Need help picking out Equipment for remote Location- Needs to boot back up easily

Dramus

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Thanks for the update, @CaliGirl. I've been wondering how you fared :)

The back up power supplies that I bought we’re helpful, but after one year one of them has already died and I can’t get it to charge or work properly.
I'm going to assume that, by "backup power supplies" you mean UPS'? Three things:
  • If these UPS' are being charged/discharged frequently, their lives will be shortened, particularly if they're being discharged deeply
  • In your OP your noted "outdoor cameras need to handle -10F." If the UPS' are reaching temperatures like that it will significantly impact both battery performance and life
  • Some UPS' still allow user-replaceable batteries. It's not hard and battery replacement is a lot less expensive than whole UPS replacement. A lot friendlier for the environment, too.
For replaceable batteries I prefer PowerSonic. Being an ex-IT Admin I replaced a lot of UPS batteries. IME PowerSonic batteries lasted longer and were less-inclined to balloon, split, leak, etc. when they weren't replaced as soon as they should have been sometimes. PowerSonic also manages to get more amp-hours into the same battery dimensions as other battery manufacturers. E.g.: An 8AH battery where the stock battery is 7AH.
 

CaliGirl

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Thanks for the update, @CaliGirl. I've been wondering how you fared :)


I'm going to assume that, by "backup power supplies" you mean UPS'? Three things:
  • If these UPS' are being charged/discharged frequently, their lives will be shortened, particularly if they're being discharged deeply
  • In your OP your noted "outdoor cameras need to handle -10F." If the UPS' are reaching temperatures like that it will significantly impact both battery performance and life
  • Some UPS' still allow user-replaceable batteries. It's not hard and battery replacement is a lot less expensive than whole UPS replacement. A lot friendlier for the environment, too.
For replaceable batteries I prefer PowerSonic. Being an ex-IT Admin I replaced a lot of UPS batteries. IME PowerSonic batteries lasted longer and were less-inclined to balloon, split, leak, etc. when they weren't replaced as soon as they should have been sometimes. PowerSonic also manages to get more amp-hours into the same battery dimensions as other battery manufacturers. E.g.: An 8AH battery where the stock battery is 7AH.
UPS correct. $60 each, they are these
Good points Dramus! Currently, they are not being drained frequently. Maybe 5 times a year at max this last year. Other years much more but we barely had storms this winter. Purchased May 26 2019, installed June 2019. Failed May 2020 a year later. Just outside the 12 month warranty. I think I looked at battery prices and they were more than 50% the price of the UPS. $37 for a $60 UPS eghhhhh not sure I want to put my money there every year........

The UPS are indoors with the heater set at 55F. Dahua cams have been outdoors in those temps for many years now and they are all running great. I am so impressed!

I pulled the battery out of the UPS and put it on a 12 trickle charger. After 2 days it was charged. But the UPS alarms wont stop beeping when I get it back in, not sure what is going on? But the performance and complaints are exactly in line with the amazon reviews. Ill post some more diagnostic info and video of UPS for people if they are interested. Sounds like an important component for CCTV systems.
 
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looney2ns

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How do you find the PowerSonic equivalent of this? APC Replacement battery cartridge #154 - APC USA
Glad to see looney found it for you. Generally, you would look for SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries with the same DC Voltage and at least the same (or greater) mAH (milli-ampHours) reserve capacity. The more critical physical features are the length, width, height (so it fits in the same space) and the connection type (typically push-on terminals). Other batteries may have bolt-on terminals (or for newer units) Lithium technology. But mostly, you'd search for 12VDC SLA xxxx mAH, Length x Width x Height.
 

CaliGirl

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Glad to see looney found it for you. Generally, you would look for SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries with the same DC Voltage and at least the same (or greater) mAH (milli-ampHours) reserve capacity. The more critical physical features are the length, width, height (so it fits in the same space) and the connection type (typically push-on terminals). Other batteries may have bolt-on terminals (or for newer units) Lithium technology. But mostly, you'd search for 12VDC SLA xxxx mAH, Length x Width x Height.
Thanks guys. Very helpful. I was about to order a new battery but had someone check the voltage and the existing battery is 13.5v which I think is normal. I've watched lots of APC videos and read their manual but can't get it to work. I'll be calling them Monday to see if its dead or fixable...Thank you! I had two UPSs (same model) and the other one is chugging along great still.
 
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13.5 AND 12.0 VDC are practically the same, for all intents and purposes. As soon as you place any kind of load on 13.5V, it drops slightly, to somewhere just above 12V.
 
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