[TriLUG] reason not to mix batteries in UPS

[David Brain via TriLUG]

Hi,

There are LiFePO4 batteries with the same form factor as SLA batteries -
that have a battery management system built in and so im theory could be a
drop in replacement - e.g (picking at random, there are many)

https://www.amazon.com/stores/HowellEnergy/page/25E75BEA-EBC2-4EBD-BD0F-646755CECED9?ref_=ast_bln

But there's mixed reviews about using them on a UPS - some UPS don't seem
to 'like' them and so won't charge or accept them as non faulty.

I tried one in a small UPS and so for it's been OK - but it's only been in
use for a month or so.

David.

On Sun, Jan 8, 2023, 8:49 PM David Burton via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org>
wrote:

> The whole point of a UPS is to improve reliability, so the *un*reliability
> of their batteries is especially annoying.
>
> I've considered replacing a 12v lead-acid battery with four LiFePO4
> batteries, like these:
>
> https://www.ebay.com/itm/203613239129
>
> Has anyone on the list tried that?
>
> LiFePO4 batteries are supposed to sacrifice some of the energy density of
> "regular" lithium-ion batteries for much improved longevity.
>
> Dave
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 8, 2023 at 6:45 PM Joseph Mack NA3T via TriLUG <
> trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 8 Jan 2023, shay walters wrote:
> >
> > > I've become an advocate of replacement on a schedule rather
> > > than waiting for them to die.
> >
> > Hi Shay
> >
> > well that's a good idea (didn't occur to me). This will save the house
> > being filled with beeping noises, when I'm trying to sleep, until the new
> > batteries arrive (as well as save me from swollen and leaking batteries).
> >
> > I used to do this with disks, but they last so much longer now that I
> just
> > leave them till they fail (and they aren't failing).
> >
> > I've just put a note in the calendar on my phone.
> >
> > > I try to replace on a 3-year schedule, but I'm such a procrastinator
> > > that the actual dates end up more like 4 (or 5) years - that's why I
> try
> > > for 3.  :-)
> >
> > I've never got more than 2.5 years from a set of batteries. They're at
> > 13.2V (I seem to remember) so they're not being charged hard. How to you
> > get 5, 4 or even 3 years out of them? Is it the battery? (One of the
> > Duracells leaked badly at 2.5yrs.)
> >
> > Joe
> > --
> > Joseph Mack NA3T EME(B,D), FM05lw North Carolina
> > Don't upgrade a working machine - it won't work any
> > better - it could work worse; it may not work at all.
> > Homepage http://www.austintek.com/ It's GNU/Linux!
> >
> --
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