How long can I store a new UPS with its battery installed?

[BillP]

Hi.  I recently purchased several UPS units with batteries installed.  Is it safe for me to store them this way for a year?  Hope to get some informed opinions on this question.

[BillP]

Hello,

For extended storage, it is recommended to disconnect the battery to avoid unnecessary discharge (new UPS units are shipped with their internal batteries disconnected). You can find more, UPS range specific information in the following knowledge base article: http://www.apc.com/ca/en/faqs/FA156516/

In short, APC Batteries should be charged to 100% within 6 months of purchase. If the batteries are to be stored for an extended period of time after that, the following procedures are recommended in order to keep the batteries from discharging beyond the safe limit: 

• If the ambient temperature during storage is - 15°C to + 30°C (+ 5°F to + 86°F), perform a full recharge cycle at least every six months.

• In environments where the ambient temperature is + 30°C to + 45°C (+ 86°F to + 113°F), perform a full recharge cycle at least every three months.

[BillP]

Thank you.  I do have batteries that I will be storing over a period of time.  Can I obtain a device other than a UPS to charge the batteries every six months?

[BillP]

Hi,

APC batteries are designed to be used in their respective compatible UPS models. APC UPS units feature firmware controlled charging, where the charger can be boosted, or trimmed, depending on the current battery charge level, environmental temperature, battery capacity, etc. I would only recommend recharging the batteries using the compatible UPS that battery is intended for. 

[Terry_Kennedy_apc · Accepted solution]

You can charge the batteries outside the UPS. The companies that actually manufacture the batteries (CSB, BB, etc.) provide charging specifications and you can obtain a charger that complies with those specs. Note that those chargers are for single batteries and most APC models except the smallest have multiple batteries inside, so you would need to remove the batteries and charge them individually. That (and voiding the warranty) is likely why APC recommends using the UPS to charge the batteries. Just remember to use the UPS battery disconnect after you charge them, or the UPS will run them down because it thinks it is in standby mode.

Anecdote (of the "you should NOT do this" variety): After Hurricane Sandy, my main server racks which are powered by a Symmetra RM, would not power up. The power was out for nearly 2 weeks and the UPS batteries were completely discharged after 5 hours or so of battery operation. Since an APC UPS won't turn on without at least one good battery pack, I had to remove all of the SYBT2 battery packs from the UPS and XR frames (just pulling them out far enough to disconnect them), then disassemble one SYBT2 and charge the 10 individual 12V batteries one at a time using a car battery charger. I put the batteries back in the SYBT2 and then put it back in the Symmetra and started it up. It finished charging the batteries in that first pack, and then I reinstalled the other 11 SYBT2, one at a time, waiting for each to charge before installing the next one. That got me back up and running with UPS protection. I could have run in bypass mode, but that wouldn't have provided UPS protection (after the power came back, it was unreliable for another week or so while the utility continued to make repairs), and not all APC models have a manual bypass switch.