David Brodbeck wrote:
For home use the BackUPS models are fine, but for important servers I
prefer the SmartUPS models due to their self-test capabilities. With a
BackUPS your first clue that the battery has worn out is usually when
the power fails and the UPS drops the load.
My BackUPS does a daily load test. The first indication that batteries
are dead is when it tries to move the load to the battery and the alarm
starts screaming bloody murder.
People often discard these units when the batteries fail, after thee or
four years. If there's a good computer surplus store in your area you
might be able to pick up some units for almost nothing that just need
new batteries. I've frequently bought surplus BackUPS units for $2 to
$3 each and I have yet to get one that needed anything more than new
batteries.
Definitely agreed. Sealed lead-acid batteries are cheap, and most
battery outlets will happily make you up a "pack" if your UPS is big
enough to have more than one battery hot-glued together and make sure
you have the correct tabs/connectors to install it in any UPS you might
have.
I recently refurbished an old BackUPS 1100 that had dead batteries for
about $50 for brand new, name-brand batteries.
People who won't be bothered to fix things and are part of the
throw-away society, pay for nice new UPS's, and I get them for the cost
of battery replacements. Great deal for me... sad for them.
Nate
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