My UPS died again! | Digitech MP5207

[@sw6188]

The 12 V SLA batteries only have a shelf life / practical working life of about two years. They normally have a date code stamped into the plastic which makes it easy to see whether they are past 'use by' date. There are varying qualities of batteries too - they are not all manufactured to the same specs, and some UPS will refuse to power up on some brands of battery. Having the batteries jammed together inside these units which have no forced air cooling also doesn't do them any favors as they do get warm when charging and if that heat can't escape it shortens the useful life of them even further.

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

Yes well aware of these factors. These ones were about 8 months old, and had been well maintained. Changed for spanking new ones when I got it. Think I did a video on that.

[@franceslarina5508]

I recently woke up at 6 am to swap out the batteries on our primary network UPS at home. I wish they made consumer or SoHo UPS units that can be put in bypass mode with hot swappable batteries. It seems so simple, just a different box, maybe a sled, and a bypass button...

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

yes there are a lot of commercial and modular ideas I'd live to see in consumer grade stuff too. I have a few dell commercial grade systems, and have come to enjoy the quick release systems they use.

[@sw6188]

You can build a mains switching unit that allows you to transfer the load to either the UPS output or direct mains - making switching out the UPS easy when it comes time to replace the batteries.

[@TheAussieRepairGuy]

@@sw6188 yeah I've thought about a changeover relay in a box, or just a mechanical switch with dampened contacts.