FAQ: PowerChute Business Edition repeatedly reporting: "Battery discharged"

[BillP]

FAQ: PowerChute Business Edition repeatedly reporting, "battery discharges" and "UPS Batteries are no longer discharged" messages in the event log

To resolve this issue with a smart signaling UPS (Back UPS Pro S models, Smart UPS, Matrix), follow the steps described below.
Solution:

1. Check Run Time remaining and UPS load in the PowerChute Business Edition Console. To check these variables, select the proper system and the view/device properties menu. If the UPS load is at 70% or higher, reduce the load on the UPS if possible.


2. If the UPS load is below 70%, check that the Run Time Remaining is accurately reflected. If run time appears too low, perform a complete battery discharge by unplugging the UPS from the wall outlet to simulate a battery discharge. A full battery discharge will recalibrate the unit, and re-adjust the runtime if it was incorrect. The Low Battery Signal Time in PowerChute Business Edition is not configurable and is set to 5 minutes when the server portion is used.

If the above steps do not solve the problem, you will either need a larger capacity UPS, or you may need a new battery. In very rare instances there could be a problem with the firmware in the UPS and a replacement would be needed. If this is suspected, please contact APC's Technical Support at www.apcc.com/support or by calling 800-800-4272.


Background:
This situation can occur when the runtime remaining is at or close to the Low Battery Signal Time (found in the UPS Shutdown Parameters option under the Configuration menu). The runtime remaining can be viewed by looking at the Runtime Remaining bar graph in the PowerChute interface screen. If its not displayed, go to the Configuration drop-down menu and select Monitoring Preferences. Then choose, Runtime Remaining for one of the bar graphs.

These messages can occur following a self-test, since at this time the UPS battery capacity decreases, and in turn, run time remaining decreases as well. This will cause the run time remaining to equal or be within a minute or two of the Low Battery Signal Time. This causing a low battery condition to be reached, thus generating messages from PowerChute.

Why do the messages repeat over and over? How can it go from "Returned from low battery condition" immediately back to "Battery discharged? when the unit was on line the whole time?

The power draw of the load from the UPS will vary over time. Whenever the monitor refreshes or when the CPU is working, the power draw will go up. When the power draw goes up, the Runtime Remaining will go down, therefore, possibly creating another battery discharged message. This cycling will continue until the UPS has had enough time to recharge the batteries to the point where the Runtime Remaining is at least a few minutes greater than the Low Battery Signal Time.

*Note that the Low Battery Signal Time is an adjustable parameter found in the Configuration menu under UPS Shutdown Parameters.

To resolve this issue with a simple signaling UPS (Back UPS), follow the steps below:

1. The battery may be truly discharged, especially if it had transferred to battery before the discharged event occurred. This would indicate a power problem and not a problem with the software.
2. Check for proper communication by unplugging the UPS from the wall outlet. The on battery event will be logged in the PowerChute event log.
3. Ensure you have the latest version of PowerChute software.
4. You can also perform a manual runtime calibration. This could be done if you have changed your equipment load or battery. Stop the PowerChute software from running; disconnect the serial cable between the computer and UPS. Next unplug the UPS from the wall and let it run on battery until it reaches low battery. Once it reaches low battery plug it back into the wall outlet and let it recharge. Recharge time can take up to 4 hours.

[Anonymous user]

For Smart-UPS: First: using the PowerChute software put at least 33% load on the ups.

WildWatt wrote:
4. You can also perform a manual runtime calibration. This could be done if you have changed your equipment load or battery. Stop the PowerChute software from running; disconnect the serial cable between the computer and UPS. Next unplug the UPS from the wall and let it run on battery until it reaches low battery. Once it reaches low battery plug it back into the wall outlet and let it recharge. Recharge time can take up to 4 hours.

I don’t understand why the PowerChute calibration software can’t reset the runtime after we changed the date of battery replaced.

And, with the PC on dos mode or boot menu, I think we could let the UPS run on battery until switch off.

Message was edited by: DanielD67

Message was edited by: DanielD67

Message was edited by: DanielD67

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Daniel,

Updating the last battery replacement date would only affect whether or not you receive a notification for the age of the UPS battery - it does not reset the UPS microprocessor to accurately depict the correct runtime.

And as far as the PC being in a DOS prompt or Boot Mode, do you mean AFTER the software has controlled the shutdown? You would essentially have to re-code the OS to state that when PCBE or PCNS is doing a graceful shutdown, it does a Shutdown of the OS, which in essence, tells the BIOS to power off as well.

[Anonymous user]

After changing the battery, in the PowerChute calibration routine it must be an option to set the UPS microprocessor to detect the correct runtime based on the battery voltage, not on the last memorized runtime.

And if we don't use the PowerChute program to calibrate the runtime, we could restart the PC and after BIOS POST on windows systems we could press F8 to stop at the boot menu to ensure an imminent power failure will not affect the operating system. All this because the UPS, based on this memorized runtime, will start beeping for low battery to soon to be useful.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Of course you could save yourself the trouble and plug in a nearby desk lamp and draw down the battery;-)