UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life

plainman007 · 11-01-2009, 01:11 AM

Some basic questions with reference to normal domestic PC UPS units and maintaining their good battery life and performance.

1. Is it better to always leave the UPS connected to power. Which means the wall power socket switch is always on, but the ups button is off until we need to use the system OR...... is it better to switch off the wall socket when not using the PC and the UPS is off. Which of this will ensure better battery life ?

2. Is it good to (maybe once a month) completely discharge the UPS by switching off the wall socket. Letting it beep till final warning stage and then powering the wall socket back on so that it gets charged again for about 5 hrs. Then repeating the same process again. So totally 2 to 3 discharge & charge cycles. Doing this process is good for the battery ?

Thanks

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*PeterT* · 11-01-2009, 07:19 AM

These are good questions. I am curious to know the answers as well. I always leave mine connected to wall power, switching the output power off when not needed (~daily). I never fully discharge the battery.

**ctal** · 11-01-2009, 07:57 AM

My understanding is that UPS's use lead-acid batteries, and that lead-acid batteries should absolutely NOT be periodically discharged/recharged as a maintenance action. Just as with an automobile battery, each discharge/charge cycle shortens the life of the battery.

That is not true, of course, with lithium or nickel-cadmium or NiMH batteries, such as are used in cameras and many other electronic devices.

I've read that the biggest enemy of most or all of these battery types, including lead-acid, is high temperature (above say 80 or 90 degrees F).

Re the first question, I'm not totally certain but I would imagine that the most relevant factor is that with input power to the ups off, and output power off, there would still be a very gradual loss of charge on the battery, which will not help its longevity. And keep in mind that with output power off, the life of the cmos battery in the computer will be shortened.

Best,
-- Al

wonderwrench · 11-01-2009, 01:14 PM

I leave my APC UPS plugged in and on all the time. The original battery lasted 4 years. I got a replacement battery from a third party and its going bad as we speak and its only about 1 year old. I should have just gotten a new UPS.

Griff · 11-01-2009, 05:53 PM

Yes I leave mine plugged in all the time too. Batteries last 4-5 years.

DBoone · 11-01-2009, 09:35 PM

That's my experience too. Mine runs 24/7 so that I can keep folding.

plainman007 · 11-02-2009, 10:51 PM

Ok. So i conclude its ok to keep the wall socket on and running, while the unit power output switch can be off when not using the PC.

11-01-2009, 01:11 AM	#1
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 437	UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life Some basic questions with reference to normal domestic PC UPS units and maintaining their good battery life and performance. 1. Is it better to always leave the UPS connected to power. Which means the wall power socket switch is always on, but the ups button is off until we need to use the system OR...... is it better to switch off the wall socket when not using the PC and the UPS is off. Which of this will ensure better battery life ? 2. Is it good to (maybe once a month) completely discharge the UPS by switching off the wall socket. Letting it beep till final warning stage and then powering the wall socket back on so that it gets charged again for about 5 hrs. Then repeating the same process again. So totally 2 to 3 discharge & charge cycles. Doing this process is good for the battery ? Thanks Last edited by plainman007; 11-01-2009 at 09:33 PM..
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11-01-2009, 07:19 AM	#2
PeterT CUSL2...GA-EP45-UD3P...? Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Sunny Florida, USA Posts: 2,921	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life These are good questions. I am curious to know the answers as well. I always leave mine connected to wall power, switching the output power off when not needed (~daily). I never fully discharge the battery. __________________ Proud Member: Team-CUSL2 - 'The Old School Crew' Asus Eee PC 1000HE, 1x2GB Corsair DDR2 667 GA-EP45-UD3P, Q9550, 4x2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800, EVGA 9800GTX+ 512MB GA-EP45-DS3L, E7200, 4x2GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800, Asus EAH4850 TOP 512MB GA-EP45-UD3P, E6600, 4x1GB Crucial Ballistix DDR2 1066, EVGA 8800GTS 512MB P5B-D in a box at the moment P4P800-D, P4 2.4C, 4x512MB Mushkin DDR 400, ATI AIW X800XT 256MB TUSL2C, P3-S 1.4, 2x256MB Corsair XMS150, ATI 9800PRO 128MB, TB Santa Cruz CUSL2, P3 1.0, 1x256MB & 2x128MB Corsair PC133, Asus V7700D 32MB, SB Live! * Please join ABXZone and participate *
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11-01-2009, 07:57 AM	#3
ctal Eschews Obfuscation Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut, USA Posts: 1,994	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life My understanding is that UPS's use lead-acid batteries, and that lead-acid batteries should absolutely NOT be periodically discharged/recharged as a maintenance action. Just as with an automobile battery, each discharge/charge cycle shortens the life of the battery. That is not true, of course, with lithium or nickel-cadmium or NiMH batteries, such as are used in cameras and many other electronic devices. I've read that the biggest enemy of most or all of these battery types, including lead-acid, is high temperature (above say 80 or 90 degrees F). Re the first question, I'm not totally certain but I would imagine that the most relevant factor is that with input power to the ups off, and output power off, there would still be a very gradual loss of charge on the battery, which will not help its longevity. And keep in mind that with output power off, the life of the cmos battery in the computer will be shortened. Best, -- Al __________________ "I didn't say I didn't say it. I said that I didn't say that I said it. I want to make that very clear." -- George Romney, in 1968, while campaigning for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.
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11-01-2009, 01:14 PM	#4
wonderwrench ABXpert Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mpls MN Posts: 1,823	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life I leave my APC UPS plugged in and on all the time. The original battery lasted 4 years. I got a replacement battery from a third party and its going bad as we speak and its only about 1 year old. I should have just gotten a new UPS. __________________ Main BoxC2Q Q6600 @ 3 GhzMSI P35 Neo2-FR bios 1.104 x 2 gig Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 ramEvga 8800GT SSC Seagate 7200.10 320 gig, Samsung HD321KA 320 gig LiteOn sohw-1693sPlextor PX 716aTeac FloppyOCZ 700GXSSLI PSU Rosewill R6AR6-BK case* Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit HTPC* Athlon II 240Asus M4A875M2x2 gig Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800WD Blue 320 gigNEC 3540 DVD* Corsair CMPSU-400CX*Win 7 pro 64 bit Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.
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11-01-2009, 05:53 PM	#5
Griff OLD FART Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Smithers BC, Canada Posts: 4,241	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life Yes I leave mine plugged in all the time too. Batteries last 4-5 years. __________________ Jerry Folding for the betterment of man kind.
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11-01-2009, 09:35 PM	#6
DBoone Just call me Dave Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,984	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life That's my experience too. Mine runs 24/7 so that I can keep folding. __________________ ASUS P5B-Deluxe, Intel E6600, 4 GB Corsair XMS, Sapphire 5850, Windows 7
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11-02-2009, 10:51 PM	#7
plainman007 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 437	Re: UPS Maintenance Methods For Max Batt Life Ok. So i conclude its ok to keep the wall socket on and running, while the unit power output switch can be off when not using the PC.
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