If your APC UPS is not turning on, that means the battery is most likely dead. It likely lost its voltage/capacity and can no longer power the UPS.
Your two options are to buy an entirely new UPS, or replace the current one’s battery. If you don’t know how to replace an APC UPS battery, this step-by-step guide is here to help!
I also have a short video showing the step-by-step process about how you can replace the APC UPS battery. You can watch it below.
You just need to follow the 10 simple steps shown in the video and you can get your APC UPS working again.
Quick Guide On How To Replace APC UPS Battery
Turn Off and Unplug the UPS: Before starting, make sure to completely disconnect the UPS from any power source. Turn off the unit and unplug it from the wall outlet for safety.
Don’t try to do any troubleshooting or maintenance on these things while they’re still connected to the power for your own good. It could lead to serious injury.
Remove the UPS Cover: Locate the screws or latches securing the cover of the UPS. Carefully remove the cover like I’m doing in this image to take a look inside the machine.
Use the device’s manual if you need help locating the access point. It’ll give you a better look at things on the inside and make everything easier.
Identify the Battery: Inside of these things, there’s a 12V maintenance-free sealed lead-acid battery, manufactured by Leoch.
Take note of its size and specifications to make sure you get the right battery to replace it with later on. You can’t replace the battery with one that doesn’t fit.
Test the Battery’s Voltage: Before buying a replacement, while the covers are still open, use a multimeter to measure what the battery’s output voltage is.
Like I mentioned earlier, these devices use a 12V lead-acid battery. A healthy 12V battery should read the same, or at least close, to its rated voltage.
If the voltage is significantly lower (like around 5V or even worse like mine was when I tested it), it’ll confirm that the battery is faulty and needs replacing.
Disconnect the Battery’s Terminals: Carefully detach the wires connected to the battery’s terminals.
Start with the negative terminal (red wire) and then disconnect the positive terminal (black wire). Keep track of how the wires are connected so you can reconnect them later on.
Install the New Battery: Place the new 12V sealed lead-acid battery in place of the old one. Make sure it’s sitting in the compartment fine.
It shouldn’t be loose and shaking around if you move the entire UPS.
Reconnect the Terminals: Attach the wires to the new battery, connecting the positive terminal (black wire) first and the negative terminal (red wire) second.
Check twice to ensure that the connections on the terminals are secure before going on to the next step.
Reassemble the UPS: Replace the cover and securely fasten it with screws or latches. Ensure everything is properly aligned to avoid damage.
Plug In and Power On: Reconnect the UPS to a power source by plugging it into the wall outlet. Turn the unit back on and see what happens.
It should now function normally with the new battery installed. That is, as long as you follow the above steps, and get a suitable replacement battery.
In other words, your APC UPS should be working without any problems now! With a new battery, it’ll work better than ever and be able to do its job.
And in case you encountered a situation wherein your APC UPS is not turning on and not charging, I have a short video which shows how you can fix this. You can watch the video below.
To solve this problem, I opened the cover the UPS. I replaced the old battery with a new one. The APC battery backup uses a 12V lead acid battery.
The old lead acid battery only output around 5V when measured with a multimeter, it’s also showing a bad battery indication when tested using the battery tester. After I replaced the battery, my APC UPS started working fine again.
Conclusion
The steps above helped me out a lot when I needed to replace the battery on my APC UPS. It’s an easy process, and the only hard part is finding a good replacement battery.
But, you can find one of those online if you look in the right places. Once you have that, do everything I listed above and your APC UPS will be back to work in no time!
