Solved How dangerous can using an UPS (uninterruptible power supply) be?

[yamas11]

I was thinking about buying a UPS for the family computer, but I read that there's some danger to using one. I saw this

Your UPS battery backup may be killing you | NJN Network

And it worried me a bit.

How much danger do I have to worry about when using an UPS for a home computer system? I don't want my nephews to get any health problems because of me.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

1. This from the article:

Since I wrote this, better UPS backups have come on the market without this problem.

2. Your nose is sensitive enough to hydrogen sulfide that you would smell it long before it became dangerous.

3. I've had my UPS, an older, now discontinued, monster 2200VA model with four batteries for two years now and I have yet to smell anything.

4. I never smelled anything from the UPS units I encountered at the job I retired from over ten years ago after being there 32 years.

5. Methinks the danger presented in the article has been overstated.

 

[Ranger4]

I certainly agree with Lady F that it is being dramatically overstated in the article.

A lot of UPS's use a lead acid battery that, while smaller, is the same as your car battery.

Also catalytic converters fitted to most petrol/gasoline engine cars these days emit hydrogen sulphide out the exhaust pipe that you may have smelt when on the road. It smells exactly like rotten eggs, which is hydrogen sulphide gas.

 

[yamas11]

Alright, thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm just a bit paranoid for my family.

So I guess UPS last at least 2 years and then problems may occur. I'll just have to remember to buy a replacement every 2 years.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...A lot of UPS's use a lead acid battery that, while smaller, is the same as your car battery...

Most, if not all, consumers UPSes use a sealed lead/acid battery which is not the same as a car battery. Besides being spill proof, the UPS batteries are also far less likely to outgas. Also, a car battery is designed for heavy current discharge for short periods of time but doesn't last long if discharged too deeply. A deep discharge battery, such as a marine battery, RV house battery, golf cart battery, or UPS battery, is designed for lower current draws but can be discharged more deeply without impairing battery life.

...So I guess UPS last at least 2 years and then problems may occur. I'll just have to remember to buy a replacement every 2 years.

Why? Just make sure you get one with replaceable batteries. Keep using the UPS until the batteries no longer can hold an adequate charge, then, as long as the UPS itself is still working fine, just replace the batteries.

 

[sgage]

...A lot of UPS's use a lead acid battery that, while smaller, is the same as your car battery...

Most, if not all, consumers UPSes use a sealed lead/acid battery which is not the same as a car battery. Besides being spill proof, the UPS batteries are also far less likely to outgas. Also, a car battery is designed for heavy current discharge for short periods of time but doesn't last long if discharged too deeply. A deep discharge battery, such as a marine battery, RV house battery, golf cart battery, or UPS battery, is designed for lower current draws but can be discharged more deeply without impairing battery life.

...So I guess UPS last at least 2 years and then problems may occur. I'll just have to remember to buy a replacement every 2 years.

Why? Just make sure you get one with replaceable batteries. Keep using the UPS until the batteries no longer can hold an adequate charge, then, as long as the UPS itself is still working fine, just replace the batteries.

Exactly. I have been using APC UPS systems for many, many years, and have never encountered a problem of any kind regarding H2S or anything else. I will note, however, that the last time I went to replace a battery in an old unit, a superior brand new UPS unit was available for the same price!