RBC32 and RBC33 Questions

[Anonymous user]

I have two Back-UPS BX1200's and one Back-UPS RS1500. I just purchased batteries for all three of them. It was two RBC32's for the BX1200's and one RBC33 for the RS1500. I noticed that even though the stickers on the battery packs indicated the correct RBC's, the individual batteries where all the exact same model. I also looked at the old batteries and I noticed that they were also the exact same model batteries between one BX1200 and the RS1500. The only difference was that the old batteries had a 3.4A max initial charging current ratting and the new batteries have a lower rating of, I believe, 2.7A max. (I noted that it was lower but I didn't remove them again to get the number.) Also, the other BX1200 had batteries that had an even lower rating of 1.7A max.

So here are my questions...

1. Is the RBC32 and RBC33 really the exact same thing?
2. If not, what exactly is the difference between them.
3. Why do the new packs have a different max charging current rating?
4. What is the max initial charge current of these units?

[Anonymous user]

I think the RBC33 battery has a higher current specs. Technically, it should take a little longer to charge but it last longer than the RBC32.

[Anonymous user]

I've taken the old battery modules apart and it looks like they are both wired exactly the same.
The two batteries are wired in series and the sense wire is connected to the positive terminal. I don't see any difference in the RBC32 and RBC33 other than price. I guess it's just a marketing thing.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i am not sure on all of the details of your questions but what i do know is that APC has multiple vendors for different batteries. for any given RBC, they must pass certain test and provide a certain amount of runtime, etc. so, for any RBC at any time, we may use one or two different vendors as long as the results of that test match to what the definition of the RBC is. thus, that could mean we choose a battery with 7aH or 7.2aH depending on the results.

i am sure that the RBCs are different in some manner, even though it may be a minuscule thing.

changes can be made to a pack at any given time for a certain reason so this may relate to the reasons you are seeing different ratings and numbers.