BE400-UK runtime seems low

[Anonymous user]

Hi

I have a Back-Ups ES 400 (BE400-UK) which is just over a week old.  The Quality assurance thing that came with it has a date of 13-May-2013 so I assume the unit is almost brand new.

On the runtime graph on the APC website the graph shows that at a load of 24 watts, the runtime should be 86.6 minutes.

I have a fanless low-power PC connected that 99% of the time is idle at the moment, and draws 16 watts when I measured it with a kill-a-watt meter.

So, in theory, I should achieve more than the 86.6 minutes of runtime. Taking into account fluctuations in load because of the computer doing work, I would still expect at least the 86.6 minutes of runtime promised for a 25w load (bearing in mind my load is a pretty constant 15/16 watts).

I tested unplugging the device after having left it charge for 24 hours, and I get 48 minutes of runtime before the unit starts beeping constantly, which I believe means there is less than 2 minutes of runtime remaining.

Does this not seem quite low for a brand new unit?   I know the runtime figures are for a resistive load (like a lightbulb) and not computer equipment, but in all honesty, nobody runs lightbulbs off a UPS and we all run computer equipment.

Is there something wrong with the unit?

thank you

[BillP · Accepted solution]

There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the UPS based on what you've described. If anything to me, it seems like poor battery quality possibly.

I can suggest two options if you're concerned.

• Try a discharge with at least a  30% load and don't let it fluctuate more than +/- 5% and see if the runtime lines up - I don't think this will help too much and will waste another discharge on the battery.

AND/OR

• Contact your local technical support to see if they can supply you with a new battery that you can charge up for 16-18 hours and see what you get with that.

Beyond that, I can't think of anything else beyond the runtime chart for this UPS being incorrect if a second battery still does not provide the advertised runtime or at least close to it.