Servicing "service-free" (valve regulated) lead-acid batteries.

Crack open the plastic cover to reveal the "valves" which usually are silicone rubber caps. Pop them off, check water* level, top up and inspect the plates if you can see them.

Then charge with maximum voltage (15.0V in this case).

The cover is part of it, so when charging you need to glue, clamp or tape it back on so the valves can do their job.

Optionally, use a desulphator to recover sulphated plates.

This small UPS battery recovered most of its 7 Ah back from almost nothing.

#DIY #Battery #Repair #LeadAcid #VRLA #UPS

* You can buy demineralized water, but if you have a dehumidifier you can use the water from that, which is typically of better quality than what you buy in the store as it is almost pure condensation.

Lead Acid Battery Upgraded to Lithium Iron Phosphate

https://web.brid.gy/r/https://hackaday.com/2026/01/23/lead-acid-battery-upgraded-to-lithium-iron-phosphate/

My UPS (an Eaton 5e850iUSB-AU) has been angrily beeping at me and saying I need to replace the battery. It's a lead acid. Can I / How do I determine if I can swap it out for a LiFePo instead?

edit: battery is 12V/9AH, and dimensions are approx 150x90x65mm

tl;dr: some LiFePO4 have a BMS that allows them to be charged as if they were lead-acid. They will generally be labelled/described as drop-in replacements for those.

conclusion: Why?! The only upside is lighter weight, which doesn't matter here, and the downsides are increased cost and risk of fire, even if unlikely. Pb ftw.

Thanks to all who played from home!

#homelab #ups #battery #leadAcid #liFePo4

DIY #mothtrap proof-of-concept.

Yes, those are #ultraviolet #LEDs.
Yes, that’s a light sensor on the right.
No, I’m not happy with the #leadacid #battery but they’re cheap, reliable and ideal for these experiments.

Now to find an enclosure… 🤔

#moths #mothtrapping #mothtrappinguk #electronics #experiment @[email protected]

@energisch_ @wmd @jon It is a #FireSafety thing:

• Unless #FAA & #EASA exempt #LiFePO4 chances are they'll continue with that rule...

The only exemptions they do - for #LeadAcid, #LithiumBatteries and even #CombustionEngines with #Fuel - are (motorized) #Wheelchairs, tho said users face a whole stack of even worse #discrimination, as I'm shure @RaulKrauthausen et. al. can tell from personal experience.