168 V output on battery?!?!

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

Yesterday there was a power fluctuation in my home, and my APC UPS 1300 XS kicked in, however... I noticed the screen gave this readout: imgur: the simple image sharer

168 V?!?! I turned it off and turned it on again and the output went back to normal (118v).

Why did this happen? Is my UPS going bad? I just replaced the batteries with new official ones a few months ago. I don't want to think that this high output voltage damaged any of my equipment.

Regards

[BillP]

Can you confirm the model of the UPS from the white sticker on the back or bottom of it?

[Anonymous user]

BX1300G

[BillP]

OK, thank you.

I asked a Back-UPS specialist to validate some of my thoughts and see what could be the cause. The way this unit operates, and other similar ones, the input should equal the output unless it was boosting or trimming the incoming voltage. I think this unit just supports trim. How long did you see 168V for?

One thought was that it could've taken a spike and began misreading the input voltage because of it. The unit should never output anything outside of the 103-134v range (for 120V units). I'd keep an eye on it or try simulating a power fluctuation (or at least a blackout by pulling the plug) and see what it does.

Can you give me the first several digits of the serial number, something like 5B1243 so I can see how old the UPS is and the warranty status? One concern now may be the reliability of the unit and the uncertainty if it could do this again.

[Anonymous user]

It was actually unplugged. Since power was intermittent and I didn't want the UPS to go into battery and back repeatedly I unplugged it from the wall, that's when I looked at the screen and it said 168v. I proceeded to turn it off as soon as I saw the readout and when power stabilized and plugged it back it, it resumed normal operation. I did what you said and simulated a blackout shortly after that and the output was normal (118v).

I'll try to find the serial number when I get home but im pretty sure it's out of warranty. I bought it back in 2010 and replaced the batteries earlier this year.

[BillP]

OK, well we can at least double check it. But yes, if it was from 2010, it'd likely be out of warranty. Let me double check on that unplugging part if doing that could've somehow caused it to misread it upon removing it from AC power. I'll probably report back in a few days as we have a local holiday here so I'll be out of the office and so will the person I need to ask.

[Anonymous user]

Understood, thanks for the reply.

[BillP]

I did some checking today and it's possible it was just the sudden removal of the plug that caused the 168V output which caused the unit's power meter to lock up. Have you tried it another time to unplug the unit and see if it does it again, to simulate the original scenario? Or I don't know if you can simulate it too with a breaker trip for that circuit or using a light switch to control an outlet.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply Angela,

I 'simulated' some blackouts and it has not gone to 168V again so I'm guessing it was just a glitch like you mentioned. I'll keep an eye on it anyways!

Thanks!