UPS: what about batteries?(Technology Trends)(uninterruptible power supply)

National Underwriter Property & Casualty-Risk & Benefits Management, February, 2004 by Trembly, Ara C.

An uninterruptible power supply can be a lifesaver when a power outage hits and the batteries kick in to help save data and equipment, but the power cells in a UPS aren't like the batteries in a flashlight or radio. Most UPS products on the market use sealed lead acid batteries, according to Falcon Electric Inc., a maker of UPS based in Irwindale, Calif.

"These types of batteries can deliver a large amount of current if shorted, and as such can be very dangerous if not handled correctly," the company's Web site notes. Underwriters Laboratories mandates voltage levels and standards under which U.S. manufacturers may allow end users to replace batteries themselves or have them replaced by trained service personnel, says Falcon. In either case, these batteries...

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