People ask us all the time if it’s okay to buy refurbished UPS batteries, or they found a great deal on a UPS with refurbished batteries and they want to know if it’s a good deal. Even worse, some people have bought a used UPS under the pretense that it came with refurbished batteries, only to find out that the batteries are totally dead and need to be replaced.
A lot of of this stuff comes from online marketplaces and classifieds where people advertise their old UPSs as being sold with refurbished batteries. Everyone wants a good deal, but you have to be aware of the facts and not get scammed.
We need to dispel this myth once and for all.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING as refurbished UPS batteries! UPS batteries can not be refurbished, serviced, revitalized, rebuilt, repaired, or re certified.
Once UPS batteries have reached the end of their service life, they’re finished. Higher quality UPS batteries are designed to provide 3-5 years of life time. Some will last even longer depending on use/abuse. We’ve seen UPS batteries that have provided decent run time at 7 years! But, once this life time is over, the battery is no longer usable and needs to be recycled. It can not be repaired or serviced.
So next time someone offers you that amazingly cheap UPS with “refurbished” batteries, know that it’s a scam and turn the other way. If you want reliable power protection, always get fresh new high quality batteries for your UPS.
