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I think the batteries are lead acid just like car batteries, which last 6-7 years or more, and in the winter operate at low temperatures.
Now for a UPS that is at room temperature all the time, and only operates several times a year, I would expect a life span of around 10 years or so, but I recall reading here that they only last a few years. Why is that?
I bought my first UPS a year ago, then a second one, and about every six month I unplug the cord form the wall and run them down (using a 100W lamp) just to see how long they last and hopefully keeping the battery "exercised".
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The sealed lead-acid gel batterie used in UPS's generally last about 3-4 years in use. Main killer for them is they run at an elevated tempurature inside the UPS enclosure, for instance the reported temperature in my UPS is about 130. The heat lessens their life, just like it would for an auto battery used in the desert compared to use in a cold climate. The batteries are also optimised for high capacity in a small size, not deep discharge use.
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furthermore, the charging circuitry isn't terribly sophisticated. If they had a 3 stage fully regulated with temp compensation cgarging system, they would last at least twice as long. but then they couldn't sell you a replacement UPS, or replacement batteries.
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>>If they had a 3 stage fully regulated with temp compensation
Can I buy a Racer X UPS??
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we know that the technology is available, and isn't that expensive. If they spent maybe an extra 20% on the cost of the components, the batteries would last 2-3 times as long, and that cuts into the profits.
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The cynic would say, "A UPS will last right up to the point of first use."
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You get what you pay for. A Belkin will probably last no more than 3-4 years.
My 10-year old APC 300 can still power a 19-inch monitor for nearly 5 minutes.
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Until they get the package delivered to me, hopefully.
Oh wait... wrong UPS.
Dang.
("Longer than Fed Ex," -- Britney Spears)
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On the other hand, I have seen batteries in APC units go in less than 3 years. And those APC units were in an air conditioned computer room with conditioned power so the UPS was rarely called upon to run attached equipment. In one 2200 VA unit the batteries had swollen enough to require dismantling the UPS to get them out, they would not slide out of the battery bay.
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> In one 2200 VA unit the batteries had swollen enough to require dismantling the UPS to
> get them out, they would not slide out of the battery bay.
A rackmount? I think there was a recall on those.
I don't remember the rating on the UPSes, but a few years ago we got a pile of free replacement batteries for our rackmount APC's.
We looked like a bunch of clowns trying to figure out how to get the swollen batteries out of the cases. We ended up slamming the units on a carpeted floor and then prying the batteries out with screwdrivers.
That doesn't mean that APC's aren't the best. Is an Apple computer garbage because the Sony batteries in the MacBooks can swell and burst into flame? Judge the company by the quality of their product and by how responsible they are when it fails.
