APC UPS battery replacement - alternatives

[ld13]

Same conclusion in this thread:

El-Cheapo UPS Battery replacement: Can I use Lithium (LiPo)?

I've got one of these: https://www.takealot.com/rct-850va-line-interactive-ups/PLID32714233 The battery doesn't last more than 30min after 1yr of running ONT + WiFi Router (that's the only load it has). To replace that, I can buy another SLA battery, but couldn't I just drop in one of these...

mybroadband.co.za

It seems they are not true "drop-in replacements".

Think he means the forbatt battery, not the blue nova - would be overkill in any case.

 

[ginggs]

Think he means the forbatt battery, not the blue nova - would be overkill in any case.

You're right, I misread.

 

[xrapidx]

Yip - the forbatt - I only need the battery to power the UPS long enough for shutdown.

 

[ginggs]

Yip - the forbatt - I only need the battery to power the UPS long enough for shutdown.

That's all I need too, but I'm getting tired of replacing the lead acid batteries. I was interested in replacing them with lithiums, but it doesn't sound like that actually works.

 

[xrapidx]

That's all I need too, but I'm getting tired of replacing the lead acid batteries. I was interested in replacing them with lithiums, but it doesn't sound like that actually works.

With the impending Eskom increases, and continued loadshedding - I'd ideally like to start looking at off grid solutions, or at least start partially moving off-grid - so don't want to spend too much on UPS/Alarm batteries.

 

[Thor]

will the blue nova lithium batteries work in the APC UPS?

Specifically: the APC BR1500GI

 

[supersunbird]

Been using 2 of these babies in my Eaton 5e 1500VA for over a year now, has survived some up to 5 hour outages and all the loadshedding while powering my ONT and router continuously.

BATT 13V8 LI-ION BLN

Blue Nova BATT 13V8 LI-ION BLN Batteries Bluenova Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Rechargeable Battery, OPV Range:11.6V~14.4VDC, Over-Current Prot:24~36A, Over Voltage Cut-out:15.6V, Under-Voltage Cut-out:10.0V, Charge Current:7.2A Continuous, BMS, Efficiency 96-99%@C1, (150X65x95mm), IP56...

www.communica.co.za

 

[ld13]

Been using 2 of these babies in my Eaton 5e 1500VA for over a year now, has survived some up to 5 hour outages and all the loadshedding while powering my ONT and router continuously.

Just the ONT and Router? What router do you have?

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

will the blue nova lithium batteries work in the APC UPS?

Specifically: the APC BR1500GI

The Blue Nova batteries are lithium but they have a BMS built inside and are a 'drop in lead replacement'
It is lithium, but whoever it talks to it speaks lead acid language
So a normal lead acid charger looks at it and thinks it is a lead acid battery

 

[Thor]

The Blue Nova batteries are lithium but they have a BMS built inside and are a 'drop in lead replacement'
It is lithium, but whoever it talks to it speaks lead acid language
So a normal lead acid charger looks at it and thinks it is a lead acid battery

Will the UPS let the battery discharge to 0, all the UPSes I owned shuts off very early not sure if that that ups setting or lead acid invoked.

 

[supersunbird]

Just the ONT and Router? What router do you have?

Yes, as I want internet to be up for a long as possible. Some old Netgear that can only do 100mbps. Someday when I have spare cash I will get 4 of same batteries in my other 2 x Eaton 5e 1500VAs and be able to run my CCTV systems on it.

 

[supersunbird]

Been using 2 of these babies in my Eaton 5e 1500VA for over a year now, has survived some up to 5 hour outages and all the loadshedding while powering my ONT and router continuously.

BATT 13V8 LI-ION BLN

Blue Nova BATT 13V8 LI-ION BLN Batteries Bluenova Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Rechargeable Battery, OPV Range:11.6V~14.4VDC, Over-Current Prot:24~36A, Over Voltage Cut-out:15.6V, Under-Voltage Cut-out:10.0V, Charge Current:7.2A Continuous, BMS, Efficiency 96-99%@C1, (150X65x95mm), IP56...

www.communica.co.za

Oh yes, Blue Nova says one must get batteries from same batch or something (it's on the sticker), if going to run them in series, like in a 2 battery UPS like mine.

 

[ld13]

Yes, as I want internet to be up for a long as possible. Some old Netgear that can only do 100mbps.

Stupid question, but why do you not just get a Gizzu or any other 8800mah mini UPS? It is like R500-800 odd and I can run my router and ONT on it for 8 hours, easy. These conventional UPS systems are simply too inefficient as you are taking 12V, to 220, back down to 12V.

I simply do not have to worry about internet anymore when it comes to loadshedding since I got my Gizzu. It has handled whole-day outages when they do 6am-6pm maintenance on the boxes outside... noting though, that on those days the load on the routers were not overly excessive in any case.

I now have two, one for the Synology NAS and ONT and a dedicated one for my router.

 

[Thor]

I now have two, one for the Synology NAS and ONT and a dedicated one for my router.

How is this wired?

The NAS is AC

 

[ld13]

How is this wired?

The NAS is AC

*cough* DC

Sure there is an AC power brick in the Synology box (that simply spits out DC to the NAS), but mine has never been used. Running it strait on DC since inception.

 

[Thor]

*cough* DC

Sure there is an AC power brick in the Synology box (that simply spits out DC to the NAS), but mine has never been used. Running it strait on DC since inception.

View attachment 1175594

Well, that is something, I checked now, mine is the Synology DS 716+II and it has a weird connector, not the normal pluggie.

Says it is 12V @ 5.5A, I wonder how long it will last, I guess around 1 hour, if that Gizzu is 8.8A.

I need to power the following:

iMac @ 50 watt
Synology Nas 12V @ 5.5A
----
Raspberry Pi (usb)
Sonoff RF Bridge (usb)
Mikrotik 9V - 12V pluggie
Tenda AX Router - 9V pluggie
@2 watt total for this lot
----

So given all the different plugs, I figured a Lithium-based AC UPS would be easier?

Thinking of this?

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[supersunbird]

Stupid question, but why do you not just get a Gizzu or any other 8800mah mini UPS? It is like R500-800 odd and I can run my router and ONT on it for 8 hours, easy. These conventional UPS systems are simply too inefficient as you are taking 12V, to 220, back down to 12V.

I simply do not have to worry about internet anymore when it comes to loadshedding since I got my Gizzu. It has handled whole-day outages when they do 6am-6pm maintenance on the boxes outside... noting though, that on those days the load on the routers were not overly excessive in any case.

I now have two, one for the Synology NAS and ONT and a dedicated one for my router.

Because I already have these UPSs which I got for a half price back in 2016, and that can easily handle some 220V devices if needed to.

 

[Pineapple Smurf]

Will the UPS let the battery discharge to 0, all the UPSes I owned shuts off very early not sure if that that ups setting or lead acid invoked.

The drop in voltage with a lead-acid is linear, with lithium the battery voltage stays more or less the same, there is a very slight drop in voltage drop, and then at the end it will drop suddenly.
I think you should test it with the Blue Nova batteries from Takealot and take measurements in testing, if you dont like it Takealot has a 30 day returns no-nonsense policy which is pretty good from my experience.

 

[isie]

Will the UPS let the battery discharge to 0, all the UPSes I owned shuts off very early not sure if that that ups setting or lead acid invoked.

UPS setting almost all will switch off at about 2 hours no matter the battery size or remaining amp hours.
I have come across 1 or 2 models that don't

 

[JacquesR]

*cough* DC

Sure there is an AC power brick in the Synology box (that simply spits out DC to the NAS), but mine has never been used. Running it strait on DC since inception.

How long does that power your NAS for? I've got a 218+ (yours looks like it might be one too), with two regular HDDs (not SSD), and this is a far better & cheaper option than a full UPS!