Another Example of Our "Disposable" Society

[jinman]

Well, Jim, I've stayed with APC because they work as they're supposed to, and I don't know where I could find anything else that wouldn't cost a lot more, although there may well be better deals that I'm not aware of.

Bird, I have an ES750 on my system and it also works well.:thumbsup: Lately, we've had at least two power glitches/drops per week and the APC always keeps me going without a hitch.

 

[arrabil]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it. I wouldn't necessarily call that disposable. I buy 3rd party batteries (Lark Battery on eBay has been getting my business for a number of years) and I take the batteries to True Value for recycling. I recycled a little over 500 pounds worth last year (I take them from customers as a courtesy).

APC is also a true leader in customer service. They have replaced so many out of warranty things for me for free (even including overnight shipping and even on items I purchased used) that I can't say a single negative thing about the company. Their prices remind me of this website's favorite saying: find the dealer you like working with because you have to factor their service into the price of the tractor.

No, I don't work for APC.

 

[arrabil]

After two failed batteries, you bought another APC. What a loyal customer you are!

I'm pretty sure TX gets a lot of lightning storms. Which means a good number of brownouts. Three to four years in a high brownout area is a normal lifespan for a small SLA battery. Heck, five to six is its expected lifespan under perfect conditions.

 

[Bird]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it.

Yes, when I replaced the battery in Oct. 2007, I did send the old one back to them.

I'm pretty sure TX gets a lot of lightning storms. Which means a good number of brownouts. Three to four years in a high brownout area is a normal lifespan for a small SLA battery. Heck, five to six is its expected lifespan under perfect conditions.

The original battery lasted over 4 years, but the second one only lasted about 2 years and 8 months. I don't know about "brownouts" or temporary low voltage, but power outages are sure not unusual. Ours went off this afternoon about 2:18 p.m., I reported it promptly, and it came back on about 3:43 p.m. It's also not unusual for just very brief outages; i.e., so brief you'd almost never even know it happened, the lights may go off and back on so quick it's just a blink, but the UPS software will show the little message at the lower right of the screen that power was restored. And there may be no lightning in the area, as was the case this afternoon when we lost power for awhile.

 

[arrabil]

I think your battery survived as long as it could, Bird. It'll last longer if you shutdown your computer and turn off the UPS during a blackout. Its the discharge/recharge that kills its life the fastest. If its convenient of course. High blackout areas are also high brownout areas of course.

 

[marimus]

The cost of a real APC battery includes a UPS return shipping label so they can recycle it. I wouldn't necessarily call that disposable. I buy 3rd party batteries (Lark Battery on eBay has been getting my business for a number of years) and I take the batteries to True Value for recycling. I recycled a little over 500 pounds worth last year (I take them from customers as a courtesy).

APC is also a true leader in customer service. They have replaced so many out of warranty things for me for free (even including overnight shipping and even on items I purchased used) that I can't say a single negative thing about the company. Their prices remind me of this website's favorite saying: find the dealer you like working with because you have to factor their service into the price of the tractor.

No, I don't work for APC.

I too replace the batteries with generic alternatives, I buy at a local battery shop at about 1/2 the cost of the APC battery. One set I replaced, I peeled the APC label off and the battery was the same brand as the "generic" I bought :laughing:

They also loaned our business a SmartUPS 750XL when our unit went back for repair. They actually ended up replacing it with a brand new one because it took too long getting repaired :thumbsup:

 

[RTII]

To give another example of throw away systems, I used to travel quite a bit between jobs and would need to have a printer on site to complete reports etc. Used to buy $25 - $35 HP color injet printer from Walmart. A little bulky for travel but cheap and print quality was good for the price. Found out it was sometimes cheaper to buy a new printer, which came with ink, than to buy new ink cartridges!! I would just donate the printer to the work site and purchase a new printer next time I arrived at my new work site.

 

[psj12]

I bought 8' floresent lights with cold start ballasts from Lowes for $79. When the frst chinese ballast burned out I went to Lowes and found the replacement ballast cost $75. Thats four dollars less than the entire light fixture. I couldnt accept that price and went looking. I found an American made ballast at ACE hardware for $48. Still not a good price but better. Over three years I have had all 8 of the Chinese ballasts burn out and have to be replaced with american made ones. None of the American ones have failed. Lowes was of no help.

 

[Bird]

It'll last longer if you shutdown your computer and turn off the UPS during a blackout.

I do that, if it happens when I'm home and awake.:laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

We have a store in town called Batteries Plus. They seem pretty reasonable on prices and usually have things in stock. They have locations in TX. Might be worth a look.