UPS, front panel
UPS case label
Battery compartment
On one beautiful day the server died. And could not run. Everything was dead like a rock. The culprit was the UPS; the batteries failed and the UPS refused to run anymore.
The brand-name replacement batteries were available, but for significant cost and from an inconveniently located store. A different solution was therefore attempted.
UPS, front panel | UPS case label | Battery compartment |
The failed battery pack was disassembled. It turned out that the brand-name labels hide underneath a pair of fairly standard sealed lead acid batteries, 12V/7Ah.
 Battery pack |  Battery pack detail |  Old battery detail |  Battery pack connector |
 Battery pack, disassembled |  Battery pack, disassembled |
The local vendors were queried and a replacement battery was chosen; a Shimastu-brand battery, 12V/12Ah, for significantly lower cost and with stated higher lifetime. Double-bonus, if that's true.
The batteries were bigger than the original; it was decided to not worry about it and just stand them next to the UPS. Who cares anyway. At least they will be better cooled if needed.
The new batteries however had slightly narrower fastons than the old ones had. A minor annoyance. Adapters were fashioned from larger fastons, the smaller ones on the batteries got 3mm holes drilled in, and the fastons were attached with M3 screws, using spring washers to maintain firm contact over time.
The cable from the original pack was just long enough to faciliate connections to the batteries without need for further modifications.
 New battery detail |  Battery terminal adapters |  Battery terminal adapters |  Battery terminal adapters |
 Battery connection |  Battery connection detail |
To facilitate easier transportation of the batteries and their placement in position, carriers were fashioned from a few loops of sellotape. The carrier part got the sticky side covered with a length of opposite-sided tape. The result is a handle that allows comfortable holding, carrying, and lowering of the battery to the place where it should be.
As the terminals were exposed, and as a contact of a conductive thing fallen across them could release a high enough amount of energy to cause a fiery problem, the terminals were capped with insulation caps made from PET bottle caps and affixed to place with a dab of silicone.
 Battery carrier |  Battery carrier |  Terminal caps |  Terminal caps, in situ |