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UPS batttery question

C

cornelio

Golden Member
Hello,

I purchased an APC battery backup model BE350R yesterday, there were two short blackouts. I understand that the battery needs to be fully charged about 16 hours, but when I check the software says that the estimated battery time is 1 minute. Does the battery power needs to be turned on for it to charge? I have connected to the battery backup outlets my 17" LCD monitor, my computer and my external HDD. My computer has two DVDRW, a Sound Blaster Xi-fi music, an ATI X850XT AGP video card, 2GB DDR memory, 1 120 mm fan, 2 80mm fans, 2 160GB SATA hdd's, the cpu is an A64 3000+ To the surge only outlets I have connected my logitech X-530 speakers, my printer, scanner and cable modem, do you think this APC is underpowered for my computer? What devices can I disconnect from it for the backup time to increase? link for the UPS

Any help appreciated.
 
its hard to say i dont think so on my ups i have a 1500va rating but I have everything underbattery I only have 4 outlets for the battery side and the other 4 are just surge but I only use the battery with an additional surge protector and I get 9mins total. You cant really take anything off because you already have the bare minimum on there but if you really wanted to keep productivity up then I would suggest a higher power supply I want mine to run me at least long enough where I can either finish or save my documents finish and close open apps and then shut down the computer. I have it also setup so that if I am not at my computer it will shut my programs and apps and then turn off my computer for me. My comp is the main draw so I get more time on the battery when that goes off. So if the power does go out my network will stay up with the router and modem still connected.
 
That UPS is awfully small for any system an AT Forums denizen is likely to have. I have one of the smallest systems (barring mini-ITX and such) of any of the regulars and it pulls nearly 200W from the wall when working (around 150W at idle). You want at least 350W (550VA) UPS to get much in the way of uptime. You could use the small one to back up your VCR (and anything that doesn't backup its clock on its own) and cordless phone systems so they don't blink after or work during a blackout...

.bh.
 
A 350VA is puny. It's good for some networking gear for a couple hours maybe... Like a switch, router, maybe some other stuff. You should go to the APC website and use their UPS sizer.
 
Thanks for the replies. I have a Belkin 800VA UPS, but the battery and warranty died, the UPS powers on and off, but during the past few months during blackouts the computer shuts down instead of staying on battery power. The Belkin UPS has six outlets with surge protection, 4 of them battery backup. I was thinking using my cable modem, printer, scanner, speakers, external hdd with the belkin UPS with surge protection only as the battery is dead or use them with my home theater, 37" HDTV, cable box and xbox360. I was thinking leaving just my computer and the 17" LCD monitor with my new UPS, do you think it will be powerful enough just for the two of them?

Thanks.
 
You can get replacement batteries and replace them yourself for most UPSes. They are gelled, lead-acid batteries. They usually have quick-disconnect or screw terminals so they are easy to replace. Top brands are Panasonic and Yuasa. Lots of bigger cities have battery specialists so you don't have to ship them in. But the local places aren't likely to be carrying the top brand batteries. You'd also want to replace the MOVs in the surge protection as those go bad too.

.bh.
 
Hello,

I contacted the technical support at APC and they told me to charge the battery without any load for about 8-10 hours, which I did. After that, they told me to test the runtime of the battery with a minimal load, I did it with my logitech speakers, which have 70w total. The battery stayed running for 1 hr and 20min and the estimated runtime of the battery in the APC software is now 30 minutes. I tested the battery with my computer by plugging out the battery from the outlet and it was able to say on battery for about 4 minutes, which is fine, because I only want to save my files and shutdown my computer in case the power goes out. I don't think my Belkin UPS battery can be replaced because there is no compartment for a new battery outside and when I opened it it had a circuit board with propietary connectors, the model of my Belkin UPS is F6C800-UNV.

Thanks again for the replies.
 
Originally posted by: cornelio
I purchased an APC battery backup model BE350R yesterday... do you think this APC is underpowered for my computer? Any help appreciated.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's underpowered...

I've run a Minuteman 300w UPS for several years -=- replaced the batteries about ever two years, yada, yada.

In the last century, it would run two computers for about 5 minutes. Now, 300w isn't enough to power one computer. Basically, it's worthless -=- but it cost me like 600 bucks,so I hate to throw it away!

When the power goes out, my system simply shuts off, just like I yanked the power cord out of the wall. Actually, I'm just using it for a line conditioner.

One of these days, I'll get a 1500w unit, and use my Minuteman for the answering machine or something.

I suggest you do the same! 😉
 
Originally posted by: cornelio
Thanks for the replies. I have a Belkin 800VA UPS, but the battery and warranty died...
Click to expand...
Rage Battery is your friend!!!

Been buying batteries from them for ages...

NOBODY beats their prices, and they're dependable! 😀

My Minuteman takes two of these (fairly standard size).

Whatever yours takes, go with Yuasa! Power-Sonic sucks! Dittos for Rhino... 😉
 
I don't think you have grokked the fullness there Vin. The OP thinks his Belkin battery has some proprietary connector when it looks like it's really not from here. just QDs bent over. I just suggested he look more closely as his Belkin UPS does appear to have a replaceable battery per the link I posted.

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
I don't think you have grokked the fullness there Vin...
Click to expand...
Um...

It's a UB1280 battery, right?

If that's the case, the link you provided was $25.45 + shipping (5.8 lbs) to my zip!

If you wouldn't have 'grokked' the fullness of my post, you would have looked it up @ Rage Battery!

$19.95 + *free* shipping (6.5 lbs) -=- more capacity too -=- 8.0AH vs 7.5AH!

Am I missing something here? 😀
 
I think the point was that at the other site he searched by UPS, not by battery. The included image then showed that it's a standard battery without any funky stuff the OP was talking about.
 
alaricljs is correct - the OP can get any compatible battery he wants now that he will know it can be replaced - personally I wouldn't buy a Chinese made battery (like that universal) if I could avoid it.

.bh.
 
Okay, here's the deal...

UPS batteries spend most of their time on the charger, and you can take that to the bank!

Basically, this constant charging kills lesser batteries. That's why i suggested going the Yuasa route.

These batteries have a finite life -- usually rated at 2 years. If you buy a POS, that's what you will get, if you're lucky. Yuasa batteries, in my experience, will last twice that long, at least... 😉

Bottom line: there's Yuasa SLA batteries, then there's everything else...
 
No disagreement there, Vin, go back and check my second post. I recall listing Panasonic or Yuasa as the ones I'd buy. But the OP doesn't have to take our advice...

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
But the OP doesn't have to take our advice...
Click to expand...
Ah, alright, that's what I was missing! 😀

Originally posted by: Zepper
You'd also want to replace the MOVs in the surge protection as those go bad too.
Click to expand...
This is a V good point!

MOVs have a finite life also -- about the same amount of time as SLA batteries.

I usually buy unprotected strips and populate them with MOVs myself -- run them across everything! 😉
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
You can get replacement batteries and replace them yourself for most UPSes. They are gelled, lead-acid batteries. They usually have quick-disconnect or screw terminals so they are easy to replace. Top brands are Panasonic and Yuasa. Lots of bigger cities have battery specialists so you don't have to ship them in. But the local places aren't likely to be carrying the top brand batteries. You'd also want to replace the MOVs in the surge protection as those go bad too.

.bh.
Click to expand...

yup, believe it or not you can get those sla batteries at radio shack for the same cheap prices you find online...
 
Originally posted by: VinDSL
Originally posted by: cornelio
I purchased an APC battery backup model BE350R yesterday... do you think this APC is underpowered for my computer? Any help appreciated.
Click to expand...
Yes, it's underpowered...

I've run a Minuteman 300w UPS for several years -=- replaced the batteries about ever two years, yada, yada.

In the last century, it would run two computers for about 5 minutes. Now, 300w isn't enough to power one computer. Basically, it's worthless -=- but it cost me like 600 bucks,so I hate to throw it away!

When the power goes out, my system simply shuts off, just like I yanked the power cord out of the wall. Actually, I'm just using it for a line conditioner.

One of these days, I'll get a 1500w unit, and use my Minuteman for the answering machine or something.

I suggest you do the same! 😉
Click to expand...


why cant you just add another battery to it? i wouldnt add too many more, as its only designed to charge one, but surely it will charge two at a time, it will just take longer- but it will allow your system to run because it will effectively double the amp hours.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
This company says that this battery works with Belkin F6C800-UNV UPS:
http://www.batteriesplus.com/p...elkin/F6C800--UNV.aspx

It may look like some special connection but it could just be quick disconnects mounted to the circuit board that slide directly onto the battery terminals to save assembly costs. Look more closely. The same battery is available as a Yuasa or Panasonic part number.

.bh.
Click to expand...


again, the radio shack ones work great, theyre panasonics last i checked.
 
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