Battery Safety

APC by Schneider Electric UPS batteries come in various sizes, shapes and chemistries, and are subject to many regulations. Batteries are regulated at local, national and international levels. Because the rules that govern the use, transportation and disposal of batteries are complex, battery owners should know about the unique regulatory requirements that apply to their situation and location.

Schneider Electric is committed to providing products that are fully compliant with all required regulations, international protocols, and customer standards. This includes providing replacement battery cartridges (RBCs) for APC UPS units and battery packs. Learn more

Understanding when a battery pack has reached the end of its useful life is important. APC power protection devices use sealed lead acid batteries, which have a service life of approximately 5 years. We recommend replacing your batteries at the end of that lifespan.

The Sealed Lead Acid batteries used in APC by Schneider Electric products are contained within sealed, non-spillable cartridges. Under normal use and handling, there is no contact with the internal components of the battery. However, misuse of the RBC product, such as overcharging or overheating, may result in a discharge of battery electrolyte.

Get the most out of your battery cartridge prior to end of life:

• Schedule battery replacement prior to the end of the battery's lifespan.   We recommend replacement when batteries have reached 3 to 4 years of use.
• Replace the batteries when the UPS gives the Replace Battery indication, regardless of age.
• If the UPS is no longer in service, remove and recycle the battery 
• Replace the battery if the UPS has been out of service for longer than 12 months.
• Replace the battery every 5 years, regardless of the whether Replace Battery is indicated, when the UPS is normally loaded to less than 10% of full load. The Replace Battery indicator function is less precise at that level and may not predict the battery's end of life.
• To optimise the life of your lead acid battery, please refer to our operational and storage recommendations 
• Always package and ship batteries properly to avoid damage and the release of dangerous chemicals by following our safe packaging and shipping instructions.

Occasionally, a battery will release an odour, swell, crack, or lose a cap. Batteries in this condition are considered “damaged”. Damaged batteries may release hazardous chemicals and require special disposal. Please contact customer service for assistance with damaged batteries.