smart UPS 1500

Battery came today so I'll try it tomorrow if I get a chance. I also built my esr reader on Thursday so I can test the caps as well if needed. Cheers