UPS questions - help needed

I've got this 600VA-360W UPS sitting here that hasn't been touched in about ten years, and honestly, before that, it probably only ever got turned on a handful of times... so technically, those batteries should have been practically brand new when I stopped using it.

Does that mean the batteries inside just gave up the ghost on their own and now need replacing? I'm wondering if they can actually just expire naturally after sitting idle for such a long time...

Batteries naturally lose their capacity over time. Every single battery has a limited lifespan, and honestly, the quality of what was on the market a decade ago doesn't even compare to what we have now. I highly doubt any of those old NiMh cells would even hold a charge today.

Bottom line: you need to test them. I wouldn't even dream of turning that UPS on until a pro checks the batteries—they might be dead, or worse, leaking all over your gear...

The batteries are 12v/7ah, sealed lead-acid, so I was wondering how much a new set might run me...

It really depends on the specific brand and model. It’s possible that some of the replacement parts aren't even being manufactured anymore.

I actually have a few AT&T units that are about 15 years old, and they still function perfectly fine.

Edward Peterson70 said:I actually have a few AT&T units that are about 15 years old, and they're still running perfectly fine...

Really now? I wonder what their capacity is like!

Edward Peterson70 said:I have a few AT&T units that are about 15 years old and they still function just fine.

When you say they work "just fine," do you mean the UPS isn't throwing any error codes, or do you mean they actually hold a charge during a blackout as well as they did when they were brand new?

There are a few other models out there, depends on what size and shape you're looking for...

Just one more quick question:

Can I use this cable with my UPS unit by plugging one end into the power supply and then splitting the other side to connect both my monitor and my PC? It’s a splitter cable as you can see...