Dissasemble RBC11 battery to replace individual UB1280?

[netplumbers_apc]

First, I understand that what I'm asking is totally unsupported and frowned upon by APCC. I likely wouldn't do this in a datacenter environment due to insurance risks. Skip below to the question if you don't care about the background.

I have several old smart-UPS I decommissioned for a previous $work after installing a proper 30kVA UPS I use at home for various purposes. I have a 2200XL RM 3U that was making occasional hissing and popping sounds and then the fan stuck on all the time. After sliding the battery tray out, I found the individual batteries had swelled so I took the unit out of service. I then put one of the SU2200Net boxes into service. After a few days I started to hear the same hissing and popping from the unit (the other old spare smart-ups already have known bad batteries) so I made the assumption that those batteries must be bad as well (all of these batteries are 7+ years old). I found a good deal online ($130 delivered for all 😎 on the UB1280 batteries for the 2200XL and have put that unit back in service without any trouble. It seems to work fine but I've been wondering if I should get a calibration key...

From googling, it appears that the SU2200Net's RBC11 battery pack is really just 2 UB1280 batteries inside a housing. Unfortunately, I seem to be missing the obvious - I don't see how to disassemble the RBC11 to get at/replace the batteries contained within. Before I start hacking away and probably ruin the housing, I'm hoping someone else has previously done this and can point out the (probably simple) disassembly instructions.

Thanks for the help,
Jon

[BillP]

Hello:

As you mentioned, this is "frowned upon" by APC, so I won't bore you too much with the details on that. 🙂 But yes, we of course can't provide information on this due to safety reasons and also the fact that if the batteries aren't exactly what the unit is expecting, it could potentially cause issues in the future. As you know, the internal batteries are not designed to be replaced.

With that said, we will definitely leave this open to any customers who might be able to give you some unofficial advice.

[Anonymous user]

AFAIK, There is no housing on the RBC11
The cartridge IS the Batteries.

The RBC11 does not use UB1280 batteries, it uses the larger UB12180 18000mAh batteries with B1 bolt on terminals
UB1280 is smaller 8000mAh battery with F1 or F2 slide on terminals.

The two batteries are stuck together with double sided tape and connected together with a fuse bolted directly to the battery terminals.
The connector wires are bolted directly to the battery terminals on the other side.
There are plastic covers over the battery terminals held on by glue or double sided tape.

Pry off the plastic covers over battery terminals.
Remove connector wires and the fuse by removing the nuts and bolts from the battery terminals. Save these to use with the replacement batteries.
Dispose of the batteries at a proper recycling center. These are sealed lead acid batteries and are considered toxic waste.
Oder new UB12180 or compatible batteries from someplace like this...
http://www.apexbattery.com/apc-rbc11-battery-set-sealed-lead-acid-batteries-apc-batteries.html
Use the hardware you saved from the originals to re-assemble the new batteries.

Do not replace only one of the two batteries. If you don't replace both you'll just end up ruining the new battery.

[Anonymous user]

yes, 2 x 12V 18Ah batteries. manufacturer shouldnt really matter technically - as you are not changing the capacity of the battery. the ups is cal'd for the rating, and as such the dv/dt or charging pattern should match accordingly.

i have done in the past, and will do again (obviously not through work, just at home and testing purposes).

APC DO NOT recommend doing this as a measure of above, but it is your choice.

I would never do this on the Symmetra range, but smaller stuff I would temporarily.

EDIT: Also, yes to the above statement - DO NOT replace on one of the two int he pack. the aged battery will have a different internal impedence and as such will age/damage the newer batteries very quickly. Replace all or none.

Message was edited by: UPS_Tech

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Many are held together with double sided tape.... Others such as the rack style RT 1500/2000's are in plastic housings held together by screws.