Battery Backup Replacements, Yeah, Right

Battery Backup Replacements, Yeah, Right

Like many of you, we have the occasional power failure or flicker — both of which cause havoc with our computers and Ethernet hubs. To prevent problems, we have battery backups on everything. Even during the worst of windy days when we might have 10 or more brief power interruptions, our computers keep working and our network connections don't glitch. I wouldn't be without a battery backup under any circumstances.

There is, however, one pet peeve I have about these things. The "replaceable" batteries are anything but. Sure, one can order a replacement battery component and swap out just the battery, but the doggone replacement batteries are as expensive as just buying a brand new backup unit. In 20 years of using them, I am yet to buy a single replacement battery. Every time I need to, I just end up forking over the bucks for an entirely new backup. Seems silly to me, but there must be some economic reason why this is the case. All I need is the battery. Why must these components cost as much as the whole unit? Am I just looking in the wrong places or buying the wrong units to begin with?

Comments

[Trever]

Have you tried going to a generic battery replacement store? Don't buy replacement batteries from the ups vendor.

One that sells auto, marine, motorcycle, and other batteries? I have one near me that sells just batteries and they even take the old battery back for refurb/recycle without charging a battery core fee. (Might be built into the new battery prices).

[Monica]

I'll second the battery replacement store in "your area". UPSes, watches, power tools, glucose meters, and beyond.
Bring in your old battery.
Otherwise, store charged less than ordering+shipping from manufacturer and took the old dead battery in trade.

If you live in an area where you are billed for e-waste disposal separately, you can save even more.

Only issue we've had was one set of smallest UPSes replacement batteries didn't fit in the case. Definitely take your case with you if you worry about things like that.

[Frank Field]

I agree with both of the prior posts: do not buy these things from the UPS vendor. For the most part, these are nothing fancier than gel-cell (sealed lead acid) batteries - not exactly high tech. I have had good luck in buying from online sources such as atbatt.com or level8technology.com (the latter seems to focus more on LiIon batteries for PCs).

I've long said that in my next life, I will choose one of three careers: own an airport parking lot, bottle iced tea or make custom-housing batteries. All three seem to enjoy enormous gross profit margins.

[Henkki Zakkinen]

Why does this remind me of printers?