BR1500MS immediately dies when AC power cut

[Alm4]

4 year old BR1500ms ( Back UPS Pro 1500S )

With load or no load, fully charged UPS dies instantly when the AC power is interrupted.  

Installed 2 new batteries, fully charged,  same result.

[Teken]

You may complete the following steps and report back the results.

Brain Dead: 

https://www.apc.com/us/en/faqs/FA158947/

Battery Installation: Once the brain dead procedure has been completed. Go to APC Power Chute Software and update the battery installation date.

Once done manually initiate a self test. If it passes manually initiate a battery calibration via APC Power Chute.

Ensure there is at least 30% attached load connected to the outputs! 👍 Once complete let the system recharge the new battery cartridge.

Validate the LCD displays 100% battery capacity and indicates the unit is On-Line.

Remove AC Mains from the wall and confirm the system operates on battery only mode.

Let me know the results. 👍

[Alm4]

Hi Teken,

Thanks for the help.  

Followed the BrainDead instructions, then pulled the plug and the APC immediately died.

Updated the Battery Install Date, and it passed manual self test via PCS.

              Did not see a option to do a "battery calibration"

Charge was up to 83%, (level always drops after being unplugged while on)

Disconnected PC and NAS so just minor load on APC of ~6%

Unplugged AC power - immediately (1 second) died.

================

May not be related but the PowerChute software is not 100% functional.   PCS sees and reports some  items, but appears disconnected for other areas.  

For example:

1. Never records any outages though the UPS screen shows "1".  Performance screen is all zeros.

2. Current Status is populated and showing the gradually increasing battery charge.

3. Options / Check for Updates triggers a "Could not check for updates, check Internet connection".

4. Occasionally see a message at the bottom of PCS that the PC shutdown option is not functional.

Uninstalled PCS and re-installed a fresh copy from your website. Same result.

Puzzling that the PCS software see the charge slowing increasing  and it allows me to trigger a self-test, but it does not see Events or report statistics.

Attached is brief summary of the ups and PCS version, could not see how to generate a detailed log file of events.

Thanks again.

Al

[Teken]

Hi Al,

Please download the APC PCPE vs PCSS software and let me know what happens during the battery calibration process.

PCSS is not well supported for all APC UPS models as such you’ll see options greyed out. 🤦‍♂️

[Alm4]

Morning,

Like the new PCSS software.

Attached are two log files and a screenshot.   The activity is me shutting down and restarting, and doing the "Self-test" and the "Test Alarm".    Both passed as you can see from the logs.  

The Test Alarm caused the alarm to sound for approx 3 seconds while the LCD screen flashed on and off a couple times, displaying all the possible icons.

I did not see any other option to lead me to a specific  "Calibration" activity.

With a small 3 watt load I cut the AC power and the UPS immediately died.

AL

[Teken]

Hi Al,

Please let me know if this was the APC PCPE Software you had before:

https://www.apc.com/ca/en/product-range/61934-powerchute-personal-edition/#overview

If not would you kindly remove APC PCSS Software and install this specific version. Ensure you follow the prompts as to when to connect the USB cable otherwise the installation will be hindered.

Once that has been done please complete the brain dead procedure four times.

Than connect the UPS to the target computer running PCPE.

Are all the tabs and information available?!? Confirm the battery installation date is accurate or reflective of when you installed it.

If in doubt change it and confirm the date sticks. Follow up with initiating a self test and let the system restore to 100% battery capacity.

The system must say it’s online . . .

If there are any active faults / errors please do call them out.

Please let me know if there is a battery calibration option available in this version of PCPE. If so initiate this process with at least 30% attached load.

Once complete let the system recharge to 100% and displays online. Wait a few hours and then remove power from the wall outlet.

What happens?!? 🤔

If the system dies immediately as before it’s time to scrap the unit. You may consider using this APC Trade Up program:

https://www.apc.com/shop/tradeups/us/en/tradeups/overview.jsp

[Alm4]

Morning,

• Removed PCSS software and reinstalled PCPE v3.1.    V3.1 is the same version I have been using for years.
• Did the "Brain Dead " procedure.
• All the tabs appear to be active, install date is current.  System is "on line".
• Self-test ran OK.  Couple of minutes later ran it again and it failed "Unable to carry out self test".   Waited 5 minutes and it ran OK again.
• No sign of an "battery calibration option"
• UPS still dies immediately when the AC power cord is unplugged.

Thanks for your help.  Coming to the conclusion the electronics have failed

[Teken]

Hi Al,

Appreciate you taking the time to complete all of these tests to validate the system and report back your findings. 

Please do consider using the APC Trade Up program to lessen the impact on the next purchase. 👍