APC Replacement Battery Cartridge #2

General

Battery Specifications

Physical & Environmental

Every figure above is taken from Schneider Electric's own published documentation for this exact part number. Where Schneider does not publish a value, the row says so rather than carrying a figure borrowed from a similar cartridge — APC ratings differ between parts that look identical.

UPS models this cartridge is specified for. Schneider's regional support FAQ for 230 V Back-UPS models names the BK325I and the BK500EI. The BK350EI is not in that FAQ list, but Schneider's documentation for that model names RBC2 as its replacement battery — if you have a BK350EI and would like it confirmed against your serial number before you order, ask us and we will check it.

In the 120 V North American range Schneider names the same cartridge for the BK350, BK500 and BK500BLK. Those are not models sold in Singapore, but they are worth knowing if you are supporting imported equipment. If your unit is a 650 VA Back-UPS CS — BK650EI or BK650-AS — the cartridge you want is RBC17, not this one.

Electrical fit. Schneider rates this cartridge at 12 V DC, 7.0 Ah, and the 2.5 kg net weight is consistent with a single battery block. A UPS will only accept the cartridge built for it: the charger, the runtime calculation and the low-battery cut-off are all set for a specific pack, so a cartridge of the wrong capacity will either be rejected, mis-report runtime, or shorten its own life on the wrong charge profile.

Runtime after replacement. A new cartridge restores the runtime the UPS was rated for when new; it does not add runtime beyond that. How long that actually is depends entirely on how heavily the UPS is loaded — a unit at a quarter load runs for considerably longer than the same unit near its rated output. Schneider does not publish runtime figures against the cartridge itself, only against the UPS, so if you need a runtime target for a specific rack load, send us the load in watts and the UPS model and we will size it properly rather than quote a number that will not hold.

Installation. The cartridge is supplied fully assembled with its connectors already fitted, so replacement is a slide-out, slide-in operation rather than a wiring job. Schneider does not publish a statement about whether this particular cartridge may be changed with the UPS energised, so follow the installation guide that ships in the box for the correct sequence on your model, and treat the pack as live: these are high-current lead-acid assemblies and a shorted terminal is a genuine hazard. If you would rather not do it in-house, ask us and we will look at arranging it for you.

In the Box

The cartridge is supplied fully assembled with all required connectors pre-fitted. Schneider does not publish an itemised package contents list for this part number, so we do not invent one.

APC Back-UPS and Easy UPS Replacement Cartridges Stocked by SourceIT

Matching UPS Models

If you are replacing the UPS rather than the battery, or adding a second unit, these are the models this cartridge is specified for:

Ordering notes. Quote the part number RBC2 on your purchase order — the cartridge number, not the UPS model, is what determines what ships. This cartridge is a lead-acid assembly and travels as such: net weights across the APC RBC range run from under 3 kg to over 30 kg, so check the physical specifications above before you arrange a courier. We can supply the cartridge on its own, or alongside a network management card, rack PDU or a replacement UPS on a single GST invoice.

• Schneider Electric product page for RBC2 — official product identity, environmental data and document library (international catalogue)
• APC Replacement Battery Cartridge Manual (covers many Back-UPS and Smart-UPS RBC part numbers)
• Product Safety Data Sheet — APC rechargeable lead-acid RBC and battery packs

Schneider Electric serves its PDF datasheets from a download host that redirects and does not reliably return the document you asked for, so we do not publish direct PDF links here — a link that hands you another model's datasheet is worse than no link at all. If you need the signed product data sheet, the installation guide or a written confirmation of fitment for your unit, email us the UPS model number and we will send the current document across.

Which APC UPS models does the RBC2 fit?

Schneider's regional FAQ for 230 V Back-UPS models names the BK325I and BK500EI, and the cartridge is carried as the replacement part for the Back-UPS CS 350 VA and 500 VA units sold here. In the 120 V North American range it also covers the BK350, BK500 and BK500BLK. Selection follows the UPS part number, not the VA rating — send us the number from the label and we will confirm it in writing.

What is the difference between the RBC2 and the RBC17?

Capacity. Both are single 12 V blocks in the same physical family, but the RBC2 is 7.0 Ah at 2.5 kg and the RBC17 is 9.0 Ah at 2.59 kg. The 350 and 500 VA Back-UPS CS models take the RBC2; the 650 VA models take the RBC17. They are close enough in size that you cannot tell them apart by eye, so order by part number.

How do I make sure I am ordering the right cartridge?

Read the model number off the label on the rear or side of the UPS and select against that, never against the part number of the battery already inside it and never against the VA rating alone. Schneider says the same thing on its APC UPS Replacement Battery Cartridge Selector Tool: two units of identical capacity in tower and rack form take different cartridges, and a SmartConnect or network-card build often differs from the standard build of the same model. Send us the model number and we will confirm the correct cartridge in writing before you order.

Can I fit the cartridge myself?

Mechanically, yes. The cartridge ships fully assembled with its connectors already fitted, so it is a slide-out, slide-in job that needs no wiring and, on most models, no tools. Whether it can be changed with the UPS still running depends on the model, and Schneider does not publish that statement for this cartridge, so follow the installation guide in the box for the correct sequence rather than assuming either way. Treat the pack as live throughout — it is a high-current lead-acid assembly. If the unit is protecting something you would rather not gamble on, ask us about arranging the replacement.

How long should the cartridge last?

Schneider does not publish a service-life figure against this particular part number. Its general guidance for sealed lead-acid replacement cartridges is three to five years, and in Singapore the climate is the deciding factor: cells age markedly faster when they run warm, so a unit in an air-conditioned rack will comfortably reach the top of that range while one in a hot riser or an unventilated cabinet may not. Replace on age and on the UPS's own battery-fault warning rather than waiting for an outage to test it.

What do I do with the old cartridge?

Do not put it in general waste. A UPS cartridge is a sealed lead-acid assembly and is regulated waste in Singapore. Schneider supplies battery recycling information with the cartridge, and SourceIT can look at arranging collection of the exhausted pack for proper recycling when the replacement is delivered — tell us when you order so it can be scheduled with the delivery.

Is this a genuine APC part, and what does the warranty cover?

Yes. Every APC Replacement Battery Cartridge #2 (RBC2) sold by SourceIT comes with local Singapore warranty and a GST invoice; APC backs the RBC2 with a 2-year manufacturer warranty, stated as 2 years repair or replace. Schneider publishes this term worldwide with no regional variation, so the Singapore figure is the same 2 years quoted elsewhere — unlike some APC UPS families, where the European figure is higher and does not apply to a Singapore supply.