ABCs of APC UPSs
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OP
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Huh? Anyway, I'm a big user of UPS units... I literally have probably 12 or so in use and another 3-4 down in my workshop with a need for replacements. ALL of them are APC units, and almost all of them are ~1100 ~ 1200 units, purchased at Sam's Club, etc... NOT from a "pro" or "Server" line. I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of them. It seems as though when I buy a unit, I only get maybe a year and a half to two years tops out of it before the "battery warning" starts buzzing and letting me know it needs a replacement. And when the batteries run ~$120 or so, I typically feel like I might as well buy a whole new unit for ~$180 instead. Have any of you IT people in the "know" been hearing anything about UPS units and lifespan, quality, etc.? I just hauled one out of my office because it was putting out a stink like burning hair or like it just went to the salon and got a perm! I've smelled something similar once when a capacitor blew in a flash head. It was hot as hell, too. I put it out on my back porch an hour ago, and I still can't touch the bottom metal plate. At least nothing caught fire. Yet. I think I need a new one ASAP!
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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I'm pretty sure we had an approx. 2 year replacement cycle on APC UPS batteries back when I was responsible for the servers that were plugged into them.
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
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So you're thinking that this might just be typical? Maybe I'm expecting too much in assuming that the lead acid batteries in there should be good for 4 years, like all the ones I used to use for portable lights in video production or like a car battery?
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
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The way the UPS uses the battery is what cuts its life in half. Because the UPS wants to deliver a maximum run time in the event of power failure the battery is always topped off. Normal use of a battery is to run it down quite a bit before charging it again.
I was looking at a PurePower UPS, which is intended for home theater use (and has a price tag which gives away that intention). One nice thing about is it does periodically run on battery to attempt to keep the cells conditioned.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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2 years. Uh huh. Unless you're talking about different ones than the ones I inherited, Peter, it was more like 6-8 years. That's actually about the point where I generally see them fail. Mark, are you using Smart-UPS or Back-UPS? Smart-UPS seem to last a lot longer.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
shareholder in the making
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Hmmmm... all the ones immediately around me are Back-UPS....
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Ah yeah, those things die quickly.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Dec 2007
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axiomite
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axiomite
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Interesting. The ups units in our plant are all APC and are between 3 and 5 years old. We had the first two fail this year (one today).
Fred
------- Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,458
shareholder in the making
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OP
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I'll probably end up with an APC because I'll need something sooner rather than later, and they're so widely available. And, I probably WON'T get the SMART UPS line, because I'll just have a hard time convincing Joyce (and myself too, I guess) that they're worth being more than double the cost...
I guess this has still been helpful as no one has said unequivocally that APC brand units have reliability issues.
::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
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Re: ABCs of APC UPSs
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 18,044
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
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Are you doing the Trade-UPS program? Might knock a little bit off the cost.
I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
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