TL;DR
advice on battery type choice for UPS…Am I confused about the specs… high rate discharge?
Geographical context : Greece and/or rest of Europe
Looking for some clarification and advice so I can wrap my head around the UPS battery concept.
Fair worning…Imay have overthouight it all, and also, ups noob.
Was able to get a relatively good deal on eBay for my first UPS, for an APC Smart UPS 1000 (SMT1000I) with no batteries
Naturally I am looking to get fresh batteries, and of course would like to avoid paying the APC $$$ toll for their RBC
As per APC this particular model takes the RBC 6 (although I have seen mods that make it take the RBC7 tunring into an “XL”, but not sure if I want to go down that path)
I have been able to extract some details, but I would appreciate if any experienced UPS or Batterry gurus might be able to guide through the below and offer some peace of mind
Volts & Capacity: qty 2 x 12V 11Ah as per RBC 6 spec
1.1. I am assuming 11Ah per battery?
1.2. Searching for 12V 11Ah did not return anything, 12Ah and 15Ah seem more common here. Am I safe to assume that I could simply add in a different Ah battery, if it is of course 12V and the same form factor etc? and it would just alter the length of available runtime?
Terminals
2.1. cannot tell from RBC 6 spec sheet, these should be the classic Faston F2 correct?
This one is providing the most confusion and trepidation - Battery delineation: High rate discharge?
3.1. Is the high-rate discharge an imperative? Shops here do not seem to know what I am talking about, and all websites here tend to recommend the “regular” product range of batteries just 12V 12Ah 20HR. and any American or UK websites or eBay listings also tend to be the same, just the usual 12V 12Ah 20HR batteries
3.2. Trying to find High rate discharge variants here is basically impossible… example Yuasa NP1212 – easily found and what keeps getting recommended as compatible. However Yuasa has a “High rate” series “NPH”….???
3.3. Complete Noob here but doing some calc on the regular 20HR batteries gives me a C-state of 14…which is considered high rate discharge (according to google…I have no clue)
3.4. Basically…… Am I overthinking this and have I been misled by the High rate discharge thing? Should I just make sure it’s a relatively known brand name, is 12V 12Ah+ 20HR VRLA, and does not mention “deep cycle”? and be done with it?
3.5. Am just worried I don’t turn my homelab into a little unsolicited fireworks show if I put in the incorrect type discharge of battery. Please ELI5 if need be, this is a perfect learning opportunity for me
Alot of folks mention good sources and brands, but mostly US/UK based
4.1. Any chance someone has relatively reputable brands and or sites for European suppliers?
4.2. Yuasa? ultracell? Invictus? Anyone familiar with those?
Other
5.1. Is there something I need to check if and when they arrive?
5.2. Is there a rudimentary way to check they are in good condition?
5.3. Is there something specific I need to do after I replace the batteries. either to the batteries themselves or on the ups, like a reset, or conditioning or something? or do I just plug in the new batteries do the little self-test on the ups, update battery change date, and away we go?
Here’s your replacement RBC6 compatible battery set:
Sorry, it’s in Dutch, but therefore in EU land There’s an email address on top of the page, contact them about shipping to Greece, although I assume it won’t be much of a problem (except for costs). This is a reliable shop, purchased from them for my own UPS’s and electric tools.
As for the rest: yes IMO you’re overthinking this. But your concerns are valid, especially when one doesn’t have either the experience or knowledge to make informed decisions.
it helped my go down a little rabbit hole and finally get some guidance.
Batterie shav ebeen bought and installed and are working perfectly fine
for posterity i have added my findings below…see italic bold
Volts & Capacity: qty 2 x 12V 11Ah as per RBC 6 spec
I am assuming 11Ah per battery?
Yes, the Ah stated in RBC 6 is indeed 11 Ah per battery
Searching for 12V 11Ah did not return anything, 12Ah and 15Ah seem more common here. Am I safe to assume that I could simply add in a different Ah battery, if it is of course 12V and the same form factor etc? and it would just alter the length of available runtime?
Yes, it is safe, Ah capacity only affects your available run time on the UPS. Assuming you have correct V, dimensions, terminals and battery type of course)
Terminals
cannot tell from RBC 6 spec sheet, these should be the classic Faston F2 correct?
**This one is providing the most confusion and trepidation** - Battery delineation: High rate discharge?
Is the high-rate discharge an imperative? Shops here do not seem to know what I am talking about, and all websites here tend to recommend the “regular” product range of batteries just 12V 12Ah 20HR. and any American or UK websites or eBay listings also tend to be the same, just the usual 12V 12Ah 20HR batteries
This is a complete over-simplification and limited to my lack of in-depth understanding, please do your own research! : It is strongly recommended. Technically Non-high rate discharge batteries will work, however you may compromise their lifespan, introduce more wear, increase heat dissipation during use and possibly not be able to actually have enough discharge capacity to start up any power hungry machines.
Trying to find High rate discharge variants here is basically impossible… example Yuasa NP1212 – easily found and what keeps getting recommended as compatible. However Yuasa has a “High rate” series “NPH”….???
Complete Noob here but doing some calc on the regular 20HR batteries gives me a C-state of 14…which is considered high rate discharge (according to google…I have no clue)
Basically…… Am I overthinking this and have I been misled by the High rate discharge thing? Should I just make sure it’s a relatively known brand name, is 12V 12Ah+ 20HR VRLA, and does not mention “deep cycle”? and be done with it?
See 3.1.1. as far as I understand it “deep cycle” means something different. Please do your own research though.
Am just worried I don’t turn my homelab into a little unsolicited fireworks show if I put in the incorrect type discharge of battery. Please ELI5 if need be, this is a perfect learning opportunity for me
See 3.1.1.
Alot of folks mention good sources and brands, but mostly US/UK based
Any chance someone has relatively reputable brands and or sites for European suppliers?
Yuasa? Ultracell? Invictus? Anyone familiar with those?
These seem to be considered reputable brands (at least here in Greece anyway) they are sort of “mid-tier” and have some sort of pedigree
Other
Is there something I need to check if and when they arrive?
Once fully charged, remove them and probe them with a Multi-meter. Below points source: random google-fu, please do your own corroboration and research.
Compare the measured voltage to the battery’s rated voltage (often 12V for lead-acid batteries).
A fully charged 12V battery should read around 12.6 to 12.8 volts.
A voltage below 12.4 volts indicates the battery may be partially discharged.
A voltage below 12.0 volts suggests the battery is significantly discharged and may need charging or replacement.
Is there a rudimentary way to check they are in good condition?
See above 5.1 also just make sure you see nor obvious physical damage
Is there something specific I need to do after I replace the batteries. either to the batteries themselves or on the ups, like a reset, or conditioning or something? or do I just plug in the new batteries do the little self-test on the ups, update battery change date, and away we go?
If your ups has one, remove the battery connection coupler cap at the back for safety (this breaks the circuit to the batteries)
Once you install the batteries, re attached the safety cap, turn on the ups.
Depending on your make and model it may autodetect a new battery connection and ask for confirmation and for setting the new date for the battery being changed.
Check you manual for the respective way to do this
There’s an email address on top of the page, contact them about shipping to Greece, although I assume it won’t be much of a problem (except for costs). This is a reliable shop, purchased from them for my own UPS’s and electric tools.