UPS Recommendations?

Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit, the thing's
software started telling me it was replacement time and "helpfully" pointing me
to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that seem to
spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something proprietary
built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and the ability
to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased capacity.
--
PeteCresswell

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
...
Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit, the
thing's
software started telling me it was replacement time and "helpfully"
pointing me
to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that seem
to
spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something
proprietary
built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and the
ability
to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased capacity.
--
PeteCresswell

First, I would monitor the reserve time, and until it goes down below an
acceptable level, there is probably no need to replace the battery.

There are companies that sell third party batteries for most UPS models that
are cheaper than the APC brand. I would check out some sites as
www.batteriesplus.com where you can get a replacement for about $60.00.
Radio Shack is usually a rip-off.

http://www.batteriesplus.com/product...tUPS-1500.aspx

Of course, it sounds like you may have damaged the unit some how, in which
case buying a new battery will not help. You should be able to put the old
battery back in and see if it works.

I'd recommend APC. And I've never seen an APC UPS with proprietary
batteries, and I've replaced a dozen or so batteries with non-APC
batteries with no problems. My guess is you somehow messed up. UPS
batteries do fail, usually after 3 ot 6 years, and the cost of replacing
batteries at the end-user level can approach the cost of the entire UPS
(we can't buy them in 1,000 unit lots like APC can). But next time, get
the APC p/n for the batteries for your unit, then check E-Bay. You will
be amazed at what you find ... exact replacement batteries from many
sources far cheaper (including shipping, which is often as much as the
battery (lead is heavy)) than APC or, for that matter, Radio Shack.



(PeteCresswell) wrote:

Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit, the thing's
software started telling me it was replacement time and "helpfully" pointing me
to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that seem to
spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something proprietary
built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and the ability
to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased capacity.

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in
:

Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit,
the thing's software started telling me it was replacement time and
"helpfully" pointing me to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that
seem to spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and
replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something
proprietary built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and
the ability to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased
capacity.

I used a sealed lawn mower battery. It's been working great for over a
year.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d/DSCF3082.jpg



--
ybbxvatyvxrnobeantnvayvivatyvxrnurergvpyvfgravatgb neguheyrrerpbeqfznxv
atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqg urerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbh ernqlgborurnegoebxra

I use a new car battery too.

However, I noticed an odor in the room and traced it to the 'sealed'
battery. So I drilled a hole in the wall and set it on the porch so
my family doesn't have to breath hydrocloric acid fumes.






On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:35:43 -0500, Mitch Crane -three
wrote:

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in
:

Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit,
the thing's software started telling me it was replacement time and
"helpfully" pointing me to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that
seem to spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and
replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something
proprietary built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and
the ability to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased
capacity.

I used a sealed lawn mower battery. It's been working great for over a
year.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...d/DSCF3082.jpg

DK wrote in news:n49gh2hs2pe8bcqmoatt7cbdhvviu680r2@
4ax.com:


I use a new car battery too.

However, I noticed an odor in the room and traced it to the 'sealed'
battery. So I drilled a hole in the wall and set it on the porch so
my family doesn't have to breath hydrocloric acid fumes.

Yeah, my plan was to make a box with a vent to the outside, but I've never
detected any outgassing. If there is any it isn't much. (Famous last
words?)


--
ybbxvatyvxrnobeantnvayvivatyvxrnurergvpyvfgravatgb neguheyrrerpbeqfznxv
atnyylbhesevraqfsrryfbthvyglnobhggurveplavpvfznaqg urerfgbsgurvetrareng
vbaabgriragurtbireazragnertbaanfgbclbhabjohgnerlbh ernqlgborurnegoebxra

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
...
Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit, the
thing's
software started telling me it was replacement time and "helpfully"
pointing me
to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that seem
to
spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something
proprietary
built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and the
ability
to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased capacity.
--
PeteCresswell
The APC Back-UPS 1500 is about the perfect UPS for me. We have an electrical
contractor nearby that has a retail store and they carry about all the major
manufacturer batteries for about 1/2 the price of the APC ones. I have used
my 1500 for about 2.5yrs now and just went and got a spare and installed and
tested it and it worked fine. It is non-branded (OEM) but at least I am
ready for when mine does fail. My battery still reads full (40mins uptime)
so I may not need it for awhile. It has been a lifesaver for us. We live in
a very rural area and our power is variable to say the least. I also have
another 1500 for my home theater system. They work very well and do exactly
what they are supposed to. We used to have a lot of problems with failed
components after brown/black outs and since we put in the two APC 1500s we
have had none at all.

Ed

You may have been premature on buying the new battery. Typical battery
life is about 6 years.


Ed Medlin wrote:

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
...

Have had an APC "Back UPS XS 1500" for several years.

It works, but it seems to me like APC is selling batteries. To wit, the
thing's
software started telling me it was replacement time and "helpfully"
pointing me
to APC's battery sales site.

Went down to Radio Shack instead and got a couple of the things that seem
to
spec identically. Lifted the harness from the old set and replaced them.

But either I messed up on a connection somewhere or APC as something
proprietary
built into their batteries.

Either way, I'm shopping.

Anybody got something that:
----------------------------------------------------------
1) They're happy with.

2) Takes some sort of standard widely-available battery?

3) Will run 400 watts for, say, 30 minutes or more?
----------------------------------------------------------

A nice touch would be having the batteries external to the unit and the
ability
to daisy-chain additional batteries for increased capacity.
--
PeteCresswell

The APC Back-UPS 1500 is about the perfect UPS for me. We have an electrical
contractor nearby that has a retail store and they carry about all the major
manufacturer batteries for about 1/2 the price of the APC ones. I have used
my 1500 for about 2.5yrs now and just went and got a spare and installed and
tested it and it worked fine. It is non-branded (OEM) but at least I am
ready for when mine does fail. My battery still reads full (40mins uptime)
so I may not need it for awhile. It has been a lifesaver for us. We live in
a very rural area and our power is variable to say the least. I also have
another 1500 for my home theater system. They work very well and do exactly
what they are supposed to. We used to have a lot of problems with failed
components after brown/black outs and since we put in the two APC 1500s we
have had none at all.

Ed

Per Barry Watzman:
You may have been premature on buying the new battery. Typical battery
life is about 6 years.

Anybody know how the APC utility decides when to start nagging the user about
battery replacement? I'm guessing something about voltage of the fully-charged
battery.
--
PeteCresswell

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote in message
news
Per Barry Watzman:
You may have been premature on buying the new battery. Typical
battery
life is about 6 years.

Anybody know how the APC utility decides when to start nagging the
user about
battery replacement? I'm guessing something about voltage of the
fully-charged
battery.
--
PeteCresswell

I'm not sure how it detects it but one that I look after started
emailing me warnings.
I was getting about 3 a day. I told the owner straight away and warned
him a couple
of more times over the next 2 weeks when it died making a whistling
noise.
We had to run without UPS for a few days while we got a replacement.

So if it complains I'd swap it immediately.

Eric
--
Remove the dross to contact me directly