• Some users have recently had their accounts hijacked. It seems that the now defunct EVGA forums might have compromised your password there and seems many are using the same PW here. We would suggest you UPDATE YOUR PASSWORD and TURN ON 2FA for your account here to further secure it. None of the compromised accounts had 2FA turned on.
    Once you have enabled 2FA, your account will be updated soon to show a badge, letting other members know that you use 2FA to protect your account. This should be beneficial for everyone that uses FSFT.

APC BackUPS battery stupid question

S

ss88

Weaksauce
Joined
Dec 1, 2019
Messages
118
My APC BR1500G UPS last had battery replaced 5-1/2 years ago. I see the battery symbol flashing with a 'X' in it. And it did do some rapid beeping earlier today, that I muted. I guess this is a clear indication that battery needs replacing?

Strange thing is it shows nearly 30min remaining run time if it were switched to battery. I guess this is no longer a valid measure of runtime?
 
ss88 said:
My APC BR1500G UPS last had battery replaced 5-1/2 years ago. I see the battery symbol flashing with a 'X' in it. And it did do some rapid beeping earlier today, that I muted. I guess this is a clear indication that battery needs replacing?

Strange thing is it shows nearly 30min remaining run time if it were switched to battery. I guess this is no longer a valid measure of runtime?
Click to expand...
The 30 min time will likely drain and drop much faster after its under load for a min or two.

Time for a new battery.
 
Yeah, mine doesn't even work plugged in anymore. I guess I might replace the battery at some point, not sure I spent enough on it to bother though. Mine is a 550 iirc, purchased 10+ yrs ago.
 
Genuine APC battery for the BR1500G is $80 on Amazon. Non-APC replacements are $56-58. Given these batteries last roughly 5 years, I don't see why people bother trying to save $24 over 5 years on a battery that probably won't last as long and probably has shorter runtime.

Now if I could get a non-APC replacement for $40, I'm interested.
 
I have never purchased a name brand battery replacement for any of my UPS units and I have at least 6 or 7 of the big 1500VA units that require two 12v SLA batteries tied together for 24v. Just harvest whatever coupling cable your OEM battery uses and then buy two 9AH 12V batteries that look the same as your originals off Amazon. I just did this for $40 bucks. Then tape them together in the same orientation the OEM battery does using masking tape, duct tape, whatever you want. Connect the coupling cable in the same fashion and slap that puppy into the UPS and you're off to the races for 1/2 the money.

I've done this probaby a dozen times over the last 15/20 years. Zero issues with aftermarket batteries.
 
OFaceSIG said:
I have never purchased a name brand battery replacement for any of my UPS units and I have at least 6 or 7 of the big 1500VA units that require two 12v SLA batteries tied together for 24v. Just harvest whatever coupling cable your OEM battery uses and then buy two 9AH 12V batteries that look the same as your originals off Amazon. I just did this for $40 bucks. Then tape them together in the same orientation the OEM battery does using masking tape, duct tape, whatever you want. Connect the coupling cable in the same fashion and slap that puppy into the UPS and you're off to the races for 1/2 the money.

I've done this probaby a dozen times over the last 15/20 years. Zero issues with aftermarket batteries.
Click to expand...
Can you link the batteries you bought? My BR1500G is also a 1500VA UPS.

Separately, have you considered using lithium iron phosphate batteries as replacements for the lead acid batteries that come with most UPS units?
 
Last edited:
OFaceSIG said:
Any 9AH version that has the same physical form factor should be GTG.

These are the ones I bought last time for reference:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J510PK
Click to expand...
Thanks.

What kind of lifespan are you getting from these no-name-brand batteries? Do you feel like runtime during an outage is comparable to the OEM batteries?
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
ss88 said:
Thanks.

What kind of lifespan are you getting from these no-name-brand batteries? Do you feel like runtime during an outage is comparable to the OEM batteries?
Click to expand...
Runtime seems comparable. I've been doing this for a very long time so I'm not exactly keeping records but I don't believe I've "quickly" replaced any I've swapped out for the OEMs. I'm probably in the neighborhood of 4/5 years. Which is what I just got out of the OEM APC battery I just replaced. I got it in 2020.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
I also regularly buy used UPSs on ebay and do the same thing. Just slap aftermarket batteries in them as soon as they show up. The units themselves rarely go bad in less than 10 years. As long as you can confirm in the listing that the coupling cable from the original batteries is included, good to go.
 
ss88 said:
Can you link the batteries you bought? My BR1500G is also a 1500VA UPS.

Separately, have you considered using lithium iron phosphate batteries as replacements for the lead acid batteries that come with most UPS units?
Click to expand...
I'm not real familiar with the tech, but I don't think the charging systems are compatible. You might have to build a complete controller board to do that, better off getting something made for that.
 
Nobu said:
I'm not real familiar with the tech, but I don't think the charging systems are compatible. You might have to build a complete controller board to do that, better off getting something made for that.
Click to expand...
Yeah, from a quick skim, it seems the UPS charging system won't fully charge a LiFePO battery.
 
OFaceSIG said:
Any 9AH version that has the same physical form factor should be GTG.

These are the ones I bought last time for reference:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005J510PK
Click to expand...
I saw some complaints that the terminals on these are smaller than the terminals on the APC OEM batteries, and the cables fit slightly looser. Apparently there are adapters to make the terminals one size larger.
 
As an Amazon Associate, HardForum may earn from qualifying purchases.
Just my experience, but so far my aftermarket batteries have been failing late in year 2 or mid-year in year 3. All of my APC OEM batteries have exceeded 3 years, with the average being 4.5 years. I have 4 APC UPS's that have been running for just over 15 years.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
ss88 said:
I saw some complaints that the terminals on these are smaller than the terminals on the APC OEM batteries, and the cables fit slightly looser. Apparently there are adapters to make the terminals one size larger.
Click to expand...
Like I said earlier I just did a APC I bought in 2020 and for me the terminals were exactly the same. Again, I've been doing this a long time. I have indeed seen smaller terminals but they are rare. The ones I linked had the exact same terminals as my APC battery. No issue using the OEM coupling cable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
ss88 said:
Genuine APC battery for the BR1500G is $80 on Amazon. Non-APC replacements are $56-58. Given these batteries last roughly 5 years, I don't see why people bother trying to save $24 over 5 years on a battery that probably won't last as long and probably has shorter runtime.

Now if I could get a non-APC replacement for $40, I'm interested.
Click to expand...
The batteries + bulbs in our town will sell you 2 for $100. We get 7 or 8 years out of them but they never really run on the batteries due to our rigging it the way it is so if we aren't here our fluffy friends can remain comfortable for weeks if needed. Then the generator needs an oil change or you need to do a trip with the 990 gallons fuel trailer depending on the address. If the guy is in a good mood they're $80 a pair.
 
Last edited:
Stick with SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batts in these units. The chargers are fairly aggressive at high float levels effectively cooking the cells. A well tuned unit can have SLAs last really long. Cheap units don't have any analog adjustments and definitely no program ability so forget about that.

In any case, a UPS with dead batteries is worse than no UPS at all. The tiniest power anomaly will invoke a transfer and when this happens with batteries reading 9 volts, you get dumped, aka same as dog tripping over power cord. Not fun if you're in the middle of a project. These so called "micro glitches" that invoke transfers are well within the PSU hold up time so if you just plugged the computer into the wall it would stay running.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
ss88 said:
Genuine APC battery for the BR1500G is $80 on Amazon. Non-APC replacements are $56-58. Given these batteries last roughly 5 years, I don't see why people bother trying to save $24 over 5 years on a battery that probably won't last as long and probably has shorter runtime.

Now if I could get a non-APC replacement for $40, I'm interested.
Click to expand...
Used to get my batteries from Radio Shack back in the day for my Belkin UPS.
I'd be interested in using LiPo4 drop-ins.
 
The batteries in my CyberPower GX1325U were replaced three years ago and can tell they're not performing as they should. Understand the batteries are not meant to last long but kind of annoying to replace and recycle every few years.

Was looking for lithium battery UPS alternatives but amazingly there isn't much out there for the home market. Checked out Goldenmate's LiFePO 4 battery UPS on Amazon, it has good reviews but it can't connect to a PC for auto-shut down when a power failure is detected.

I think I'll replace the batteries in my UPS for a second time and hope there is more lithium UPS systems available in a few years.
 
TangledThornz said:
The batteries in my CyberPower GX1325U were replaced three years ago and can tell they're not performing as they should. Understand the batteries are not meant to last long but kind of annoying to replace and recycle every few years.

Was looking for lithium battery UPS alternatives but amazingly there isn't much out there for the home market. Checked out Goldenmate's LiFePO 4 battery UPS on Amazon, it has good reviews but it can't connect to a PC for auto-shut down when a power failure is detected.

I think I'll replace the batteries in my UPS for a second time and hope there is more lithium UPS systems available in a few years.
Click to expand...
I'm looking at the Goldenmate 800w and using a smart plug to monitor AC outages to trigger the PC off.
 
I bought the genuine APC replacement. One nice thing is that they will pay shipping to recycle the old battery pack. I had a heck of a time trying to get someone to take my old SLA battery last time I needed one.
 
kirbyrj said:
I bought the genuine APC replacement. One nice thing is that they will pay shipping to recycle the old battery pack. I had a heck of a time trying to get someone to take my old SLA battery last time I needed one.
Click to expand...

How much did you pay vs 3rd party replacement battery?

For my Cyberpower GX1325U their RB1270X2A batteries are $80 to $100 whereas 3rd party via BatteryClerk is $34 which worked fine for me and will buy again soon. For recycling we have a local battery shop that will take used batteries.
 
TangledThornz said:
How much did you pay vs 3rd party replacement battery?

For my Cyberpower GX1325U their RB1270X2A batteries are $80 to $100 whereas 3rd party via BatteryClerk is $34 which worked fine for me and will buy again soon. For recycling we have a local battery shop that will take used batteries.
Click to expand...

$90 for the APC UPS Battery Replacement APCRBC163 in 2023

I just checked now and the APC version is $100 and the non-APC version is $75. I used a generic for my smaller APC unit on my router/modem/synology and it worked fine. That's the battery I had to beg someone to recycle.
 
kirbyrj said:
I bought the genuine APC replacement. One nice thing is that they will pay shipping to recycle the old battery pack. I had a heck of a time trying to get someone to take my old SLA battery last time I needed one.
Click to expand...
My city picks them up no questions asked.
 
kirbyrj said:
$90 for the APC UPS Battery Replacement APCRBC163 in 2023

I just checked now and the APC version is $100 and the non-APC version is $75. I used a generic for my smaller APC unit on my router/modem/synology and it worked fine. That's the battery I had to beg someone to recycle.
Click to expand...
I just got two 9AH replacements on Amazon and reused the wires/brackets on another APC for $40 shipped.
 
kirbyrj said:
My city does not...lol. I ended up taking it to Walmart and having them throw it in with their recycled car batteries.
Click to expand...
At least you do that. Some people still throw them away.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
OFaceSIG said:
At least you do that. Some people still throw them away.
Click to expand...
That will be city's administration fault. If city cannot take your battery, of course most of the people will not bother looking for a place or driving around like an idiot. Just throw it away to general waste and problem is solved immediately.
Recently I gathered used broken electronics for recycling, been collecting everything I wanted away, for a couple of months, loyally doing my part. Electric cables, wires, some computer parts including motherboard, two CD-ROM drives, broken fans etc. My town supposed to collect small house electronics each week, with other sorted recycling. Collection day came, and what? They left it uncollected. F*ck them, I will throw it into general waste bin.
 
Few weeks ago a garbage truck near me caught fire from a backup battery being thrown away. Week before someone threw away an oxygen tank and it blew.

I think a big problem is educating people about waste disposal. Everyone is just expected to know. Putting a sticker on waste bin/recycle bin is not enough IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ss88
like this
Darunion said:
Few weeks ago a garbage truck near me caught fire from a backup battery being thrown away. Week before someone threw away an oxygen tank and it blew.

I think a big problem is educating people about waste disposal. Everyone is just expected to know. Putting a sticker on waste bin/recycle bin is not enough IMO.
Click to expand...
Education is a problem in general for most people nowadays. You know it's wrong, yet you do it anyway.
 
Darunion said:
Few weeks ago a garbage truck near me caught fire from a backup battery being thrown away. Week before someone threw away an oxygen tank and it blew.

I think a big problem is educating people about waste disposal. Everyone is just expected to know. Putting a sticker on waste bin/recycle bin is not enough IMO.
Click to expand...
I wonder if I posted the video of someone throwing away a O2 tank? It went boom as the compactor jaws crushed it.......
 
OFaceSIG said:
Education is a problem in general for most people nowadays. You know it's wrong, yet you do it anyway.
Click to expand...


The united states Public education system has been in trouble for a LONG time. I mean just look at me!! :D

"wut oh, funding is down? well ok lets make it 1 teacher per 25 students.."

"WUT OH!! test scores are down and they won't pay attention, well ok lets give them something only a few atoms different than METH, what's the worst that could happen??"
 
OFaceSIG said:
Education is a problem in general for most people nowadays. You know it's wrong, yet you do it anyway.
Click to expand...
It's not just education but also the fact that there are no direct penalties for taking the easy/lazy way out. Indirect penalties (i.e. higher garbage collection costs) won't change the habits of anyone not actively thinking about the consequences of their actions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top