FAQ: PowerChute Plus for Windows continuously reports "Discharged battery"

[BillP]

FAQ: What do I do if my PowerChute log file reports messages alternating between "discharged battery"

and "returned from low battery condition."?

Follow the procedure below to solve this problem.

Windows platforms (Win 95, Win 98, Win NT)

1. Verify port settings
a. Verify the com port you are using by looking in your PowerChute plus
configuration file (pwrchute.ini).
b. Look in Control Panel -> Ports (Win NT) or Device Manager -> Ports (Win 95,
Win 98) for that com port's settings.
c. Change the baud rate to 2400.
d. Restart your computer for the change to take effect.
e. Launch PowerChute plus.
f. If the problem is not resolved, move to step 2

2. Document the following parameters from within PowerChute Plus
UPS Load (go to configuration | monitoring preferences and select UPS load as
a bar graph)
Runtime Remaining (go to configuration | monitoring preferences and select
Runtime Remaining as a bar graph)
UPS Low Battery signal time (go to configuration | UPS Shutdown Parameters)

3. Compare the Runtime Remaining figure to the UPS Low Battery signal time.
If the runtime remaining figure is within 2 minutes of the UPS low battery
signal time, PowerChute Plus will display the "battery is discharged" message.
This condition can result from one or more of the following:
1. The low battery signal time is set too high for the attached load, change
the low battery signal time to a lower setting or reduce the load.
2. The battery is not fully charged and the runtime remaining has fallen
below the low battery signal value, recharge the battery
3. The battery is fully charged, but in a weakened condition causing the UPS
to recognize a very low runtime. A replacement battery may be necessary.