Recent replacement of batttery

[BillP]

This question was originally posted by Karla on APC forums on 5/15/2017

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I have a Model ES 550, and today I replaced the battery. The APC directions said to charge the battery for 18 hours, however when I connected the battery and turned it on, and then ran the "Parachute software", It said it was charged to 100% ? So I am confused ? Are the batteries shipped fully charged or is there something else going on with my UPS system ? Also when I plugged in the battery and hit the on push button, the light immediately turned green. Any help is appreciated.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Vinay on APC forums on 5/16/2017

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Hi Karla,

There will be a possibility that batteries might ship with 100% charged. Can you help me with the model and a serial number of the UPS which will be present on the white barcode label on the UPS as well as help me with the model and a serial number of the replacement battery, this will be on the white barcode label on the battery? Just want to check the manufactured date of the battery and UPS.

Regards,

Vinay

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Karla on APC forums on 5/16/2017

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My model number on the Barcode says: Model BE550R & Number 3B0734x04242, I am the original owner & purchased it new several years ago, not sure of the purchase date. The Battery is an Aftermarket, I tried to purchase the recommended battery from APC, but was told they are “Out of Stock” and did Not know availability. The Battery I ordered and purchased on 4/30/2017 from ATBATT.Com, information on replacement battery “Amstron (Sealed Lead Acid Battery)” AP 1270F2, 12 V, & 7.0 Ah, I don’t see a bar code on battery.

Any help is appreciated, Thank you.

1. It has been charged for over 18 hrs now, and without load. I did a quick 40 second test by pulling the power to the AC cord of the UPS, and everything transferred and supplied load. The load was another laptop computer, which was only a couple of amps, but I need to verify actual Amps. The Parachute software reported that I only had like 8 minutes, which did Not seem like much time for just (1) laptop computer load ?? The software when AC was restored reported that it was charging, and it was at 91 %. Originally before test it reported it was at 100 % . I hope this helps.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Vinay on APC forums on 5/17/2017

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Thanks for the info. If it says as 8 minutes of runtime during on battery operation then it should be a load of 225 watts as per the runtime graph.

Link: http://www.apc.com/products/runtimegraph/runtime_graph.cfm?base_sku=BE550R&chartSize=large

You can verify the load information through the Powerchute software. If the load information is less than 225 watts then there might be an issue with the battery. Please verify the load information through the Powerchute and let me know if it is showing as 225 watts or lesser than that?

Regards,

Vinay

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Karla on APC forums on 5/17/2017

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MY AC Load is a Lap top computer, the plug in power supply says that it is 19 volts at 4.6 amps, or 87 Va, or aprox. 90 watts. Thank you for the chart, I have saved it for future reference. I am also Not sure of the Volt-amps available from the BE550R, I thought it was a 550 watt-hr UPS ? Anyhow If I have less than 100 watts which would be normal for my usage, then I assume you would divide the 550 watts by say a 100 watts (load) and that should give you the time expected on the battery or aprox. 5.5 Hours, but I only get about 8 minutes ? Also I just realized I am not calculating the Volt Amps of the battery which is rated as 12 Volts & 7.0 Amps or 84 Va (battery), so I guess I would divide 84 Va by 100 watts which would be .84 hours or aprox 50 minutes, but again I only get about 8 minutes? I think the UPS is now working with the New battery but just not sure about the time thing, I guess I will try a different load maybe smaller and see how long it lasts. Thanks for your help

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Karla on APC forums on 5/17/2017

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I just took another look at the chart, and realizing its a discharge curve, which I wasn't really thinking about at the time, so silly me. But anyhow using the chart it says a 100 watt load should last for 28 minutes, and again when I actually tested it, I only got about 8 minutes. So maybe there is a difference between the original battery Specifications, and the aftermarket replacement battery ?

[Brad_C · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/17/2017

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On 17/5/2017 9:21 PM, Karla said:

So maybe there is a difference between the original battery Specifications, and the aftermarket replacement battery ?

That is quite probable. The batteries APC supplies have very low internal resistance. It is not uncommon for lesser specified batteries to have a higher internal resistance. The result is that the output voltage drops further on-load than the original batteries for the same discharge current. This would cause the UPS to think the battery was flat well before it actually is and shut down early.

This is going to sound stupid, but compare the weight of the two batteries. Often cheaper batteries with inferior specs are measurably lighter than better specified units. Less metal, cheaper to make, worse performance.