APC 1500VA Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) and Battery Backup & Surge Protection

Ernest: Nice addition to my BR1500G, all kinds of back up power.

Canada on Sep 04, 2023

Scott H. Price: I don’t know which category this review will be labeled as, but this is a long term review of the “BR1500G + BR24BPG” combo.

I just replaced all the original batteries (in both units) after a significant power “event” (lost one phase of my power) revealed a major loss of runtime; they lasted 4 years, 10 months.

Before replacement I was able to determine that the original RBC124 in the BR1500G had failed, but that wasn’t revealed until I disconnected the BR24BPG and did a battery test on just the 1500G. I also tested the OG batteries from the 24BPG after they were removed. All tested good (but still glad I replaced them.)

Once I replaced the bad RBC124, the UPS said the new one was bad! That status was OLD, for the bad battery just removed. The new battery must test OK to reset the status. It probably won’t test OK immediately. Give it an hour or so to settle in, then it will test OK and clear the bad battery warning. If it keeps testing bad, then worry!

I’ve been through this a couple of times now on 2 similar units. The old adage “time heals all wounds” seems to apply in this case!

If you decide to replace the batteries in...

United States on Aug 17, 2023

Jean Bazinet: Good addition, increased capacity for my base UPS

Canada on Jul 27, 2023

Kae Nyne: Been buying APC for years - after trying other brands, I keep coming back to them for the quality and reliability of their UPS products

Canada on May 19, 2023

John V.: First let me say that I support computer networks as part of my professional career and we use a lot of these UPS units (both the 1000VA and the 1500VA models) for some years now. In our business environment we have mandated monthly generator tests (typically 30 minutes) and this means that we put these to the test because we install them in many locations that do not have generator coverage and they have to keep things running while the tests are conducted. I also use one of these in my home office that I purchased 4 years ago and did not need to replace the battery yet. I never turn off any of my home office equipment and while I sometimes find the microwave clock reset due to a power outage, the office equipment is up and running like nothing happened. So, although there are many reviews about these UPS devices, I will try to make my review useful for both models and I hope it is helpful to someone looking for a UPS and is confused with all the choices out there.

How many VA you need:
No one can give you a specific answer on that because most loads will be rated in Watts (you can find the wattage in the lapel or the manual of your "load") and that can mean different...

United States on Aug 15, 2018

Jamie: In the end I'm very happy with this - it's APC and they make great UPSs. However I did run into the "smell" issue that other folks have mentioned. It's not a leaking battery/sulphur type smell but more like cheap plastic being warmed mixed with maybe a circuit board smell that I can't fully describe.

The first few days I did actually feel sick, sore throat, etc.. the smell was quite strong. It's in a large open household room to.

I almost returned it but gave it a week. About 3 days after that week I stopped noticing it. It's been a couple months now and no issue.

The UPS itself works great, and looks great. But I don't feel like I should have to get sick for a few days after shelling out a premium price for it. I think APC should address this, and people with scent sensitivities (which I'm not) should be careful and have good ventilation the first week or two.

Canada on Aug 17, 2017

Akshay: The price is a bit high, but it's a good investment if you live in an area with frequent power outages. I use this for my gaming PC that has a 500W power supply, along with a speaker system and a 29-inch monitor. It's able to kick in even when the PC is under heavy load and drawing a lot of power. Under load, it can power the PC for upto 15 minutes, and under normal conditions (browsing etc) it can go upto 45 minutes. The on-screen display displays a bunch of useful information like time remaining, current consumption, voltage etc. You can also mute the UPS so that it doesn't make annoying beeps when the power goes out.

The only downside I found was that the fan is too loud. But you'll only hear it when it is charging or during a power outage.

India on Jan 15, 2017