APC Smart UPS 1500 fan never turns off

[BillP]

I bought this UPS:

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA1500

And I noticed that the fan is always on (low rotation) even if I turn it off. I searched the forum for some similar issues:

Referenced content removed

But this thread is too old. I want to know if this issue is common on brand new units bought in 2012. Here it's the data from the UPS:

battery.charge: 100
battery.charge.low: 10
battery.charge.warning: 50
battery.mfr.date: 2012/03/05
battery.runtime: 5460
battery.runtime.low: 120
battery.temperature: 29.7
battery.type: PbAc
battery.voltage: 27.4
battery.voltage.nominal: 24.0
device.mfr: American Power Conversion
device.model: Smart-UPS 1500
device.serial: AS1210230036
device.type: ups
driver.name: usbhid-ups
driver.parameter.pollfreq: 30
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 2
driver.parameter.port: auto
driver.version: 2.6.3
driver.version.data: APC HID 0.95
driver.version.internal: 0.35
input.sensitivity: medium
input.transfer.high: 127
input.transfer.low: 106
input.voltage: 118.8
output.current: 1.23
output.frequency: 60.0
output.voltage: 118.8
output.voltage.nominal: 120.0
ups.beeper.status: disabled
ups.delay.shutdown: 20
ups.delay.start: 30
ups.firmware: 653.19.D
ups.firmware.aux: 11.03
ups.load: 13.6
ups.mfr: American Power Conversion
ups.mfr.date: 2012/03/05
ups.model: Smart-UPS 1500
ups.productid: 0002
ups.serial: AS1210230036
ups.status: OL
ups.test.result: No test initiated
ups.timer.reboot: -1
ups.timer.shutdown: -1
ups.timer.start: -1
ups.vendorid: 051d

Any hints to disable this behaviour? I want the fan to turn on ONLY when needed (when using the battery) and I want it to turn off when I turn it off (for now I have to unplug from the wall and "braindead" it, pressing the power off button until it turns completely off the fan). Thanks.

Message was edited by: Dâniel Fraga

Message was edited by: Dâniel Fraga

Message was edited by: Dâniel Fraga

[BillP]

Nobody?

[BillP]

Daniel,

Our SMT/SMX units behave the same way like our SUA series. These units utilizes two speed fans that will always be on low speed, and will switch to high speed mode when the scenarios or events occur as discussed on the knowledge base articles that we have.

Below is the link to that Article
[Smart-UPS fan operation parameters|http://infomanager.schneider-electric.com/itb/index?page=content&id=FA156553&actp=search&viewlocale=...]

[BillP]

JonPro, thanks for the answer.

So it's a normal behaviour, right?

I'm afraid your URL is wrong, since I cannot access it. Thanks.

Message was edited by: Dâniel Fraga

[BillP]

I apologize for the wrong URL, it was working on my end. Anyways, here is the content of that FAQ.

A fan is included on any Smart-UPS 1400 VA higher and on all ""XL"" models.

All ""SU"" model units and earlier ""SUA "" units utilize a single speed fan. The fan will only be on during the following scenarios:

1. The UPS is on battery.
2. The UPS is charging the battery.
3. The UPS has a load greater than 75%.
4. The internal temperature of the UPS has reached greater than 140 degrees F (60 degrees C). Note, for 4th Generation units (model number begins with SUA) the temperature range has changed. For these models, the internal temperature will have to be greater than 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)



Later SUA model units utilize a 2 Speed fan. On these units the fan will always be on in low speed mode, and will switch to high speed mode should one of the following events occur:

1. The UPS is on battery.
2. The UPS is charging the battery.
3. The UPS has a load greater than 75%.
4. The internal temperature of the UPS has reached greater than 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).



All SURT model units utilize a fan which is always on and should be spinning regardless of UPS operation or internal temperature.

You can go into this website - http://www.apc.com/site/support/index.cfm/faq/ and then search for FA156553. And yes, that is the normal behavior or our UPS.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

JonPro thank you very much!

APC should update its manuals so this information is easily accessible to consumers.

At least now I can be sure my UPS is operating fine. Thanks!

[Reubs]

If the fans cannot be turned off (even if it is not powering the appliances), then they will consume electricity continuously. It will waste money on electric bills. You should have designed this UPS so that everything on it can be turned off. This is what happened to me last night. I have finished using my PC, so I tried to turn off the UPS. But it cannot, so I just sleep, hoping that it will turn off eventually. But after I wake up the next morning, the fans are still on.

[Reubs]

If the fans cannot be turned off (even if it is not powering the appliances), then they will consume electricity continuously. It will waste money on electric bills. You should have designed this UPS so that everything on it can be turned off. This is what happened to me last night. I have finished using my PC, so I tried to turn off the UPS. But it cannot, so I just sleep, hoping that it will turn off eventually. But after I wake up the next morning, the fans are still on.