LS700VA Purch 5/11 in store, QA Test Report date 5/10,Are batts still good?

[Samson_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/30/2011

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I purchased a LS700VA new in store 5/19/2011 with serial #4B1018293044. The QA Test Report attached to the UPS states it was tested on 5/4/10, a year ago and was manufactured in the Philippines. Not knowing how it was stored, should I trust that the battery in this UPS will be any good? Having dealt with bad batteries in the past, my gut says 'No' and I should box it back up and take it back to the store. At best, the battery will not be as good as a 3-6month old battery. I really start to get concerned when I see that a battery has been idle for over a year without a charge.

For future, how can one tell how old the batteries are on these APC UPS's when you buy them in the store, without opening the box to check the QA Test Report? I know it has to do with the serial number, but I'm not sure which numbers to look at.

Please advise.

[Samson_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/31/2011

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?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 5/31/2011

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Hi Samson,

The life expectancy of an APC Battery is 3~6 years. It is advisable that if you've purchased a brand new battery or UPS, you have to make sure that you get to charged it within 6 months. If it came from our warehouse, we tend to recharge it every 6 months.

Also, you can tell how old a UPS/battery is by looking at the serial number. The first six characters would tell you how old it is. In your case *4B1018*, if we are going to interpret it it tells me that your unit was manufactured on the 18th week of 2010.

Hope this helps.

[Samson_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/31/2011

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This UPS came from a large 'big box' electronics store, so there is no telling how or where the UPS has been stored for the last 12 months. I seriously doubt the battery in the UPS has seen a charge since it was manufactured and QA tested over a year ago.

I have only had the UPS a week, and only pulled it out of the box to inspect. That is when I notice it was already a year old and decided not to hook it up or try to charge the battery, thinking I should probably take it back to the store for an exchange or refund.

Should I return the UPS to the store and request a newer UPS with a newer battery, or will APC warranty this battery if it won't hold a load as specified on the UPS? Seems the hassle and time of shipping a battery back and forth, I'd be better off just taking the entire UPS back to the store for a refund.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Jonathan on APC forums on 5/31/2011

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If this UPS was manufactured in 2010, it carries a 3-year warranty on it. I suggest that you contact our APC Technical Support Team to do more checks/ troubleshooting with the unit. If found defective, we would replace the defective battery or UPS.