UPS Batteries

Hi wa8yxm,

The L16 jar would have to be AGM so it could lay on its side.

I have space for 7 group 31 batteries configured as 3 and 4.

Don I know it's two six volts but if you have the headroom Check out the L-16

Advantage--agm's are more or less maintenance free. Disadvantage often small capacity so many batteries are needed. The more cells, the greater the likelihood of cell failure.

My ideal battery would still be six two volt cells with a capacity of 1000 amp-hours each. Alas there is no space for such a beast in my RV.

UPS batteries are kind of like starting batteries is that they are designed for a fairly fast discharge .. But They are AGM's so they should be able to handle a decent recharge as well..

I would look up the battery on the battery maker's web site and see what they say. Myself. I'd not use them... but my reasons are a bit complex... Of course if you get 'em free (discarded because the company replaces them every year or some such) or next to it.. that makes a big difference.

Unless they are free, no, not really of use.

As BFL13 has mentioned, most AGMs that are designed for UPS usage are not going to hold up well. Those batteries are designed to be constantly charged and only intermittently discharged.

If they are free, take them and get what use you can get out of them until dead..

Most companies will change out UPS batteries as part of the maintenance to ensure their systems will have the max up time as possible during short duration power outages.

Typically 2 yrs then swap out the old with new batteries.. If you can get them during a swap out, good chance they will still be fine for a couple of years usage but don't expect them to live long.

I wouldn't recommend paying for them or buying new UPS AGMs for a RV, just throwing out your money if you are planning to do so.

Best bang for the buck is the 6V GC2 FLAs you can get at Sam's or Coscos if you are looking for a bargain..

Sam's also sells a AGM 6V GC2 battery, typically runs about $15 each more than FLA but you get less capacity if AGM is what you are into..

I have one ESG 6GFM250 8D AGM (250AH) which has specs for "standby" and for "cycle" use. After about a year of RV type cycling like 50-90s it started to act up. It appears to have internal damage to its plates, and operates more like a 125AH battery at two years.

IMO this is more of a "standby" battery, but it doesn't tell you that.

I have had better luck with a pair of 12v 100AH AGMs which claim to be true deep cycle, but also have the specs for "cycle use" and "float use". After three years they are losing capacity quite a bit, so they don't seem to last as long doing my kind of RV work as regular flooded batts despite costing twice as much.

I am going back to Flooded 6s which I know will last me at least 5 years from when I had them before. I do all the good things and moreso for the care and feeding of my batteries, so it was not a case of neglect.

They dont like being recharged hard and fast either.

Most are too small for day to day cycling with RV loads.

I would not use them. They are not designed to be discharged for long periods. Most UPS are designed for a maximum "ride through" time of 15 - 30 minutes.

Also they are not designed to be repeatedly discharged and recharged.