I had to replace my UPSs a few weeks ago on short notice due to hardware failure, and I ended up getting a few LiFePO4 ones as a stopgap since they were on sale and I’d always wanted to try them. So far, so good. Curious if anyone else has switch to lithium UPSs from lead-acid and how that’s going for you.
I have a big 20Ah, 48v e-bike battery that I’ve used with a sine-wave inverter for standby power, and it’s a bit over 11 years old and going strong. So, as far as the batteries in these are concerned, I am cautiously optimistic that they’ll last close to the 10 years they’re advertised as. The electronics and inverter…we’ll see, I guess.
Bonus question: While we’re on the subject, has anybody tried those drop-in replacement 12V LiFePO4 batteries for regular UPS’s? Supposedly, it says the BMS in them can work with the lead-acid chargers in UPSs and safely charge them, but I’m not sure I trust that.
I’ve used 12v LifePO4 drop in replacements in my UPS and they’ve been good for 2 years now. Although I should test them to see if the capacity is still there. I’ve only had a few seconds of power out over the past 2 years.
What brand of UPS did you buy?
Good to know. I’m always wary when they say the lead-acid charger will work. One of the things I read somewhere was that the voltage for the lead acid charging was a bit too low to fully charge the lithium ones. I’m assuming the BMS will take care of not feeding it a constant trickle charge that lead batteries like but lithium batteries hate.
Not sure if these are no-names (probably are lol) but GoldenMate is the brand. I’ve got two 600W and one 800W model. Had a few discounts and coupon codes, so got them for almost 30% off. So far, so good.
They lack the PC connection for monitoring, so they’re not going to be my permanent ones, but they’re working well enough so far as a stopgap (my two old UPSs both died around the same time).
Yes the lead acid charging will be low (unless they put a buck converter to compensate).
But I see that as a good thing. LifePO4 lasts longest (lifetime, not single charge) on 80% max 20% low. So not charging to 100% should make them last really long.
Good point, and yeah, makes sense. I knew that about the 80/20 range, but didn’t consider that the lower charging voltage would work toward that benefit.
I am in need of replacement batteries and a couple of new UPSes, mostly just due to age and failure too.
A quick google and I mean, they look entirely reasonable and priced on-par with more traditional ones.
Probably going to pick one up, thanks for surfacing a thing I did not know existed.