[ale] OT: question about replacing batteries in a APC UPS

[Courtney Thomas]

Thanks Mike.

What and how do the testers reveal ?

Appreciatively,

Courtney


Mike Harrison wrote:
>>Pardon my ignorance, but what kind of tester are you recommending, how 
>>does it work and what does it test for, please ?
> 
> 
> My guess is a 'three light outlet tester'.. and although I'm proud of
> my Fluke and Tektronix gear, a $20 generic digital volt meter is often 
> overkill for the job and much more useful if you take 5 minutes to learn 
> how to use it. It's also very useful for other things.. fixing Christmas 
> tree lights.. etc.. 
> 
> And to be on-topic: http://linux-gpib.sourceforge.net/
> supports popular GPIB cards (National Instruments is pretty common)
> so you can communicate with GPIB (IEEE-488) enabled meters, 
> oscilliscopes, and other devices (even some camera's!)
> 
> Then you plug a IEEE-488 enabled voltmeter/scope to your incoming power, 
> and you can record voltage fluctuations or other environmental factors.
> 
> We used to have a junk system running Linux wired up to monitor and record
> incoming AC power and environmentals (temp/humidity). It forced
> the local Electric Power Board to replace the transformers feeding our 
> building, which solved some intermittent power and brownout conditions.
> 
> --
> 
> btw.. if you don't occaisionally exercise (unplug the UPS
> and let it run a while draining down the batteries) your UPS, the 
> batteries get 'flat'. They look charged, but have little capacity 
> because of the buildup of crud accumulated on the plates. Higher-end
> UPS's even have built in exercise routines. - Running them down 
> every once in a while burns off the buildup from being in a charge state
> for months. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
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