[CentOS] apcupsd, APC UPSs, and batteries, resolved

[D Tucny]

On 27 March 2010 04:47, <m.roth at 5-cent.us> wrote:

> Well, here's the tale: we got a "replacement kit" for some APC SmartUPS
> 3000 - rackmount UPSs. The "kit", costing about half of what APC is
> asking, is just the batteries, and you pull the tray out, open it up, and
> swap out the batteries. Except, I did this on one... and the replace
> battery light never went out. Not using apcupsd's apctest, not pushing the
> button. The five lights on the right that show power level went down to
> about one or two, and took an hour or two to come back up. apctest just
> said replace battery was the status.
>
> I put another set in. I swapped it with another UPS, and its lights went
> on, so it wasn't just that one. Also, these are just batteries, not
> chipped like an Epson inkjet print cartridge. I did the same on another a
> few weeks ago, and the same.
>
> Finally - I believe these had been replaced before - I went back online,
> and found the exact same ones. Got them in yesterday, replaced one that
> I'd replaced before, waited a couple hours, and pushed the test button.
>
> It thought about it, did the test, the power level only went down *one*...
> and the replace battery light went out. apcupsd also reports everything's
> wonderful.
>
> The ones that didn't do it were PowerSonic 1250 F2's. The ones that worked
> were BBHR5.8012. I *think* the difference is the HR. So, now I'll be going
> back to the original vendor, and asking for a replacement set - he doesn't
> seem to have BB, but if he can give me some other HR, I'll try that.
>
> The HR is "high rate", which I assume means high rate of dis/charge. I'll
> let y'all know what happens, but at this time, my opinion is that if you
> see a replacement kit for RBC43's, make *SURE* that they're HR.
>
>
It could be worse... Be very careful with third party kits, especially if
the vendor is selling batteries not rated for high discharge rates or
without any discharge rate information... Had one UPS that became ball
shaped after having worked OK for 6 months with the replacements... Suffice
it to say, the cost of a new UPS was more than the saving in buying cheaper
batteries...

d
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