How do you know a UPS battery is dead?

[AyashiKaibutsu]

I've had my UPS for quite sometime (4ish years) and when there's a poweroutage it no longer keeps my computer up. I'm figuring the batteries dead, but before I dump 40ish dollars in a battery I figure I'll check if that's really what happens when the battery goes.

 

[thestain]

Have you contacted apc? I did and I described how mine didn't work and they sent me new one.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

You really should have posted the brand and model of your UPS. Belkin?? I have Belkin and they offer no warning of when the batteries are no longer seviceable. BUT! Belkin and others offer software that permits load testing of the batteries and indicates their state of charge. I would place 4yo batteries. Load test the new batteries every 90 days.


Cheap batteries that "might" be past their best to use date... http://www.batteryweb.com/ups.cfm

A few buck$ more but fresh Panasonics (not powersonic) are money well spent... http://www.portablepower.com/

 

[corkyg]

When one of my UPS batteries dies, it would simply not run at all. So, I knew to replace it. After checking the market, the prices, shipping and work involved - I trashed it and replaced it at Costco for $96.00.

 

[JustaGeek]

That is the battery test - if the power goes out, and the computer shuts down, it is the UPS battery.

Use the Power Chute software from APC - if your UPS supports that feature, it has the Battery Self Test, and it will tell you if the battery needs to be replaced.