Correct entry for number of batteries

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

I have one SURTA2200XL UPS with one external SURTA48XLBP (battery pack)

The setting in config / general asks how many "external batteries" I have and I have it set to one which shows only 25 minutes up time. That cant be right based on what I have.

see attached

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

i agree and the worst part is some SURT models and just Smart UPS in general don't count the internal battery as one and others do, like your model. it is best to double check the user's guide if anyone else has this issue. it will say what the factory default is for each UPS.

for any UPS generally, the estimate should be accurate while the UPS is online but it is just that - an estimate. when the UPS operates on battery, it should be super accurate because it recalculates while it is running on battery.

i would rely on that value but if you are super concerned, you can can check this runtime chart: http://www.apc.com/resource/include/ups_runtime_chart.cfm?base_sku=SURTA2200RMXL2U&family_id=163

if it is not correct, you can try a runtime calibration but i would avoid doing that more than once a year so that you don't discharge the battery when you don't need to. regardless, there should not be a large difference between online reading and when its actually on battery.

See Answer In Context

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

this model counts its internal battery as 1 in that field. don't ask me why it is this way but you'll need to change that to value to *2* to get an accurate runtime.

I saw this in the user's guide: http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ABRE-7QPPSP_R0_EN.pdf

Number of Battery Packs - Factory Default - *1*

Defines the number of connected battery packs for proper runtime prediction:

1=internal battery module
2=one external battery pack
3=two external battery packs

hope that helps.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

it does help and thanks a bunch ! I was being too logical perhaps ? ha ! I just assumed that external meant external and not "total". Now when I change the value to 2 batteries I get 2 hours, 5 minutes which seems right . Can I trust that amount of time ? These are brand new out of the box.

PS-APC needs to change that !!

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

i agree and the worst part is some SURT models and just Smart UPS in general don't count the internal battery as one and others do, like your model. it is best to double check the user's guide if anyone else has this issue. it will say what the factory default is for each UPS.

for any UPS generally, the estimate should be accurate while the UPS is online but it is just that - an estimate. when the UPS operates on battery, it should be super accurate because it recalculates while it is running on battery.

i would rely on that value but if you are super concerned, you can can check this runtime chart: http://www.apc.com/resource/include/ups_runtime_chart.cfm?base_sku=SURTA2200RMXL2U&family_id=163

if it is not correct, you can try a runtime calibration but i would avoid doing that more than once a year so that you don't discharge the battery when you don't need to. regardless, there should not be a large difference between online reading and when its actually on battery.