PowerChute Business Edition 9.0.1.606 - Can it present inaccurate information?

[RTech_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/1/2015

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Hello,

We have PowerChute Business Edition 9.0.1.606 agent installed on Server 2008. On April 2 2015, I replaced a battery on one of our Smart UPS 3000 RM. Last week, the battery indicates that it needs replaced again. This software has been installed prior to my arrival, so I have changed nothing and actually I don't know much about it anyway. Is there anything within the software that could be presenting false information, such as a bad battery; even when it ran fine for 3 months? We did lose power around the time it began reporting that the battery was bad, and our generator kicked on. After that, it stated the battery needed replaced. At this point I am leary of running a calibration as I don't need a major event so close to a holiday.

Lastly, I have another identical unit which just had a new battery installed. I don't see anyway to manage this particulatr unit within the software, so I swapped the newest battery with the original; and it is still stating that it is bad.

Could the batteries actually be bad even though one is bnrand new, and the other is 3 months old?

Very odd situation and timing considering the power outage. It just seems very very weird.

Thoughts?

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Jordan on APC forums on 7/1/2015

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Scott,

What is the exact model of your Smart UPS unit?

Have you gone into the "battery management" section of the PowerChute software and updated the "battery replacement" field?  Is it just the software that indicates a battery replacement is required or the physical interface of the unit as well?  Are you using genuine APC batteries that have not been sitting in storage for more than 4 months?

[RTech_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/1/2015

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The model is DLA3000RMU2 and the unit also shows the battery is bad, just as the software does. I just thought it was odd that a "new" battery would go bad so soon. When the original new battery was replaced, I did update the information and at first the battery was online and all was as expected for 3 months. Perhaps it is actually bad, but it seems odd the two new batteries would be bad all at once.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 7/1/2015

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Can you show us your PowerChute event and data logs just to see? You can also try to run another self test and see what happens and if it clears the alarm. It won't clear on its own and requires a self test to clear it (or to see if it remains). Self test illuminates the replace battery LED and a self test is a comparison of battery voltage drop while on battery with a load. If the battery is new and you don't believe it was stored or older as Jordan suggested, it could've been a fluke.. If it is an APC battery, it should have a serial number on it and they also have a 1 year warranty if it did fail prematurely.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 7/3/2015

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Scott,

PowerChute reports what the UPS is telling it. And as you wrote the UPS displays replace battery so I would expect PowerChute to do the same. To test the UPS you should run a self-test. If it passes then the replace battery error will clear. If it fails then the battery needs replacement or needs to be calibrated. You can do a manual run-time calibration. Instruction can be found in this Kbase FA156538. After calibrating run another self-test and if it fail then the battery should be replaced.

[RTech_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/3/2015

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Thanks for the response. Is there any chance that doing either of those tests in a suspect battery could cause the unit to completely fail? I prefer not to risk a total failure as I have no spare batteries.

Thank you again.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Bill on APC forums on 7/6/2015

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Scott,

There is a chance that running a self-test could cause power to be dropped. It is rare but can happen so if you are concerned you should schedule the test for none production hours.