Can anyone plz tell me what might be problem with my UPS

[Anonymous user]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first discussion so plz bear with me...A year ago, i bought a UPS (without cable, software CD e.t.c) from a guy who imports them from abroad as there is no Authorized Dealer in my country. It does not have a serial number or anything on it as the person whom i bought is from says that the body got damaged during shipping and hence was replaced. It is a Smart UPS 1500VA and i have connected 02 wet cell batteries (bought new ones along with UPS) with it.   

We experience quite a lot of load shedding hence the UPS is used quite a lot. Yesterday, the Battery got all drained out (no electricity for more than 05 hrs) and UPS was shut down. After electricity came back, UPS got enough time to recharge abt 75-80% (showed 04 charged lights) but when the next time electricity went out, all those 04 lights just dropped all of a sudden and the last light started flickering.

I do not know what happened but the same incident has occurred before and when i called the repair guy last time, he said that the software got corrupted and he rebooted the same and charged me a handsome amount.

Now, i do not have much knowledge abt how to obtain/install UPS software and how to monitor it e.t.c., so i would be REALLY GRATEFUL if someone could help me out.

Thnx

Ali

[BillP]

Well, to begin with, it sounds like we are not 100% sure that this is a genuine APC unit but hopefully it is. Also, we only support lead acid batteries and I have no idea about wet cell batteries.

Regardless, you'll want PowerChute Business Edition and you can download that from here (under Software Upgrades->PowerChute Business Edition): http://www.apc.com/tools/download/index.cfm - the problem is this software requires a serial or USB cable. Your other option is a Network Management Card if the UPS SmartSlot works, models AP9630 or AP9631.

It sounds like battery issues though. It seems like you had a low battery condition with the bottom LED flashing (and maybe beeping). Like I said, I don't know much about these batteries and if the UPS works with them properly or what. Perhaps someone else knows more..

[Anonymous user]

Thanks a lot for your reply Angela...Well i have downloaded PowerChute Business Edition as you said but as i do not have APC Smart Signalling RS-232 cable(Serial to USB), can i use any other Serial to USB cable? Will it work or make things worse?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

As much as possible we recommend using our own APC UPS signaling cable.  There is a tendency that your UPS will exhibit weird issue such as continuous self-test or dropping the load when a non-APC cable is used.  Can you tell us what kind of port do you have on the UPS?  Does it have a serial and USB port?