Kurtis Bahr wrote:
I have bought these from the school system in the same condition, replaced
the batteries and usually they have worked fine. I agree with your problem
though. You never know for sure as my success rate has been 90%, some were
really bad. If you can hook up any lead acid battery with the correct
voltage, if smaller current it just won't have the lasting power, and test
before spending the big dollars. If you bought it in 1996 then this would
be about time to buy batteries.

OK. I replaced the batteries with

+
car battery
motorcycle battery
motorcycle battery
battery from a 350VA UPS
-

I figure if I get the UPS to work, I'll try out the UPS battery I bought
in ~1997, but haven't used since then.

With the front panel (AC) off, and the back panel (DC) in either
position (I tried it both ways), and the UPS plugged in, I get a big
spark when I brush a clamp (completing the DC circuit) to the car
battery terminal. I did not connect it, fearful of what would happen
with that large current (no fuses on the batteries, and a car battery
can supply a LOT of current).

I'm pretty sure the polarity of the batteries is correct; I checked it
several times, using as reference the red/black wires inside, and the
+/- stamped on the plug.

What could be wrong?

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