[Nut-upsuser] Eaton 5PX 3rd party batteries

[Dan Langille]

On Tue, Nov 12, 2024, at 11:49 PM, Harlan Stenn wrote:
> On 11/12/2024 10:58 AM, Dan Langille via Nut-upsuser wrote:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> nut recently told me that the batteries need replacing in my Eaton 5PX2200RT (ups) and 5PXEBM48RT (external battery pack). According to my notes, it has been just over 4 years since I installed them. Looking at on-line sales, these seem to use batteries in a pre-packaged plastic shell. I don't recall if that's what's in my units or not.
>> 
>> Do you have any experience with replacing / filling such shells with 3rd party batteries?
>
> I have never had to replace batteries in an Eaton anything.
>
> I hope the following is both correct and useful.
>
> I have replaced a fair number (probably around a hundred) batteries in 
> other UPSes and devices (like a Fuji X-Ray machine that takes 16 
> 12VDC at 22AH batteries).  That's over 200VDC at a Significant current (the 
> batteries claim 12V, but they are charged to over 13V).
>
> I like batteries from RaionGroup.com or batterywholesale.com.
>
> There are some other companies out there that I will never buy from again.
>
> I try to get high-rate batteries, and they are harder to find.  As I 
> recall, one should avoid "deep discharge" batteries for UPSes.  A deep 
> discharge battery is great for constant load stuff (like wheelchairs, 
> golf carts, etc) but UPSes need "shorter" bursts of lots of power.
>
> I read the spec sheets and order the heaviest batteries I can find. 
> More lead means heavier batteries, and longer life.

My 16 batteries arrived last night.

> I check each battery's initial voltage.  I have a note that says I 
> expect at least 12.9V, but I haven't had a chance to verify this lately.

They all measured 13V+ out of the box, but for one, which was 12.86 (close enough)
Most were 

> I check the spec'd net weight of the batteries with the actual weight of 
> each arriving battery.

On the website, they say 5.73 pounds (5 lbs 11.6 oz).

Two of the batteries were 5 lbs 11 oz.  The rest were all 10, 9, or 8 oz.

See my bar chart at https://bsd.network/web/@dvl/113555334752647203

> Every battery I have received from the above 2 vendors has had a gross 
> weight clearly above the spec'd net weight of the battery.  Yay.
>
> Every battery I have received from at least one other vendor has had a 
> gross weight of at least 10% UNDER the spec'd net weight.  I have 
> immediately called for an RMA of these, with varying degrees of success 
> in their return.

10% in my case would be 5*16+11=91/10 = 9.1 ounces - My batteries are all within
3.3% of the advertised weight.

I've run one of them through the charger already.  It measures 13.25V.

I'll do that for four of them before attempting to replace the UPS batteries.
Or perhaps, I'll leave this all until the weekend.

Thanks.

-- 
  Dan Langille
  dan at langille.org