PowerChute Shutdown with self test?

[K-Dog_apc]

If I have PowerChute configured to signal server shutdown when X amount of minutes runtime remaining, and I run a self test on the unit that has a significant load, does PowerChute recognize that this is a self test and not shutdown servers because the self test has discharged the batteries leaving less minutes in run time than my X value?

[BillP]

It depends on what PowerChute you're referring to. If you are running PowerChute Plus or PowerChute Business Edition, then no. You should get no indication of an on battery event other that self test in progress. Neither of these softwares should shut you down in this case.

If you're running PowerChute Network Shutdown, this should still not happen. I have ben at APC for 7 years and seen 2 issues with larger UPS units that may take a minute or more where the on-battery message was received but the self test information was not. The connected systems did end up shutting down.This by far is the exception however and not the rule. The reason this most likely happened is that the messages from the UPS are on a UDP port. They do not require the client respond to the event. That being the case, there is no way for the UPS to check to make sure the client received both messages.

A good rule of thumb however is to make sure your normal runtime at full charge is higher than your low battery signal time. If it is not, either lower the load, lower the low battery signal time, or in the case of older batteries, get new ones.

[K-Dog_apc]

thank you @SGT slaughter and @smarchet for your replies. My interest is primarily with 20, 40 & 80kw frames that are supporting an 80% + load and a self test may be run 2 or 3 times in an hour or so in the interest of trouble shooting a unit. Perhaps a good safeguard would be to unplug the data cable from the UPS NMC while self tests are running and batteries are being discharged below a possible low runtime threshold.

K-Dog

[K-Dog_apc · Accepted solution]

If I have PowerChute configured to signal server shutdown when X amount of minutes runtime remaining, and I run a self test on the unit that has a significant load, does PowerChute recognize that this is a self test and not shutdown servers because the self test has discharged the batteries leaving less minutes in run time than my X value?