APC Matrix 5000 EU

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

I have an older APC Matrix 5000 (1997) that still works fine. I've replaced a cooling fan in the isolation unit, but that's all. I ran across an EU for sale for a low price and decided to pick it up as a spare. This Matrix 5000 EU was manufactured 2004. When I tested the 2004 EU on the 1997 Isolation Unit, it did not work. The LCD display does not show anything. If I try to cycle the main AC input breaker or connect/disconnect the battery input, the EU will give a faint "beep" and the LCD will flash very dimly. It's not the normal, full beep. The LCD backlight just barely lights up for a split second. But, then nothing happens. Nothing displayed on the LCD. I've made sure all the contacts are clean and I've tried to reseat the EU several times. I opened up the EU and spent probably 30 minutes carefully scanning everywhere for a sign of a burnt component or other problem. Everything looks great. In fact, this EU looks like brand new inside. It was obviously not run very much, because the inside was almost spotless. None of the typical dust from a well used (especially forced fan cooled) electronics device. My 1997 Matrix 5000 EU had a lot of the typical dust and grime (which I cleaned out).

I am very disappointed that this newer EU is not working. It looks to be in such great shape and used so little, that I thought it would make a great backup EU to have on hand. I thought that maybe firmware differences between the 1997 and 2004 EU's might be a problem? I doubt it though. I keep expecting that I should find a burnt electrical component or some other sign of damage, but everything looks perfect inside. I tried to make sure all the internal communications cables where seated into their connectors. I wonder if an internal communications cable could be bad, but I don't know how that would happen. I've been trying to troubleshoot this and I've tried everything I can think of to get it to work.

Anyone have any tips of what I can check on the EU?

Thanks,

Edward

[BillP]

Your best bet seems to be using the APC Trade-UPS program. That 5kVA Matrix-UPS can be traded into a newer Smart-UPS (or Symmetra) at a large discount.

[Anonymous user]

Thank you. I just sent them a "request for service" message on their website, and I'll see what they say.

[Anonymous user]

I just got off the phone with Coastal Business Machines and it would be $1000+ and freight both ways. Unfortunately, that is way too high to be worthwhile. I wish there was another way.

[MarkGinger_apc · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately trying to get any units serviced with "CBM" is a dead end. You might as well just go to APC directly and buy it brand new... Want to try something fun, call them up and ask for a replacement part!