[PLUG] UPS vendor, local parts and repair in general

[Keith Lofstrom]

On Wed, Dec 22, 2010 at 10:29:29AM -0800, RParr wrote:
> I have an APC SM3000RM3U rackmount UPS that needs new batteries and 
> refurbishment or recalibrate/repair.
> 
> In the past I have sent such units to Coastal Business Machines for flat 
> rate refurbishment but they no longer offer that service.

Can C.B.M. suggest a former competitor?  If you are a former
customer, it would be polite to help you on your way, and if
they had competition, they (at least the back room geeks,
not the receptionist) probably know who.


> Can anyone recommend a local or somewhat local (ie west coast) vendor 
> that can refurbish or refresh/recalibrate an APC UPS?

If you can find the manual online, perhaps an underemployed
power engineering graduate of PSU could "calibrate for food".
Chances are, all that is necessary is changing the batteries,
then making some output and load measurements, verifying spec
performance.  Unless it has been giving you other troubles,
no adjustments are likely to be needed.

---

Generalizing this, it would be nice if Portland had a parts and
services wiki, where we could add or correct detailed information
about who provides what.  Just yesterday, a friend was asking
about a power cord with a C19 connector, and I successfully
pointed him at Surplus Gizmos and PCH Cables.  Normally, I
have less luck.  I have called around locally for items like
check valves for condensation pumps, and resorted to $$$ 3 day
shipments from Amazon.  I know somebody, somewhere in Portland,
has a usable check valve or power cord in their parts bin, but
finding out who is hard.

The next few years will be economically challenging for many
of us.  We won't be able to afford new replacements, we must
repair the old stuff instead.  Information about help and
materials might really make a difference to our wellbeing. 
Making local vendors more visible, enabling them to profitably
sell low-runner repair items to a couple million locals, would
help them prosper and create jobs.

It could even lead to the local delivery service we talked
about earlier.  Imagine a clever person looks at digital photo
of a broken item, figures out who has the stuff to fix it, and
arranges for the informal delivery network to pick up the broken
item at point A, the repair part at point B, deliver them to a
repairperson at point C, and return the repaired item back to A.
More stuff fixed, less resources used, less repairables in the
landfill, etc.

Any web designer/providers want to take a stab at that?  

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com         Voice (503)-520-1993
KLIC --- Keith Lofstrom Integrated Circuits --- "Your Ideas in Silicon"
Design Contracting in Bipolar and CMOS - Analog, Digital, and Scan ICs