Nut upsuser - Feb 2023 - Question about Tripp-Lite UPS life span

Hello,

Somewhat off-topic, but seeking some input from other tech folk on this list. I
have a Tripp-Lite SMART 2200 (a white tower that looks similar to, but predates
the black SMART2200NET) that just failed its monthly battery test so I bought
new batteries and replaced the old ones. Sadly once put back together, plugged
in and enabled it did not power up--no lights, sounds, smoke, etc. I took
everything apart again checking for blown fuses, loose connections, anything
visually obvious, but found nothing. The old batteries measured 12.x volts each
and the new batteries measured 13.x so I don't think I got a bad battery. I
replaced with the same batteries I'd used in the past: Duracell SLADC12-35J
Deep Cycle AGM SLA 12V 35AH; the last set lasted 7 years. Tripp-Lite considers
these batteries to be non-user replaceable, likely because they're bolt on
and opening the case is a bit of a chore. It's a well built unit though.

The UPS has a system enable switch on the back and a momentary on/off switch on
the front. I plugged it in to the wall, turned the enable switch on, and then
pressed the front on/off switch. Nothing. I also tried holding the momentary
switch in for 5 and 10 seconds. Nothing from pressing the alarm silence switch
or holding both switches in. Breaker in back has not popped. No other obvious
switches inside or out.

I called Tripp-Lite support and the best that they could offer was that the UPS
died, maybe as a result of replacing the batteries. Tech was polite, saying unit
lasted a long time, but technically this doesn't really seem a reasonable
explanation (to me at least). Sure things fail with age, sometimes silently, but
I'd expect to see some evidence as to what failed. I'm bugged as my gut
says it needs to be reset somehow, but service manuals are unavailable and the
UPS might have been older than the tech.

UPS unit:
Model SMART2200
Model # SM1834
Date code -LW1GE (Nov 1998)
Serial number E00321344

So, any opinions about how long one should expect a UPS like this to last or any
words of wisdom on how to revive this one?

--Larry

Larry Fahnoe, Fahnoe Technology Consulting, fahnoe at FahnoeTech.com
?? ? ? ? ? Minneapolis, Minnesota ? ? ? www.FahnoeTech.com

Larry Fahnoe via Nut-upsuser <nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
writes:
> Somewhat off-topic, but seeking some input from other tech folk on
> this list. I have a Tripp-Lite SMART 2200 (a white tower that looks
> similar to, but predates the black SMART2200NET) that just failed its
> monthly battery test so I bought new batteries and replaced the old
> ones. Sadly once put back together, plugged in and enabled it did not
> power up--no lights, sounds, smoke, etc. I took everything apart again
> checking for blown fuses, loose connections, anything visually
> obvious, but found nothing. The old batteries measured 12.x volts each
> and the new batteries measured 13.x so I don't think I got a bad
> battery. I replaced with the same batteries I'd used in the past:
> Duracell SLADC12-35J Deep Cycle AGM SLA 12V 35AH; the last set lasted
> 7 years. Tripp-Lite considers these batteries to be non-user
> replaceable, likely because they're bolt on and opening the case is a
> bit of a chore. It's a well built unit though.
I saw an APC unit that would not power up with bad 18 Ah batteries.  I
hooked up (bogusly) some weak 7Ah batteries and it started but failed
under load (fair enough).  But the original symptom was "will not turn
on".



Double check that neither battery is reverse polarity.   Use a voltmeter
if you can on the connections.

It could be that one or both of the new batteries are bad, showing 13.x
open circuit but not being able to supply current.   Can you put a load
on them to test?

If you put the old ones back in, does it turn on?

I would say that while it's possible you broke it by changing batteries,
that doesn't seem super likely.  Just being old doesn't make it that
likely to fail any particular day.

As a random datapoint I had 5 Best Fortress LI660 units from 1995.  4
are still ok and one had a leaking transformer and I recyled it.  I have
a Fortress II from slightly later (but 90s I think) and it's doing
fine.  All have had multiple battery changes, which is "not user
replaceable" by modern standards but "easy tech level". 
Screwdrivers,
fiddling with wires on tabs, being careful not to short.  Sounds like
what you did, maybe a bit easier.
> The UPS has a system enable switch on the back and a momentary on/off
> switch on the front. I plugged it in to the wall, turned the enable
> switch on, and then pressed the front on/off switch. Nothing. I also
> tried holding the momentary switch in for 5 and 10 seconds. Nothing
> from pressing the alarm silence switch or holding both switches
> in. Breaker in back has not popped. No other obvious switches inside
> or out.
>
> I called Tripp-Lite support and the best that they could offer was
> that the UPS died, maybe as a result of replacing the batteries. Tech
> was polite, saying unit lasted a long time, but technically this
> doesn't really seem a reasonable explanation (to me at least). Sure
> things fail with age, sometimes silently, but I'd expect to see some
> evidence as to what failed. I'm bugged as my gut says it needs to be
> reset somehow, but service manuals are unavailable and the UPS might
> have been older than the tech.
> UPS unit:
> Model SMART2200
> Model # SM1834
> Date code -LW1GE (Nov 1998)
> Serial number E00321344
https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/279062-tripp-lite-ups-won-t-power-on
see last comment about stuck power button


So all in all it could be broken, but I don't buy that it should be
because of age.  Things just break more or less randomly.  And replacing
batteries is higher risk than sitting there.

Hi

 ??? Just replacing the batteries should not have, by any means, induce 
a defect.? I'd check if it turns on using the old batteries because as 
less probable as it can be, one (or both) of the new batteries might be 
defective. I've seen "new" batteries that sat on a shelf long
enough
before being sold to not be able to carry charge any more - seemed fine 
when using a voltmeter but failed under real load. If you can, I suggest 
to also test the new batteries using a decent load ( an incandescent 12V 
automotive light bulb for instance - something in the region of 100W ; I 
have one from my old car, when testing batteries I connect in parallel 
main and high beam )
 ??? As of old UPSes... in this very moment I have in use multiple APC 
Smart UPS 1000 purchased in 2000 and an Ablerex Mars from 2004. Plus 
several more lower end APC ( BackUPS ) from 2005...2012. Used only high 
quality batteries, replaced regularly and the UPSes themselves seem 
pretty fine. Except for a thermistor on the Ablerex which went wild and 
reports several degrees more than it should.


wolfy

On 2/7/23 01:12, Larry Fahnoe via Nut-upsuser wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Somewhat off-topic, but seeking some input from other tech folk on this
list. I have a Tripp-Lite SMART 2200 (a white tower that looks similar to, but
predates the black SMART2200NET) that just failed its monthly battery test so I
bought new batteries and replaced the old ones. Sadly once put back together,
plugged in and enabled it did not power up--no lights, sounds, smoke, etc. I
took everything apart again checking for blown fuses, loose connections,
anything visually obvious, but found nothing. The old batteries measured 12.x
volts each and the new batteries measured 13.x so I don't think I got a bad
battery. I replaced with the same batteries I'd used in the past: Duracell
SLADC12-35J Deep Cycle AGM SLA 12V 35AH; the last set lasted 7 years. Tripp-Lite
considers these batteries to be non-user replaceable, likely because they're
bolt on and opening the case is a bit of a chore. It's a well built unit
though.
>
> The UPS has a system enable switch on the back and a momentary on/off
switch on the front. I plugged it in to the wall, turned the enable switch on,
and then pressed the front on/off switch. Nothing. I also tried holding the
momentary switch in for 5 and 10 seconds. Nothing from pressing the alarm
silence switch or holding both switches in. Breaker in back has not popped. No
other obvious switches inside or out.
>
> I called Tripp-Lite support and the best that they could offer was that the
UPS died, maybe as a result of replacing the batteries. Tech was polite, saying
unit lasted a long time, but technically this doesn't really seem a
reasonable explanation (to me at least). Sure things fail with age, sometimes
silently, but I'd expect to see some evidence as to what failed. I'm
bugged as my gut says it needs to be reset somehow, but service manuals are
unavailable and the UPS might have been older than the tech.
>
> UPS unit:
> Model SMART2200
> Model # SM1834
> Date code -LW1GE (Nov 1998)
> Serial number E00321344
>
> So, any opinions about how long one should expect a UPS like this to last
or any words of wisdom on how to revive this one?
>
> --Larry
>
> Larry Fahnoe, Fahnoe Technology Consulting, fahnoe at FahnoeTech.com
>  ?? ? ? ? ? Minneapolis, Minnesota ? ? ? www.FahnoeTech.com