[mythtv-users] Linux mythtv ups?

[David Brodbeck]

James Pifer wrote:
> Really? I have a handful of Belkin and Energizer UPS's that I'd like to
> be able to use. Think they would be the same?

I don't know.  The one Belkin UPS I had looked to be very difficult to
take apart.  If you can get access to the battery, though, you may find
it's fairly standard.  Measure what you have or get the model number off
it, and look it up in a catalog; there are only a dozen or so different
sizes.

> Can you give me an example of electronics wholesaler or surplus house?

DigiKey (www.digikey.com) and Mouser Electronics (www.mouser.com) are
two places I've used.  They're wholesalers but will also sell in small
quantities, and both carry new gel cell batteries.

I've also bought them from VetCo Surplus (www.vetcosurplus.com), a local
surplus house in the Seattle area.  They're really cheap ($10/battery
last I checked) but they're not always in stock, and the batteries
aren't always factory fresh.  Gel cells have a limited lifespan so if
you want the maximum useful life you're best off buying new.  I rummaged
through the stack and bought the ones with the newest date codes.  The
gamble payed off; they've been good for a couple of years of use now.

Finally, you can also get these batteries retail from the "Batteries
Plus" chain.  You'll pay a bit more, but it's convenient, they'll take
the old batteries for recycling, and you don't have to pay to ship all
that lead. ;)