APC5000RT - LED error code?!

[upsit_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 3/30/2015

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i have a problem with my APC 5000RT (rack mount version)

first, it doesnt react when pluged into a 230VAC mains, but the AC voltage can be mesured after the fuses inside of UPS on board (can not be turned on)

second, when pluged on batteries, it instantly goes ON by itself, and X led starts lit, plus 2nd and 3rd  led from top  on right battery bar

what does the error code means?!

X (red LED, general faulty error)

and battery bar leds;

0

1

1

0

0

where 1 stands for "led on", and 0 is off

btw; i see how LED error codes are freely shared here, one by one as people ask, but why we do not have a simple LED error code list so we can simply see what fault we have at our UPS?!? just like most of PC BIOS  have beep and led error code lists...

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 3/31/2015

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We don't share these error codes publicly since they were originally intended for engineering/debug use only and not necessarily something an end user can do anything about. It is not my decision but I can't remember the last time that a fault code was something a user could address beyond a fan fault since these are not user servicable beyond batteries (which is a separate type of alert).

Thanks for the picture and detail. I can tell you this is a  Battery Capacitor Soft Start Fault and will be thrown if the battery voltage is 100V. So, assuming you have good batteries in your UPS and the voltage is above 100V, there may be another problem with the battery voltage bus.

This is something that if you require further information or detail, especially if the UPS is under warranty, that will have to go through technical support for options.

[upsit_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 3/31/2015

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On 3/31/2015 5:57 PM, Angela said:

We don't share these error codes publicly

but

On 3/31/2015 5:57 PM, Angela said:

I can tell you this is a  Battery Capacitor Soft Start Fault

hehehe, you dont share these error codes publicly, but you told me what does that error code means :))))))))

well, thanks for the info, even this is a good start.....i am electronic technician so even such general error code description can be usefull for me...and thats why i was wondering how come you publicly share erorr codes if someone asks randomly, but not sharing a table of error codes so end users and technicians can simply read it by themselves without asking you one by one.......i hope you do understand my simple logic...

imagine you have 500 students you need to inform how next class is tomorrow at 9AM....you wont go from one to another repeating for 500 times but you will put a info at public info board so everyone can read it by self....simple as that....thats how i see this thing with error codes...if you think that will "force" us to go to official service, i think thats wrong thinking, it will just prolong the diagnosis for several hours or several days more because theres almost EVERYTHING you can find around the internet regarding information you need...sometimes easier, sometimes harder, personaly i would found it funny if i would go to APC, MGE or Schneider service for some electronics repair problem since i am electronics technician by myself, especially because it is world wide well known fact how most of official services does NOT repair electronics, but only REPLACING entire boards.....and to replace entire board i can do by myself if i want to, but thats not the SERVICE....servicing of UPS in my case means to desolder malfunctioning part and solder a new one...thats the point of being electronics technician, IMHO :))

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 3/31/2015

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I very much understand what you're saying.  I try to provide the fault code information as a convenience because if I don't, people get upset that they get NO information about the fault and that we don't have a list they can reference. I definitely also try to search as much as possible online before having to contact a vendor for support so that is what I try to keep in mind when I am responding to customers on here to try and give as much as at all possible with any applicable disclaimers.

Please don't shoot the messenger. I am just trying to help and not the product manager or person in charge of this product, its marketing, and what information is shared or not shared with end users. Often too, this information and how it is provided and by who is done on a model by model and region by region basis. Some scenarios and what we release or don't release are due to legal or liability reasons, such as in large high voltage systems.

I am not trying to necessary get anyone to go to an official service partner if they don't want to but it is often what I can "officially" suggest as I don't have schematics nor if I did, would I be able to post them here since they are proprietary.

I totally agree there are arguements for both sides and as a consumer and a user, I appreciate your side but I have to support my side as part of what I do  I hope you find what I can provide useful and any input of yours on other posts is certainly welcomed and users can utilize it at their own risk as feedback from another of our customers and experienced electronics technician.

[upsit_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 4/1/2015

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On 3/31/2015 11:32 PM, Angela said:

I appreciate your side but I have to support my side as part of what I do 

well, theres a saying; "dont cut the tree branch on which you are sitting", so i do understand you, completely

once again thanks for you help so as thanks for the recogintion of my help to others, i assumed this "forum" is the place for mutual help in any possible way, so why not use it....i am glad when i can help in any possible way, especially when it comes to some unofficial "tips & tricks" that no any service is usually providing...

usually i was not active on any forum of this kind so far, just being a reader when i was trying to find a solution for my problems if i would find myself stuck like now with the error codes, but here comes a first time when i realised i could give my "2cents", i just hope how your headquarter superiors wont get mad at me if i share some information that is usually not easily shared or meant to be shared at all, but kept as a "top secret" for official services.....so all i can say is; "dont shoot the messanger as well", coz its all about HELP after all, not just

i know its slightly off topic, but let make a compromise; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI  to simply say what was my point

cheers

[jackperez_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 4/20/2015

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vlad, I’m glad Angela provided you with your issue and I being from a tech. start-up myself can totally understand why. We cannot enable users to try and re-engineer or even open products that we have designed. Companies usually expect the customers to come to them if they need any help due to warranty or intellectual property issues. Anyways, could you please let us know if the issue has been resolved or how you are working on it?

pcb assembly

[upsit_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/7/2015

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Jack, please notice i am NOT just a "user", a typical peasant whos highest success is how to turn on the UPS .....i am UPS and power supply technician, electronics technician...of course, i am not highly certificated UPS specialist, but i handle the solder, DMM and osciloscope well enough to solve even some untraceable malfunctions....sometimes easier, sometimes harder, but in most times i find the problem....

unfortunately, Angelas answer was a shot in a fog.....answer she provided me was more then general and after i found the problem i have realised how APC beside of politeness simply does NOT want anyone even try to repair the UPS but the "official APC service", even if it is about trivial malfunction like "burnt fuse" ....well, sorry guys, but i cant afford myself to visit a service, after all, i am electronics technician....

anyway, i have solved the problem and it was not even close to what Angela said; the problem was in short Q701 and Q728....

i am sorry to say this, but this forum is NOT helpful to me and my needs at all....i guess this forum is more like a help for end users to solve a elementary issues like; "what does this or that button or sound means?!?" ....and thats far under my expectations... :((

well...i guess i wont stay here anymore....please, to anyone around here, dont take it personal, i know APC is a world well known brand and how their MAIN (like it or not) goal is to make some MONEY, so if they would provide informations freely they would earn a bit less....but i simply cant afford myself any kind of service but to seek around for some tips and tricks how to fix my problem i run on....

a firend laughed at me when i said i did contact APC directly and asked them to give me a at least some directions.....now i understand why he laughed... :))

[wayne_i_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/7/2015

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Hi Vlad,

I appreciate, and to some degree, share your frustration. There is a great deal of information I feel APC could share with end users trying to understand and solve problems that require more information than is provided in the available documentation. However, I think we both realise that APC could get into a lot of trouble by "helping" unqualified personnel trying to do diagnostics and repair resulting in further damage or personal injury (even DEATH!) because these end users didn't appreciate that they are playing with "High Energy" systems, both in terms of the voltages and currents internal to a UPS.

I too, would like there to be a forum of "superusers", sometimes thought of as hobbyists or hackers, that I could particpate in when the time comes that I have a problem with, or a novel application (hack!) for one of the several APC products that I own. Unfortunately, many APC UPS's are so low cost, it doesn't justify trying to repair them, and the more expensive systems are critical to the company, so they are probably on a maintenence agreement with APC or something to get back in service quickly. Somewhere in between are those of us trying to repair our own systems because we can't afford to throw out a $400 unit that needs a 50 cent part replaced, or a electronic service / repair company that is trying to keep it's customers happy but doing cost effective repairs.

If you ever find such a forum, please pass it along to me!

Best Regards!

[upsit_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 5/10/2015

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On 5/7/2015 4:04 PM, Wayne said:

throw out a $400 unit that needs a 50 cent part replaced

that is the thing that bites me the most.....i hate it even i understand thats how "business" is running....

point is...(i have no clue but i am guessing by my experience) 90% of APC users are COMPANIES....and they do business the way like; "throw it and buy a new one" or they have some service agreement with some APC service certified partner....or else, so they dont get bothered with repairing some units like small office back up UPS of seris like CS or SMART up to 1500VA....

in Croatia, where i am from, companies are not even trying to send the UPS on a service because the official APC or any other like MGE, Eaton or Emerson are so expensive so in most cases is better to buy a brand new UPS then repair the old one even if it is about replacing the BATTERY only!!!!!!!! (believe it or not)

so, no wonder APC forum is like it is....so as their company policy...

recently i was attending some Emerson Lab. course, they were providing a lot of usefull (official) information and other participants did provided some practical tips and tricks infromation amogn themselves about repairing, maintanace...etc..etc....it was AWESOME!!!

at the end of the course i asked manager of the course does he know is ther eany APC course on the sight?!...he replied; "as far as he knows, it never was nor soon will be...even many already asked that....seems APC doesnt want to organise it or simply doesnt have any interes in it"

well, it says a lot....

so, i decided to run the independent forum with tips, tricks and any other useful information like;

"my UPS do this or that...what to do?!" ...."try to check this diode....replace resistor, replace Q, replace capacitor...bla,bla..."

simple question, simple answer with no running around the bush; "i think its the best to visit OFFICIAL SERVICE" , no matter of what brand is about because it will be for UPS brands in general...you name it and we will discuss it and find solution....