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Data Centers

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

By Erik Eckel September 14, 2007, 4:52 AM PDT

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Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Back-UPS ES 350

The APC Back-UPS ES 350

ntThe APC Back-UPS ES 350 is among one of the most popular SOHO battery backups. Inexpensively priced, this model provides basic battery backup and surge protection for simple workstations.
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ntDiscover how this devices is built and designed in this Cracking Open image gallery.

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Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Brand

The APC Brand

APC’s products are among the most trusted power protection and battery backup models. The company claims some 30 million of its devices are currently in place.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Four Battery Backup Outlets

Four Battery Backup Outlets

The APC Back-UPS ES 350 provides four battery backup outlets (on the top row). The bottom four electrical outlets, meanwhile, provide surge protection.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Network Protection

Network Protection

The APC Back-UPS ES 350 also provides network protection. PC users can connect a DSL line to the APC and then complete the data connection by connecting a cable from the battery backup to a DSL modem. Such a configuration helps protect sensitive network equipment (including PCs and servers) from lightning strikes and other electrical surges that commonly enter a network via a high-speed DSL circuit.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

APC UPS - Bottom View

APC UPS - Bottom View

The Back-UPS ES 350’s battery is located within a compartment found on the bottom of the device.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

APC Battery Compartment

APC Battery Compartment

Removing the bottom cover reveals the internal compartment that contains the APC’s battery.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Battery

The APC Battery

Before removing the APC’s battery, you must first remove the positive (red) and negative (black) cables.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Battery

The APC Battery

This battery (a sealed model) powers the APC Back-UPS ES 350. UPS batteries such as this one should be recycled (not just thrown in the trash), as they contain lead and acids that can contaminate the environment.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The Battery Connectors

The Battery Connectors

These tabs connect the battery to the UPS device. A red (positive) cable attaches to the positive terminal on the bottom, while a black (negative) cable attaches to the negative terminal on top.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

APC Unit Minus Battery

APC Unit Minus Battery

Here’s a picture of the APC Back-UPS ES 350 without the battery installed.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Disassembling The Battery Backup

Disassembling The Battery Backup

The APC Back-UPS ES 350’s case essentially consists of two molded plastic halves: a top shell and a bottom casing. Removing five Phillips-head screws (each buried in its own circular depression as shown here next to the BE350R notation on the label) enable us to separate the two halves.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The Bottom Case

The Bottom Case

Once the five screws are removed, the APC’s bottom case (shown here) slides cleanly away.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Wire Plumbing

Wire Plumbing

Here you can see some of the wire plumbing used to transfer electrical current from the battery backup’s circuit board to the UPS’ power outlets.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC's Circuit Board

The APC's Circuit Board

Here’s a head-on view of the APC’s circuit board (and the battery backup’s two transformers).

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Positive And Negative Cables

Positive And Negative Cables

Here are the positive and negative cables that were seen earlier connected to the APC’s battery. The negative cable (the black one) connects the battery to the APC’s circuit board, while the positive (red) cable connects the battery to the device’s largest transformer.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Circuit Breaker Reset

Circuit Breaker Reset

Here’s a closeup of the Circuit Break reset switch.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Network Protection Ports

Network Protection Ports

The APC’s network protection ports are connected directly to the UPS’ circuit board, as can be seen here. The circuit board itself is manufactured by APC (model number 640-0640-REV05).

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Inside The APC Back-UPS ES 350

Inside The APC Back-UPS ES 350

Here’s another view inside the Back-UPS ES 350.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

Transformer Close Up

Transformer Close Up

The transformer can be seen clearly (and prominently) in this image. The transformer is the component composed of a large square black box with the yellow-wrapped core.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

APC Transformer

APC Transformer

Here’s a close-up view of one of the APC battery backup’s two transformers.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Circuit Board

The APC Circuit Board

With the main transformer removed, the entire APC circuit board is becomes visible when viewing the top cover from the side.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Circuit Board

The APC Circuit Board

Here’s a closer look at the APC circuit board. In this image, you can make out a 40-amp fuse, as well as a secondary Class B transformer.

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

APC Top Cover

APC Top Cover

With the circuit board and transformer removed, the APC top cover is virtually empty. All that remains is the circuit reset switch and a few wires (cut to enable removing various components throughout the disassembly).

Cracking Open an APC battery backup

The APC Back-UPS ES 350: Disassembled

The APC Back-UPS ES 350: Disassembled

Here are all the components that compose the APC Back-UPS ES 350. The circuit board is front center, with the transformer sitting bottom right. The two halves are on the left (top half) and right (bottom case), while the batter sits at the top center.

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By Erik Eckel
Erik Eckel is a managing partner at Louisville Geek and president of Eckel Media Corp. He previously served as Executive Editor at CNET Networks' TechRepublic. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Louisville and received
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