4 re-users like me: UPSs are great things !

[smallhagrid]

I work in the tech field and every so often I'll come into UPSs that
need changing out, but that are not burned out or dead.
Many times their batteries are not great, and some of the older units
are literally too slow at switching for faster PCs and otherwise fine.

One of these 'rejects' is literally near my bed and connected to a
reading light as it's main power source - when the power from the
street is working normally, no big deal - but when it is out I've got
enough power for my lighting to last for more hours than I've ever
needed to use it - I've never run it out.

So:
A couple of things about these units that perhaps may help folks
who have not been exposed to them - assuming to start that you
know what a UPS is and/or does...

Many UPSs use 12V gel cell lead-acid batteries; some use a pair of
them and in cheapie ones they use other goofy combos like 2 x 6V.

I'll use the APC BK650 as my example because it is my all-time most
favored UPS and has a single 12V battery...

Here are some ways to get very useful and practically infinite service
out of these 'rejects' if you should be lucky enough to get them:

Simply re-use them as backup power for low wattage gadgets with
memories or clocks - never have to reset a VCR clock again !
(Adding a nice Belkin single outlet surge protector at the wall with
an 'older' UPS will provide fantastically stable power for a stereo...)

If you are even braver, skin the old thing and being VERY careful of
possibly charged large-ish caps and such, you will find they are also
WAY easy to use for domestic backup power for lighting and such.

I use both these ideas myself and they work very well.

1. Connect an automotive cig. lighter outlet to the battery leads
on a cord and emplace it conveniently to have 12VDC for gadgets
when using them indoors.

2. For extra-long backup power, make use of a better UPS's great
internal battery charger/conditioner and after removing it's own
battery, connect an external, bigger battery.

My method of doing this indoors safely is to run SJO cord from the
UPS to a hidden place where I put 1 or 2 garden tractor batteries in
a dishpan.
This will either provide LOTS of 12VDC for gadgets or longer backup
power for anything the UPS powers with it's 120VAC inverter.

And for the naysayers - I've never had a hydrogen emission problem
because this setup is neither charged nor discharged rapidly; it is a
good source for lighting or gadgets - NOT for arc welding !!!

Lastly - most UPSs have an obvious piezo element which drives you
bonkers if it is left on when the power is out - it is utterly simple to
lobotomize these by just crushing off their tops and disposing of the
crumbled guts - they are not missed and the UPS will usually go on
doing just what it was otherwise made to do, but in blessed silence.

Best Wishes.

mark

 

[SafetyBob]

I LOVE YOU MAN!!!!!

I had to get that off my chest. About a year ago I got so mad at replacing battery after battery in my 10+ year old APC backups (900, 1000 and 1250 models) mainly because the heat inside the box was cooking the battery besides the internal charger.......also charging those SLA batteries a tad bit higher voltage than I would like to see.

I had a couple of Optima Red Top batteries laying around that my wife had tried to kill in by older desiel truck (OK, she forgot to plug the trickle charger in and they died a slow death....I have a slow drain from a couple of special things in the truck).....so I got new batteries for the truck and used a Battery Tender JR to try and "recover" the batteries. If figured they would have a bad cell or something to were I couldn't trust them.

They charged up OK, worked fine and now are the primary batteries for my very old APC 1250 UPS that supports all my switches and cable router. I also vented the UPS cabinet and added a small 120VAC fan inside to sort of keep things much cooler, and since it is connected to the 120VAC output, it runs when the UPS is running.

I sure don't worry about extended runtime now!! Currently I am working on a new project (think rack mount) to house two computers that stay on 24/7 in my house.....one computer for SageTV (check it out if you have never heard of it....750GB of Tivo for me!!) which essentially services 5 TVs around the house and about 3 computers around the house with recorded TV programs....yes it's nice for my lazy butt. The second is a computer that records motion from my IP cameras I have around the house. Didn't really know what I was getting into with them.....knew I wanted to do it for security, but the benefits of having full motion video of kids coming and going out of house and what not (and seeing what friends do too) is very, very nice. No BS or guesses as to what's happening now!!
And with Panasonic software specifically for their IP cameras....I get sound too. The recorded sound and video is amazing for personal accountability (particularly of children).

This rack mount will have a number of 12VDC Optima batteries (now located in proper plastic battery boxes like a boat or RV would have) to power up UPSs for both of those computers. I am also going to fire proof the best I can my rack mount so incase of fire I can hopefully recover hard drives and info. It is amazing what you can buy on eBay......ceramic blankets!!!

I thought I was the only one who had done this. Great to hear a success story too!! I haven't gotten to the point of making the cigarette lighter for them, but that really does seem like a very nice thing to incorporate into them for the time when you "really" need that capability. It makes perfect sense.

I actually found my last batch of use UPS's on eBay. Got them for a fair price. Batteries were still pretty servicable, that is until I monster garage them for the rack mount. It is amazing how many of those UPS's get pitched because some idiot can't or doesn't want to change batteries.

Since I have discovered these gas mat technology batteries, I will alway modify any UPS I buy from here on out. Just makes so much more sense to put a large, state of the art gas mat battery in a UPS that will last for years and have massive runtime than to replace 3 or 4 times those little worthless SLA batteries.

Anyway, welcome to the forum. Poke around here. You will find alot of people who are just like you. Most of us here love to try something new and especially something different to make something better.

Bob E.

 

[smallhagrid]

Hi Bob and thanks for the nice reply !
I really cannot stand to chuck something good like a UPS out and as a
result I am swimming in used but still good PC parts which I give away
anytime I can...

This is soooo cool:

I thought I was the only one who had done this. Great to hear a success story too!!

I find the lighter outlet to be very handy and I do use it often.

Never heard of 'gas mat technology batteries', so I will have to learn about them now...thanks for that tip !

Best Wishes,

mark

 

[GreySave]

I have used an old UPS device for lighting. I also use a new and fully functional UPS on my LCD 32 inch television. You would be amazed at how often it kicks in due to momentary power losses or over / under voltage situations. For me the extra $100 spent to protect a $1,000+ piece of equipment was well worth the expense.

 

[Pumaman]

If i were needing to replace the batteries in a couple, what would be my best source?
thanks

 

[blasterman]

You guys do realize that the main reason batteries fail in UPS's is because of the electronics in the case?

Gell/Acid batteries just don't 'go bad'. It's the re-charge electronics that kill them.

 

[GreySave]

Puma:

Unless you had bad experience with original equipment I tend to stay with OE quality. My experience is with APC products as I have had great luck and they make ordering the correct battery easy. They tend to ship incorrectly from time to time however.

 

[smallhagrid]

I agree 1000%:

I have used an old UPS device for lighting. I also use a new and fully functional UPS on my LCD 32 inch television. You would be amazed at how often it kicks in due to momentary power losses or over / under voltage situations. For me the extra $100 spent to protect a $1,000+ piece of equipment was well worth the expense.

I consider UPSs to be the most important component in any installation,
and that's why I feel so strongly about re-using good older ones that
can still protect from the undervoltage problems - and just FYI, when I
re-use an older UPS for stuff at home I add a Belkin # F9H320-CW to
make up for any worn out MOVs the UPS likely has and I've never been
sorry for spending the extra $10 - these units are great and that
company has very good customer service in my opinion. (I am not in any
way affiliated with them - I am self employed !)


Best Wishes,

mark