Just Bought a Symmetra

[Anonymous user]

I recently saw a listing on Craigslist for a (APC Symmetra 16KVA 11200 Watt Power Array 208V UPS (SY16K, SYMSTRF16K)) for $15. I jumped all over it and picked it up. Thinking the unit may be damaged (I'm a power generator mechanic for the military) i began to search for problems. Finding no physical damage i began to locate the terminals to hard wire it. Finding very little help on the internet i was lost. Then i noticed it was in fact a (SYXR12B12) Now after doing research on that i found that the XR in the model means extended run. The (SY) the make and assume 12 means the battery's since it hold 12. Now the silver lining is i have 3 Power modules that came with it. The poor seller thought the same thing i did and bought them for it. They are model (SYPM) I'm looking for as much information about the model number break down and Mains that i can wire the XR to. I know that this product is discontinued and the LX has replaced it. I guess im asking for input on owners as to how to get the smallest Main (aka (1) as to my (2) aka XR) to hook to my SYXR12B12 and drive on. Also if anyone knows some units for sell that would work that have no power modules then that's the boat im hoping to jump in. Thanks for any knowledge you all can pass my way.

[Anonymous user]

Alright, i guess ill start with the SYMINIF. Since it will be far cheaper. I begin my long search for one that does not include the power modules as i have 3 lol. I already found a place that has replacement batters for $166 for 12. But i fear they will only have the batters and not the casing that fits the SYMINIF or the SYXR12B12. So in short do you all know a place that may sell then bare-bones units? I know i still need the intelligence modules. Do i require two or is the redundant just an add on?

[BillP]

Hi Rusking,

It looks like you were misled in that purchase. You purchased a 12-battery bay Symmetra Extended Run battery cabinet. This is not a UPS, but just a frame to hold additional SYBATT battery modules.

To use this battery cabinet, you need to purchase some kind of Symmetra Power Array, either the SYMSTRF 16kVA frame or SYMINIF 8kVA frame.

APC still sells the Intelligence (SYMIM2, SYRIM2), Power (SYPM), and Battery (SYBATT) modules for the Symmetra Power Array. You would have to find yourself a SYMSTRF (which is what they were advertising) or a SYMINIF, then add Intel, Battery, and Power Modules to have yourself any chance of a working UPS.

We still have documentation on these discontinued UPSs: [16kVA Symmetra|http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SY16k], [8kVA Symmetra|http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SY8k].

If you can find yourself a working main UPS chassis, it requires a 3-wire 208 or 240v nominal input (Hot-Hot-Ground) and offers hard-wire 208v, 240v, and 120v output simultaneously via an integrated isolation transformer.

Let us know if you need any more help.

[BillP]

The UPS will not alarm if operated without a Redundant Intel Module. 🙂

[Anonymous user]

Well thanks to you all i now know far more than when i started. I guess im on the hunt for a SYMINIF 8kVA that has no SYSPMs or batts but the rest the guts...hmmm hopefully in trade for a power module. Anyway thank you all for your time and words of wisdom. I believe i will continue to stick around the board to gain more information and maybe since i have an extensive knowledge of electricity, help someone else.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

We should also remind everyone that APC cannot endorse or encourage the use of third party components (batteries) in our UPS systems.

Specifically on Symmetra, the UPS' intelligent battery management system may either fail to identify bad battery modules or report modules as bad before they truly fail.

Symmetra was never intended to have any third party batteries used inside the SYBATT modules. The SYBATT battery modules are encoded to indicate to the Symmetra what specific brand of battery is installed so that the batt management can evaluate the module properly, as different vendors will have varying levels of battery performance -- even at the same voltage and amp rating.

In your case, a workaround would be to install the "custom" SYBATT modules into the 12 battery XR frame (do not install SYBATTs into the main chassis) but do NOT enable the intelligent monitoring by connecting the RJ9 comm cable to the main chassis. This will allow the use of the third party batteries without ANY management, testing, predictive alarms. Therefore, any such arrangement requires the customer to perform routine physical battery inspections and runtime tests when intelligent management is unavailable.

As long as this is understood, it is acceptable to use third party VRLA batteries as long as they are configured for 120v nominal bus voltage.