Several years ago, when I was being kept awake at night by incessantly beeping/screeching APC Back-UPS XS-800 units (two of them) just because their batteries were near end-of-life (as if I have to be told every 5 minutes 24/7!!!), I did some Internet research on the matter.  The APC programming options on these units didn't allow override of this beeping/screeching, but cutting the speaker/squeaker wires sure works!
 
The primary recommendation at that time for more sensibly programmed (and overrideable) UPS's at the low price-point was CyberPower.  I have since then seen CyberPower units attractively priced at tigerdirect.ca many times.
 
In addition to my two APC Back-UPS XS-800 (800 VA / 540 watt) units (battery model # RBC32), I also have an APC Back-UPS XS-1300 (1300 VA / 780 watt) unit (battery model # RBC109), all with dead batteries.  The APC Back-UPS XS-1300 has a nice reddish (LCD/LED?) little rectangular text/graphical screen, and I think the beeping/screeching can be overridden.
 
Anyone want to buy any or all of these 3 units?  They are in mint condition and were working properly before the batteries died.
 
Hartmut Sager - Tel +1-204-339-8331
 
 
On 31 January 2013 15:55, Trevor Cordes <trevor@tecnopolis.ca> wrote:
On 2013-01-30 Dan Keizer wrote:
> Funny timing ... I bought two APC 750 units just over a year ago and
> use them to keep my servers running in the rack.
>
> A week or so ago, one of them started to complain (beeping wildly in
> the night) and flashing it's lights etc ...

As much as I love APC, I must say their non-Smart lines are generally
complete crap now.  They live for 2-6 years then fail in strange,
different, and noisy ways, creating support nightmares, even after new
batteries are put in.

The Smart ones live a lot longer but can still do incredibly wonky
things if the batteries are dying/dead.  You will sometimes not get any
warning via the software or the UPS even though the batteries are
gone.  In some cases I open up the UPS to find the batteries bulging to
insane widths.  Moral of the story is set yourself reminders at 3-4
years to start thinking about pro-active battery replacement and/or load
testing (apctest in apcupsd in linux is good for this).

I still haven't found a better UPS brand, so I stick mostly with APC
Smart.
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