Oh, my [bleepin'] God!

[Hawkmoon]

A few days ago, I started having my computer go out when the compressor of my window air conditioner engages. I'm running a UPS, so that shouldn't happen. It's an older APC Back-UPS 600 and I've replaced the batteries once, a few years ago (don't remember exactly when). So I'm faced with the decision of whether to buy two new batteries, or just buy a new UPS.

I called APC's technical support line, and had an exceptionally frustrating conversation with a guy who was obviously Indian, and who provided precisely zero useful information in the course of 10 or fifteen minutes on the phone. I explained the problem, and I asked in I should replace the batteries again or if the unit may degrade such that it simply can't (or won't) charge the batteries. He mumbled and rambled and mumbled some more, basically ending up at "you can either buy new batteries or for a few dollars more you can buy a new unit."

Yeah -- I knew that. I called him seeking clues to help me make that decision. I tried to pin him down by asking in these units degrade over time such that they can't charge healthy batteries. He mumbled and rambled some more essentially unintelligible noise, the gist of which seemed to be "Maybe -- or maybe not."

The only thing he seemed even remotely certain of was that the unit will still work as surge protection (on a non-mission-critical computer) even if it doesn't work as a UPS. So I could move it over to an unprotected spare computer if I buy a new UPS.

The doofus didn't even ask me what model unit I have (Back-UPS 600).

Does anyone know how these things work? I don't remember how old these "new" batteries are -- my best guess is more than three years, but I have no idea how much longer than three years.

Should I try a set of new batteries, or just spring for a new UPS?

[AZRedhawk44]

Pull the battery.

Go down to your nearest Batteries Plus store and match it for voltage and amperage and connector type and size.  They'll have it.

Should be under $20.

[AZRedhawk44]

Does anyone know how these things work?

They're a limited wattage AC/DC/AC inverter.  While one would think that a product with the number 600 in its name would be stable to provide 600 watts of consumption, that isn't the case.  Your product is capable of providing 330 watts of total output power.  If it loses supply from the wall, it is supposed to provide about 3 minutes of 330 watt runtime so that you can shut your computer down cleanly.  Technically it's storing 330 watts at a capacity of 1/20th of an hour, so (330 x 0.05) about 16.5 watt-hours of power storage.

It's entirely possible that your computer is pulling more than 330 watts.  If so, it's over drawing this device and may have overtaxed it and burned something out in it.  Maybe try a kill-o-watt meter between your computer and the UPS, then between the UPS and your wall.  If it's drawing over 300 watts, you need a larger UPS. 

I'm of the opinion that the UPS industry has been overthrown by the portable inverter power industry.  Getting an EcoFlow River or Jackery or similar device will give you far longer runtime in the event of a power outage.  Judging the return on investment by the peak wattage they can provide and the power storage they provide, is a BackUPS 600 with a 330 watt inverter and 16.5 watt-hours of storage (for $150 or so) on par with a EcoFlow River 2 with a 300 watt inverter and 256 watt-hours for $220?

[lee n. field]

A few days ago, I started having my computer go out when the compressor of my window air conditioner engages. I'm running a UPS, so that shouldn't happen. It's an older APC Back-UPS 600 and I've replaced the batteries once, a few years ago (don't remember exactly when). So I'm faced with the decision of whether to buy two new batteries, or just buy a new UPS.

The Wireless ISP side of the business swaps batteries out at 5 years, if it hasn't happened before.

Like AZR said, pull the battery and buy one at your local battery place.

I called APC's technical support line, and had an exceptionally frustrating conversation with a guy who was obviously Indian, and who provided precisely zero useful information in the course of 10 or fifteen minutes on the phone. I explained the problem, and I asked in I should replace the batteries again or if the unit may degrade such that it simply can't (or won't) charge the batteries. He mumbled and rambled and mumbled some more, basically ending up at "you can either buy new batteries or for a few dollars more you can buy a new unit."

How about  this.  if replacing the battery doesn't fix your problem, replace the UPS.  That's what I tell customers.

Yeah -- I knew that. I called him seeking clues to help me make that decision. I tried to pin him down by asking in these units degrade over time such that they can't charge healthy batteries. He mumbled and rambled some more essentially unintelligible noise, the gist of which seemed to be "Maybe -- or maybe not."

I would not have bothered talking to India Call Center Man.

The only thing he seemed even remotely certain of was that the unit will still work as surge protection (on a non-mission-critical computer) even if it doesn't work as a UPS. So I could move it over to an unprotected spare computer if I buy a new UPS.

The doofus didn't even ask me what model unit I have (Back-UPS 600).

Sometimes different models from apc have the same name.  Actual model number is on a label on the back (or probably bottom).

Does anyone know how these things work? I don't remember how old these "new" batteries are -- my best guess is more than three years, but I have no idea how much longer than three years.

Should I try a set of new batteries, or just spring for a new UPS?

Battery is cheap.  If that doesn't resolve the problem, replace the unit.

Part of the problem might be, your unit is not a "dual conversion" UPS.  The dual conversion units are more expensive, but will have better output power quality.

Back-UPS, BTW, iis a lower end line.  SMART-UPS is higher end.

Tripplitte SUA-1000XLA is what our wifi side uses, now replaced by this.