A battery charger fault exists, Smart-UPS RT 8000 RM XL

[Anonymous user]

I have a Smart-UPS rackmount RT 8000 RM XL that keeps giving an error message most of the time after doing a self-test. It's been doing this ever since it's was installed, about a year ago.

On the home page Recent Device Events:
05/15/2009 09:57:45 UPS: A battery charger fault no longer exists.
05/15/2009 09:57:42 UPS: A battery charger fault exists.
05/15/2009 09:51:43 UPS: Passed a self-test.
05/15/2009 09:51:27 UPS: Started a self-test.

I get e-mail for each event above. Here's the e-mail that is sent to me for the charger fault:
Name : nameapc
Location : big sky, mt
Contact : big sky resort
http://nameapc.bigsky.boyne.com
http://19.18.5.55

Serial # : NA0619021449
Device Ser #: NS0619010219
Date: 05/15/2009
Time: 09:57:42
Code: 0x012A

Critical - UPS: A battery charger fault exists.


a. Should I worry about this?
b. Can I get it to stop happening?

I've already upgraded to the most recent firmware: 477.15.W

Thanks,
--John

[Anonymous user]

I have experienced the exact same fault with our Smart-UPS RT 8000 XL. It does not happen every time a self-test is run however..

This has been ongoing for a long time now. Over a year ago APC replaced the entire unit, this did not resolve the issue. It has operated fine under actual power failures, meeting it's indicated battery runtime of 25mins.

More recently i've begun to get some messages indicating that the UPS Refused a Self Test; UPS is overloaded. (the ups is at 40% capacity all the time)

Unfortunatly i have not been able to get this issue resolved with tech support.. it may be just an issue with the self-test or firmware, but who knows!

Message was edited by: nathanv

[Techie_apc]

Zakir,

Are you referring to the UPS hardware firmware? If yes, then it can not be upgraded as i Picked a winna stated above. You can only upgrade the Network Management Card firmware version not the UPS firmware.

[Anonymous user]

Dear Sir,

Would you please letr me know the procedure how we can upgrade version of controller as you mentioned below? Thanks
've already upgraded to the most recent firmware: 477.15.W

Rgds
zakir

[BillP]

the firmware you provided is actually the UPS firmware which is not upgradeable so i assume you upgraded the network management card firmware. this version can be found under Administration->General->About. AOS 3.6.1 and APP sumx 3.5.8 are the latest versions.

can you tell me what the Battery Bus voltage is and battery charge percent? This should be located under the UPS->Status menu. You could also check each battery connector with a voltmeter as well.

has the UPS operated okay during a power outage recently that you know of?

let me know what you see for those items then we can go from there.

[Anonymous user]

I am seeing a similiar issue with a few Smart-UPS RT 7500 XL systems my company is using.
Please let me know if you find a resolution for this.
I replaced the batteries in my systems and am still having the issue.

Thanks,
Dave

[Anonymous user]

Winna,
Sorry for the slow response. I didn't notice your entry into the thread until I got the notice that Dave is having the same problem.
Here's the answers to your questions:
Status


Last Battery Transfer: Detection of low utility voltage

Internal Temperature: 99.5°F

Runtime Remaining: 19 minutes

Power

Input Voltage: 211.6 VAC

Bypass Input Voltage:

Output Voltage: 207.0 VAC

Current:

Input Frequency: 60.00 Hz

Load

Load Power: 52.0 %Watts

Apparent Load Power: 42.0 %VA

Load Current: 16.64 Amps

Battery

Capacity: 100.0 %

Battery Voltage: 213.8 VDC

External Batteries: 1


It has done it's job through several power outages since it was first installed.

I've recently, May 29th, done a Runtime calibration, and that went OK.

And you're right, those are my sumx and aos versions.

Application Module


Name: sumx

Version: v3.5.8

Date: 11/05/2008

Time: 15:08:57



APC OS (AOS)


Name: aos

Version: v3.6.1

Date: 08/13/2008

Time: 18:49:49


Regards,
--John

[BillP · Accepted solution]

well the battery voltage looks fine so it seems like it might be an issue with the UPS itself. as long as the voltage is ~217vDC, then the battery charger is working fine. you could disable this event from happening on the NMC as it seems to be that the battery charger is indeed working correctly. i think its an issue with the UPS firmware which is unfortunately not field upgradable (only the network management card firmware is upgradable).