UPS battery replacement and testing in Toronto
Symetrix Canada replaces and tests UPS batteries on site in Toronto, the GTA and Ontario: single blocks or full strings, VRLA and lithium-ion, in UPS cabinets and external battery cabinets, with the old batteries taken away for recycling. Requests get a reply and a quote within 4 business hours; sites in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City are attended the same day.
Key facts
- Battery types: VRLA (AGM and gel) and lithium-ion UPS batteries
- Typical VRLA service life in a UPS: three to five years for most APC VRLA batteries1
- Lithium-ion service life: 10 to 15 years (Eaton), against 3 to 5 years for lead acid2
- Testing method: float voltage, temperature and internal resistance or impedance per block, trended over time3
- Recycling: old batteries taken away for recycling
- Response and quote: within 4 business hours; same day in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City
When a UPS battery needs replacing
- Age. APC expects most of its VRLA UPS batteries to last three to five years 1.
- Heat. APC’s rule of thumb: every 8 °C rise in operating temperature cuts battery life in half 1. A warm UPS room is one of the main reasons a string dies early.
- Rising impedance. A block whose internal resistance has climbed against its baseline is losing capacity. EnerSys calls for further evaluation, including a capacity test, once a reading moves more than 50% from baseline 3.
- A failed self-test or short runtime. If the UPS reports a battery fault or runs for far less time than it should, the string is suspect.
- Swelling, leaking or heat at the terminals. Stop and call: these are safety issues 4.
How we replace a string
- Identify the exact battery model, voltage, capacity and terminal type from the blocks and the UPS model.
- Test the existing string so the report records why it was replaced.
- Plan the swap with your change window: hot-swappable UPS models are changed with the load online; others go to maintenance bypass with the load supported.
- Replace blocks or the full string, matching manufacturer, model and date code across the string. Mixing old and new blocks in one string shortens the life of the new ones.
- Torque and check connections, then verify float voltage and charger operation.
- Record baseline impedance for every new block, so the next visit has something to compare against.
- Recycle the old batteries and give you the disposal record.
VRLA or lithium-ion?
VRLA remains the default in most UPS systems. Lithium-ion lasts longer (Eaton gives it 10 to 15 years, against 3 to 5 for lead acid 2) and weighs less, but it only goes in a UPS designed or approved for it by the manufacturer, with its own battery management system. Converting an existing UPS from VRLA to lithium-ion is a manufacturer-approved upgrade or nothing.
Common questions
How long should a UPS battery last?
APC expects most of its VRLA UPS batteries to last three to five years 1; heat and frequent discharges shorten that. Eaton gives lithium-ion UPS batteries 10 to 15 years 2.
How do I tell if a UPS battery is bad?
The UPS fails its self-test or reports a battery fault, runtime is far shorter than expected, a block's internal resistance has risen against its baseline 3, or a block is swollen, leaking or hot.
What happens if a UPS battery dies?
The UPS keeps running on utility power, but during an outage it cannot carry the load and the equipment goes down. Some UPS models also raise an alarm or refuse to start until the batteries are replaced.
How much does it cost to replace a UPS battery?
It depends on the battery model, the number of blocks and whether the work needs bypass or after-hours scheduling. Send the UPS model and battery details through the request form for a quote within 4 business hours.
Can you replace one battery or must it be the whole string?
A single failed block in a young string can be replaced with a matching block. In an older string, replacing one block usually just moves the failure to the next weakest one, so the full string is the better spend.
How do I dispose of an old UPS battery in Ontario?
Through a battery recycler, not household garbage. Ontario's Batteries Regulation covers batteries of five kilograms or less 5; larger UPS blocks go to a lead-acid battery recycler. When we replace a string, we take the old batteries away for recycling.
Request a quote
Reply and quote within 4 business hours; same day in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, and 24 to 48 hours elsewhere in Canada.
Sources
- Schneider Electric, What is the expected life of my APC UPS VRLA battery? (FA158934), FAQ answer
- Eaton, Lithium-ion UPS FAQ, FAQ
- EnerSys, PowerSafe SBS XL Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, maintenance section
- CSB Energy Technology, VRLA Battery User Manual (Operation and Handling, Rev Dec 2024), troubleshooting table, p. 11
- Government of Ontario, O. Reg. 30/20: Batteries, s. 1 definition of battery
Updated