[Boatanchors] GEL CELLS

[John via Boatanchors]

Gentlemen,
 
My sincere thanks to everyone for some very thoughtful replies.  These  are 
lead/acid rechargeable cells and while they have been sitting for several  
years in a cardboard box, that box was sitting on a concrete floor.  I  
don't know if that had anything to do with it or not but I have heard true  and 
untrue comments about placing batteries directly on concrete  floors. I have 
two nasty eroded places on my garage floor to prove part  of it. 
 
Since this is strictly a UPS thing I guess the best bet is to get a spare  
battery and rotate it as several fellows suggested.  I will pick up a gel  
cell charger and see if that will being any of them back but  I am doubting  
it. I did try to measure the output of the battery leads in the UPS but it 
is  evidently a switching supply and needs a load to get it going. My results 
 appeared to be a big cap discharging wih the UPS unplugged since the  
voltage started at about 6 volts and slowly decreased to zero.  I got no  
reading with the unit turned on
 
Someone mentioned the history of the batteries before I got  them.  They 
were sold as industrial pulls from hospital medical equipment  and who knows 
how long they sat around prior to being sold.  Next time,  I'll take along a 
meter and a load.
 
Thanks again to everyone for their comments.
 
73, 
 
 John,  W4AWM