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  UPS battery replacement

 If you have an APC Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) and you are looking for a replacement battery for it, we can help.  Most UPS units have an indicator on them that shows when the internal battery needs to be replaced.

On a regular basis (every two weeks is standard) the UPS goes through a self-test procedure and if it finds that the battery is not holding its charge, it gives the 'Replace Battery' warning.  Although the UPS may still be working at this point the battery will not be able to support the load for the full runtime.

In order to establish the correct battery pack for the UPS we need to know the full model number of the UPS.  This is usually found on a bar-code label on the rear of the unit.  Click here to see where.  On some rack-mountable models it can also be found on a bar-code label behind the pull-off plastic front panel.  It usually consists of an alphabetic prefix (see right), followed by a number that represents the VA rating of the UPS, such as 5000, 2200 or 750, followed by more letters and numbers (see suffixes on the right).  Unfortunately it isn't enough to know the name shown on the front of the unit; for example, there are eleven different 1000VA units, and nine of them are labelled SmartUPS1000 on the front.

  

Common APC UPS Prefixes
Back UPS ranges BR BK BE BF BP
Smart UPS ranges SC SU PS SUA SUM
Smart UPS RT range SURT

Common APC UPS Suffixes
International 240V I
Extendable Runtime XL
Rackmount units RM
Rackmount size 1U 2U 3U 5U
Other NET B X

UPS units contain one or more batteries and use these to supply power when the mains supply is lost.  As with all battery technology, these batteries have a limited life.  Factors including the ambient temperature, the number of discharges, the number of switches to and from battery power and the equipment power draw all have an effect on the life of the battery, so it is not possible to determine how long they will last.

To allow for this, most APC units have hot-swap battery packs and battery condition detection circuitry.  If the picture of a battery with a cross through it or the associated LED lights up on your UPS, it is indicating that the battery needs replacing and will probably not provide the full run-time in the event of a power loss.

For instructions on replacing the batteries in your unit please refer to the User Manual.  Do not attempt to change batteries or open a unit unless you have checked the manual for your exact model.  Some units do not have user-replaceable batteries, and mains voltages may be present within the case even when they are disconnected from the mains.  Click Here for Battery Recycling Details.

If you are still unsure or would like help, please call.

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