# Replace UPS or Battery?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 1, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080 "2018-07-01T02:03:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2018, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/1 "2018-07-01T02:03:03Z")
I have an APC Back-UPS ES 500 that is about 13 years old. As you might expect, the battery in it is shot. Sitting in a garage for the last 3 years didn’t help it any. I’m debating whether to spend about 20 bucks for a non-OEM replacement battery, or to get a shinier and possibly higher capacity new UPS.
Any strong opinions?
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### Author:  [@Tatterdemalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tatterdemalion)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2018, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/2 "2018-07-01T02:42:59Z")
It’s your money. It will probably be just as good as new with a new battery. On the other hand, if you want higher capacity and more features, only you can decide if it’s worth the money to you.
I just replaced the battery in my ups. It works fine.
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### Author:  [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2018, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/3 "2018-07-01T04:12:00Z")
If money isn’t much of an issue, I’d just replace it. After 13 years, the electrolytic caps in it may be drying out and in bad shape. Then again, they might not. It’s a bit of a crap shoot. Some of the caps made around that time period are complete crap. Others are better and will last a lot longer.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/4 "2018-07-01T06:02:31Z")
I maintain 15 ups at work. I’ve replaced the batteries twice in the past 11 years. They continue to work great.
I have two at home. One for my networking and one for a pc. I replaced the batteries once so far.
They work great.
I feel very strongly that we have an obligation to keep older tech out of the landfill. I’ll always fix something if possible.
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2018, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/5 "2018-07-01T06:41:56Z")
I replaced the battery on my APC BackUPS and it still didn’t work. Try it anyway - at worst you’ll only be out $20.
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### Author:  [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2018, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/6 "2018-07-02T18:30:53Z")
If you have no complaints about the UPS I’d replace the battery. I have UPS units older than 13 years that are on their 2nd or 3rd battery and still working fine.
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2018, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replace-ups-or-battery/817080/7 "2018-07-02T18:46:25Z")
APC has a trade in program for your old one if you go that route. If you replace the battery instead keep in mind that they should be recycled. I think Best Buy and Staples will still take them.
Slight rant: I like APC but they need to stop putting the power button on the top. Cat magnets and it only takes a second to turn off your entire system.