Minimum Length Power Outage Detectable by UPS

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

I would like to know what is the minimum length power outage that the SmartUPS (either online or standby) series of UPS will reliably detect and respond with an alert via SMTP email if so configured.  In short, I would like to receive an email alert if utility power fails for as little as one or two seconds.  It has been a while since I have tested this, but my recollection is that with at least some units, the power cord had to be pulled for something in the range of 15 or 20 seconds before an email alert was sent.

Also, does the ability of a SmartUPS to detect and alert on such brief outages vary depending on whether the unit has a network card (say an AP9630) installed versus simply communicating with PowerChute software no an attached system?

Lastly,  does APC provide a product (not necessarily with backup capability) that is designed to simply monitor utility power and report power irregularities of any nature?

Thank you -

[Terry_Kennedy_apc · Accepted solution]

I think the minimum length of a power "hit" that will trigger the alarm varies by UPS model and perhaps UPS firmware revision. I have a Matrix unit which will fire its relay and go to battery after a few AC cycles (1/60 second each), but if the outage is short enough that it doesn't get around to beeping, it won't alarm either via the front panel or via AP961x.

The AP775x Rack Automatic Transfer switches have 2 source inputs and switch their outlet(s) between them very rapidly. I believe this is on the order of 1/2 to 1 AC cycle (so, 1/120 to 1/60 of second). This is limited by the mechanical speed the relays can switch, because the first source must disconnect before the second source is connected. Those definitely generate network alarms when this happens, and they are recorded in the device as well:

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There may be something in the APC NetBotz product range that can also do this - one of the APC folks here can tell you about that.