Extending a 13-year-old UPS: yea or nay?

[Dave Labrecque]

I've had a 1300 VA Tripp Lite UPS feeding my DAW and HR824s (yes, this is how I roll) for about 13 years. I think I've replaced the batteries twice in that time. Seems to be working fine, still. With the possible exception of very occasional tripping of the room's AFCI circuit breaker (I'm currently set up in a spare bedroom). And by occasionally I mean twice in the last three months, but never (that I can recall) before that. The circuit breaker is from 2012. My understanding is that back then the AFCI breakers were pretty bad with the false positives (with everything from vacuum cleaners to USB power supplies fooling them).

My current theory is that the electrolytic capacitors in my 13-year-old UPS are in need of replacement.

1) Does that seem reasonable? Or is it just a shot in the dark?
2) I paid $145 for that UPS. Today it goes for $250. Is it worth it to replace the electrolytic caps (at least the bad ones)? Or not so much?
3) I haven't even looked at the internal PCB(s). Is it likely that they'll be Dave-serviceable? I can solder. But I've never messed with anything beyond old-school type circuit boards. No double-stuff or embeded hoozy-whatsits.

Thanks for any wisdom bestowed.

[TomyN]

My UPS is older than yours :-)
I assume that is 'Dave servcieable'.

Good luck

[jmh]

If you are comfortable with such things, you could swap the breaker with another one in the panel (or new $$ although have a spare isn't usually a problem) - as that is as much a possibility as the ups.

[Dave Labrecque]

Thanks, gents. I have since noticed that the bad-battery indicator is alight on the UPS. I've got new ones on the way. Dr. Google says that failing UPS batteries can cause a breaker to trip. So, I'll start there and see what happens.