How Can I Tell if My UPS is Making a Weird Smell?
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TechieNinja42
I noticed a sulfur-like smell coming from my room when using my UPS-connected PC last night. It wasn't a strong odor, more reminiscent of the smell of cigarette matches rather than rotten eggs. I'm unsure if the smell is from the UPS or if it's wafting in from outside, as there's a construction site nearby that tends to create odors occasionally. I have a Cyberpower Bu850e that I've owned for over three years, but I haven't used it extensively and it has often been unplugged for long periods. If I decide to open it up, what specific signs should I look for, aside from any obvious leaks or swollen batteries?
Answers
That smell can definitely indicate that the UPS batteries are failing. I recommend unplugging it right away and checking the batteries. In my experience, similar smells were caused by battery failures. If your UPS batteries are hot-swappable, carefully remove them and check for any signs of leaking liquid or swelling. Also, if they feel really hot, that's a bad sign. Stay safe!
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It's great that you're checking your UPS. Just a word of caution: I recently read about a datacenter fire caused by a lead-acid battery fire in a UPS, which shows how important it is to keep an eye on these things. Adding 'check UPS batteries' to my to-do list was a good reminder for me after hearing about that!
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TechieNinja42: Yeah I unplugged it already. I want to unscrew it tonight and see what's happening inside. The question is, what should I look for if the battery doesn’t seem swollen or leaking?