What Are You Doing With Your Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Batteries?

I've been give 7 Uninterruptible Power Supplies in the past couple of weeks. They have awesome transformers in them and are easily broken down but what are you guys doing with the batteries?

almost all of the batteries i find in them are lead acid batteries,and i sell the to the scrap yard. here they pay per battery, so they just call every 3 or 4 one truck battery. every yard is a lil bit different, so just ask who ever is running the scale.i like those power supplies too,quick to break down and a few dollars in each one. good luck and have fun.

Have scrapped a good number of these.

Always been lead acid batteries, sold them to the yard just as you would a normal car battery.

Don't have a scrap battery from one yet...got my first UPS the other day. Decided to see if it would hold a charge, so I plugged it in and gave it a few hours.

Unplugged it and plugged a drill into it. No power. So I plugged the supply back in and the drill worked.

Jump online to see why. Found the specs on this machine. I had it plugged into one that doesn't retain power in an outage, for machines not requiring backup.

Ok so back to the machine. Plugged the drill into the upper strip of plug ins. All systems are a go.

Don't know what is usual for these, but this has 12 plugs. 6 of which aren't backup.

Anyways I am going to test it to see what kind of run time I get using it to power a drill or whatever. Doubt it's much. Been a few times I wished I had a source of power without dragging out an extension cord or firing up the generator.

My yard buys these whole at .15 per pound. I have picked up a few that were so big that I could not get them to the yard by myself. I break them down and walk away with around 20 bucks each. The larger ones have a few pounds of #1 insulated wire.

getting .30 / pound here as well

Gottcha! I've been turning them in with my car batteries as well. About to take another load but I started wondering if there was anything special to these batteries that might net more $$

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Don't have a scrap battery from one yet...got my first UPS the other day. Decided to see if it would hold a charge, so I plugged it in and gave it a few hours.

Unplugged it and plugged a drill into it. No power. So I plugged the supply back in and the drill worked.

Jump online to see why. Found the specs on this machine. I had it plugged into one that doesn't retain power in an outage, for machines not requiring backup.

Ok so back to the machine. Plugged the drill into the upper strip of plug ins. All systems are a go.

Don't know what is usual for these, but this has 12 plugs. 6 of which aren't backup.

Anyways I am going to test it to see what kind of run time I get using it to power a drill or whatever. Doubt it's much. Been a few times I wished I had a source of power without dragging out an extension cord or firing up the generator.

UPS devices can be tricky. Their are a few things you need to look for and be careful of.

1. If the UPS is a large server type look for a network module. This can be worth in upwards of $100+ if still working.

2. UPS's will often have battery backup plugs and non battery backup plugs. the non backed up plugs are usually on desktop/home models so you can plug laster printers and other things you don't want to have continuous power. Lamps, cell charger, ect. Also a laser printer plugged into the battery backup spot will destroy a UPS device due to the power needed.

3. look at your UPS often many of the larger models just need a new battery. buying a new battery for the unit you can resell for triple what the battery cost.\

4. always wear gloves when working with these. They are the same as TV's. they can store a large amount of power in the caps. Make sure to remove the battery and touch and contacts with a grounded screwdriver. Also place the batteries in a safe place. they can still have a charge,

I hate to sound like a tool, but whats a UPS? Any body do breakdown pics?

Originally Posted by Gnraxlrose88

I hate to sound like a tool, but whats a UPS? Any body do breakdown pics?

It's this...


Oh, wait. Nevermind. It's this.
---------> What Are You Doing With Your Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) Batteries?

Hahaha I remember thinking "are they really talking about UPS trucks?" in the first thread that i saw "UPS" in

I've had several with up to 4 garden tractor size batteries, and I don't think any of them were rated to power the computer more than just a few minutes. I have heard they're about the best surge protection you can get though

If the batteries are good, resell them on ebay. They are not cheap to replace. Last one I looked up was $20-50.

If not, use it in the shop and just attach a car battery or two. They are all 12 volt and work just fine, though marine batteries do work better in this application.

Batteries are my main export. Jerome, you can make very good $$ scrapping these. If you get them from server racks put them on pallets each of the same style. Because once you start all you need is time, drill with #2 phillips and a good set of dikes.
Start doing them of the same style one after another. Soon you will be pissing through them. Good music really helps.

At my shop I have the percentage of recovery. I think it was like 40 percent pb batt, 30 percent trans and the rest a low grade board with some al heat sinks and copper bearing.

That said and done then you have your wire and light iron chassis. I have some pics of all the major types broken down and on my scale. Ill look after. Its fun when you get them for light iron you know your making 3 times your $$ plus a lot of time. The wire is like thhn if you cut the ends and its not tinned.

Yes they have good resale but you must test and replace them with good batteries. Unless they are 240 and 480 volt you wont get much.

When I process I do a few pallets at a time and keep the faith it will be over soon. LOL.

Merry xmas

Aaron.

How do I post pics.

Must I have so many post to do so?