What an IPS system actually costs
When someone walks into an electrical shop and asks about IPS, the number they hear is the upfront price. A typical residential IPS setup in Dhaka today consists of three components: an inverter, two lead-acid batteries, and installation labour.
- Inverter (800VA–1,200VA): ৳8,000–12,000
- Two 150Ah lead-acid batteries: ৳15,000–22,000
- Installation and wiring: ৳3,000–5,000
Total initial outlay: ৳26,000–39,000. That is the number on the receipt. It is not the number that matters.
The Year 2 replacement
Bangladesh's climate is not kind to lead-acid chemistry. At ambient temperatures of 35–45°C, lead-acid batteries sulfate faster, lose water faster, and degrade in ways that do not reverse during recharging. The honest field life of a quality lead-acid battery in Bangladesh conditions is 12–18 months.
That means by the end of Year 1, or at the latest Year 1.5, the customer notices that backup time has dropped sharply. The batteries that once powered the fan through a 3-hour outage now give out in 90 minutes. The solution the technician recommends is replacement.
Replacement cost for quality 150Ah lead-acid batteries: ৳15,000–20,000. This is the invoice most buyers did not plan for when they paid their initial ৳26,000–39,000. This replacement is not optional — a severely degraded battery draws current without delivering power, and in some cases can damage the inverter.
Year 4. Year 6.
The pattern repeats. The second replacement arrives approximately 18 months after the first. Then a third. The inverter itself begins to show wear — the deep-discharge cycling that lead-acid imposes accelerates inverter component fatigue. Some customers find themselves replacing the inverter as well at Year 4–5, adding another ৳8,000–12,000 to the ledger. Others manage with service visits at ৳1,500–2,500 per call.
By Year 6, a customer who bought an IPS in good faith at ৳30,000 has spent more than three times that amount — most of it on batteries that lasted less than two years each.
The full 7-year ledger
Here is the timeline laid out plainly, using conservative mid-range figures:
What AAA Battery costs over 7 years
The AAA Battery Nano is ৳38,000–44,000 installed. That is the price. There is no Year 2 invoice. No Year 4 battery order. No technician visit to replace degraded cells.
The optional Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) — which includes inspection and firmware updates — costs ৳5,000/year. Over 5 years, that is ৳25,000. With AMC included, the 7-year total for the Nano runs to ৳53,000–64,000.
The difference against the IPS 7-year total: ৳86,000 or more. This is not a projection built on optimistic assumptions. It is built on IEC-rated cycle life for LiFePO4 and documented field performance of lead-acid in tropical conditions.
"You are not spending ৳38,000. You are saving ৳86,000 compared to what you would spend on IPS over the next 7 years."
The assumption in this calculation
This analysis is honest about what it assumes. The Nano's 7-year cost projection assumes the unit performs as designed — rated at 3,000+ cycles under IEC 61960 testing standards, with a projected Bangladesh field life of 5–10 years. LiFePO4 chemistry is not experimental; it is the same technology used in commercial energy storage systems across Southeast Asia.
The IPS cost projection is based on documented 12–18 month lead-acid battery life in Bangladesh's climate. Individual results vary based on usage patterns, storage temperature, and maintenance diligence. Customers who store their batteries in air-conditioned rooms and perform regular maintenance may extend lead-acid life marginally — but the fundamental chemistry does not change.
The ৳86,000 figure uses conservative IPS replacement pricing. Customers in areas with fewer suppliers or during supply-constraint periods may pay more. The Nano's cost does not change based on market conditions after purchase.
One price. Seven years. No surprises.
The AAA Battery Nano: ৳38,000–44,000 installed. EMI available at ৳3,200/month via bKash/NBFI.