Storing an APC - best practice for healthy battery.

[TwistedHelixis]

I need to store a new ish APC 1500 and need to know what's the best way to protect the batteries.

 

Google seems to come back with different and conflicting results.

 

On the APC site it says to do a full discharge and re change ever 6 months, but another says its really bad to let the battery discharge and it must be kept above 60% charge while in storage, as every discharge will shorting the life of the battery. Another site says to remove the power cable pin from the battery while its fully charged and then just store it.

 

Anyone actually know what I should be doing?

[IrritableTech]

AGM batteries have a limit on how many deep cycles they can have. However they are designed to be cycled. I think perhaps APC is suggesting while in service they should have a deep cycle every six months, but they should absolutely not be left on a shelf at a low voltage or they can sulphate and self discharge to a voltage they can't be recovered from. APC usually use 'Long' batteries. I'd see if you can find a datasheet for the batteries themselves.

 

We buy Varta battery replacements for our UPS's rather than buy the cartridges or APC stickered ones. We replace them every two years or so as a maintenance item. After all its core infrastructure.

[Chris_Cook]

Definitely keep them charged. I'd follow APCs guidance if unsure.

 

Bear in mind that lead acid batteries have a limited life, so you are only really maximizing this. They won't last for ever whatever you do.

 

They will also self-discharge even if not connected. This may be what APC were thinking. You probably want to re-charge them every so often if you plan to re-use them.

 

Lead acid batteries come in different forms, some are deep discharge, and some arn't. UPS's normally don't use deep discharge batteries, as you don't discharge them fully that frequently.