[BC] UPS hell

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

All lead and cadmium containing batteries since about 2007 have a recycle symbol on their labels. What this means is that when you purchased the battery, you already paid for the cost of disposal. In the United States, the vendors are required by federal law to accept the old battery free-or-charge whether or not you purchase a replacement.

That said, I suggest that the UPS devices need to be exercised often. This means pulling the plug and letting them handle the load until they start complaining. What kills the gel-cells is keeping the continuous float-charge on them as all known UPS devices do. Eventually, they develop such a high resistance that they cannot handle a load. Exercising them helps reduce this tendency.

Also, some UPS vendors package existing 12-volt "lighting batteries" into expensive replacement units. A few minutes with some shears, tape, and wire-cutters will allow you to "re-manufacture" them using standard batteries available from electrical supply houses.

Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Book: http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Broadcast List USER" <Broadcast at fetrow.org>

>From: "wpio fm 89.3" <wpio at gate.net>
>
>Isn't the cost of replacing the gel cell the same as a new one at Staples?  I'm not wild about putting a new cell in old electronics, when the cost is about the same.

Not only isn't that true, but it just adds to the waste flow to throw  
out the existing UPS.