APC Smart UPS 1500 - Replacement battery or do I need a new unit?

[cbeeching]

Hi there!

Last week our school's support team notified me the backup battery on our server was running low so I should get another in place ASAP. They gave me a supplier to contact and so I got onto them, and asked them for a replacement etc..

Now this is the first time i've dealt with one of these, so I'm going to be honest and say I don't know much about them! I assumed the battery was the entire unit, if you get what I mean. So they gave me a quote for the unit (£345) which on a quick google seemed a fairly competitive price (as they also take away the old one). I was in a bit of a rush so I didn't really think much about it and placed the order.

Now I got into school today and the unit had arrived, so I had a little look in the manual to check it out before I did anything crazy, and then I noticed this line 'this UPS has an easy to replace, hot-swappable battery module..' and it goes on, to say how easy it is to replace the battery. Suddenly i'm thinking... 'hmm!'. So on another quick google I see that you can buy a replacement battery for like £100.. even from RM! Now i'm thinking 'have I just spent money on something we don't even need!' - and believe me, I hate that feeling, usually being a real bargain hunter..

So I figure, okay no panic, i'll get back to my support team. They have clarified that in their experience it is not a good idea to replace the battery inside, and it is easier in the long run to buy a new unit. So now i'm feeling a bit better, but i'm still slightly dubious about the fact that the unit is over 3 times the price of the battery, and that this other company is coming along the pick up our old unit (which presumably just needs a new battery - for nothing!)

So am I just being paranoid or are we being ripped off?

Honest opinions please

[TheLibrarian]

IMO you were ripped off, battery replacement is easy, much cheaper, and why would you replace a working unit?

[FN-GM]

Yep it does not require a new unit just a new battery. With the replacement battery the unit will just as good as a new one. Sorry to give you bad news.

Who is your support team?

[teejay]

1500's have a horrible habit of developing faults soon after replacing the battery, so tbh it was probably best to replace the whole thing.

[TheLibrarian]

1500's have a horrible habit of developing faults soon after replacing the battery, so tbh it was probably best to replace the whole thing.

IME this has not been the case, I've replaced > I've had hot dinners, never had any problems.

[FN-GM]

1500's have a horrible habit of developing faults soon after replacing the battery, so tbh it was probably best to replace the whole thing.

We have many around school i have replaced around 25 - 30 batteries and never ever had a problem

[cbeeching]

1500's have a horrible habit of developing faults soon after replacing the battery, so tbh it was probably best to replace the whole thing.

See now that's what my support team said, which does justify buying a whole new unit I guess?

They are schools IT systems support (SITSS) linked with Hertfordshire council.

[FN-GM]

Did you actually buy the UPS from them?

[cbeeching]

Yep it does not require a new unit just a new battery. With the replacement battery the unit will just as good as a new one. Sorry to give you bad news.

Who is your support team?

Don't worry, I asked for honest opinions

[cbeeching]

Did you actually buy the UPS from them?

No, I bought the UPS from globe microsystems, which was the supplier they recommended..

[localzuk]

I've got a 1500 unit sat under my desk, with its 3rd battery in it. Works A-OK.

The question is - is the UPS doing a mission critical task, and was it under warranty.

Personally, if the UPS was out of warranty, and needed a new battery, I'd be looking at replacing it myself.

[cbeeching]

It acts as the backup power supply for our main server/sims server so I guess it is fairly critical. As far as I know it is out of warranty, I think it's a good 3/4 years old though I've only been here since Jan so I can't be sure.

[LeMarchand]

Our LEA said the same thing (replace unit, not battery). I looked at the price, decided against it, and the 2 batts I have replaced (in 2 different units!) are still going strong...

[cbeeching]

Thanks for the input all. Seems like I might give the company a ring on Wednesday (not in tommorow! Hurrah!).