Time to replace battery?

[Ross321]

Power just went out at my house.  My BR1500MS2 is showing one bar of load, but only 45 minutes of battery life.  Is that about what I can expect, or is it time to replace the battery?  Currently it's about 3 years old. 

[Teken]

The internal battery is rated for 3-5 years of service life based on ideal conditions. That is impacted by usage, temperature, and environmental conditions.

You can compare the runtime you see now vs the APC Runtime Calculator based on the equivalent load. Keep in mind the APC chart is based on a new battery so there will be some variation in operational runtime. ☝️

If the APC Runtime Chart indicates a specific load say 300 watts equals 60 minutes and you see 45. Just set aside some finances and schedule a replacement in the future.

If however the APC Runtime is stated as 120 minutes and you see 45. You should schedule a replacement in the near term. The battery is rated to endure 260 full cycles so keep that also in mind regardless of the runtime you see now.

Lastly, the vast majority of APC OEM batteries are CSB branded. They are high rate discharge cells and offer reliable power and performance.

Don’t waste your time and finances with a no name battery brand! 

NOTE: The system will complete a Self Test every 14 days to determine the system and battery state.

If the Self Test fails the battery is already toast! If you replace the battery insure you update the battery installation date if available, complete a Self Test, and a Battery Calibration with at least 30% attached load.

Doing so will reset the counters, adjust the charging algorithm, and provide a more accurate runtime on the LCD.