I have an older (circa 1995) APC SmartUPS (SU-1000) that still functions and remains in regular service (batteries replaced several times over the years). However, I am concerned that its ability to protect against surges may be gone or at least compromised both by the age of its MOVs & the number & severity of surge "hits" it may have taken over the years. Obviously, it is long out of warranty.
i have been told that I should just toss it and buy a new one. But that seems wasteful.
As I understand it, the MOVs inside this unit are about the only items that are really susceptible to failure or deterioration by either the passage of time or from exposure to multiple current surges. (Please let me know if I'm wrong about this.).
So it seemed to me that the easiest way to address this problem would be to just assume all its MOVs are shot & non-functioning and just put a surge protector of sufficient joule capacity between this UPS and the AC outlet and thereby have that surge suppressor supply the surge protection for the UPS before power gets to it. In that way, it seems like I should be able to have this unit remain in service indefinitely. However, APC is adament that this should never be done. Although I don't understood their scientific/electrical reason for that prohibition, I'm reluctant to go against it unless someone can tell me that there's really no basis for concern about Ignoring this prohibition. (If anyone CAN explain this one way or the other, I'd appreciate it).
So that leaves me wondering about the practicality of just replacing the MOVs in this unit with brand new MOVs of the same or greater protective capacity.
Is this something that could/should be done and are there any specific issues I should deal with this (or practices I should be sure to observe) if I undertake to do this?
Thank you,
Paul
.
i have been told that I should just toss it and buy a new one. But that seems wasteful.
As I understand it, the MOVs inside this unit are about the only items that are really susceptible to failure or deterioration by either the passage of time or from exposure to multiple current surges. (Please let me know if I'm wrong about this.).
So it seemed to me that the easiest way to address this problem would be to just assume all its MOVs are shot & non-functioning and just put a surge protector of sufficient joule capacity between this UPS and the AC outlet and thereby have that surge suppressor supply the surge protection for the UPS before power gets to it. In that way, it seems like I should be able to have this unit remain in service indefinitely. However, APC is adament that this should never be done. Although I don't understood their scientific/electrical reason for that prohibition, I'm reluctant to go against it unless someone can tell me that there's really no basis for concern about Ignoring this prohibition. (If anyone CAN explain this one way or the other, I'd appreciate it).
So that leaves me wondering about the practicality of just replacing the MOVs in this unit with brand new MOVs of the same or greater protective capacity.
Is this something that could/should be done and are there any specific issues I should deal with this (or practices I should be sure to observe) if I undertake to do this?
Thank you,
Paul
.