SUA 2220 -- Tech had me adjust something in terminal, but what?

[Anonymous user]

I have a SUA 2200 and we recently replaced the batteries in it. In PowerChute Business Edition (no network management card here) reported the runtime as 13 minutes, which seemed low. I came on site and checked the battery connections which seemed fine.

I called APC and they had me perform a procedure that the tech admitted he couldn't explain. He only said that the engineer told him to do it.

We used PuTTY to make a serial port connection. From there, he put me in PROG mode. He then had me tap SHIFT-+ (on the number pad) until I saw B3.

Once done, PCBE showed a runtime of 45 minutes.

But I really don't know what he did. In my reading of articles like [this one|http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ASTE-6Z8LB2_R0_EN.pdf] it seems we adjusted the number of battery packs in the unit. But that article would seem to indicate this is an adjustment for EXTERNAL battery packs. (I assume external does not refer to the two battery packs I installed INSIDE the 2200.) Plus, the commands don't line up properly.

Basically, I don't have a lot of confidence in that 45 minute number.

FWIW, the load on the unit is 35%.

Any light that can be shed?

Cheers,

m

Message was edited by: mwhalen

[Anonymous user]

When you say a "full calibration," are you talking about the battery calibration listed in the Diagnostics page of PCBE?

Is one or the other ("full calibration" vs. pulling the plug) preferable? (I can easily start a calibration remotely, presuming it's done from PCBE. Otherwise, I'll need to go on-site.)

How did you determine what they did? Is there some documentation on what I changed?

[Anonymous user]

The UPS will recalculate its remaining runtime after a minute or two on battery and will be more accurate than the figure reported by PowerChute while the UPS is online.

I just thought of another question:

What do you mean by that statement above? Is there somewhere OTHER THAN PCBE where I can check the runtime? You seem to be suggesting that the recalculated runtime does not get reported in PCBE during or after the test..

[Anonymous user]

You should be checking PCBE. What I meant was, when the UPS is running on battery (and has been for a moment or two), the remaining runtime reported by PCBE will probably be more accurate than the remaining runtime reported by PCBE while the UPS is online.

Everytime the UPS goes on battery it will recalculate its runtime based on how quickly it is discharging. When the UPS is online, it is just displaying a number that it believes is the runtime based on how it has been performing during previous transfers to battery.

I see. So, can I do this with the calibration run from PCBE?

Also: where did you get the information regarding adjusting runtime manually?

[Anonymous user]

If you're looking to do a full calibration (battery will fully discharge), this can be done through the PowerChute interface. Optionally, you could just pull the plug yourself to remove power and let the UPS shut off.

Thanks. I ran one via the PCBE interface this morning. Seems we're only getting a 30 minute runtime. Sucks. Doesn't sound like there's anything more I can do.

[Anonymous user]

how new is the battery?

Supposedly new. Bought and installed last week.

[Anonymous user]

Assuming you let it charge for 24 hours before doing the test and your load is not fluctuating while on battery (if your load goes up it will decrease runtime) then you should get right around the estimate, within 5 minutes or so, since it was altered to display the correct value for a fresh battery.

If its an APC battery there should be a serial on it - if the battery is old for some reason that may cause diminished runtime. The serial number would help determine that.

It is an APC battery and there is a serial. I don't have it, of course. That information is on-site! 😉

I had given the serial to the tech at APC. He didn't mention whether there were any issues around that, but I didn't ask, "Hey! Is my battery new????"

Yes, I had let it charge for 24 hours.

I suppose the question is:

Considering a constant 35% load on a SmartUPS 2200, would you expect a 35 minute battery run-time?

m

[Anonymous user]

At a 35% load (~690 watts) the runtime chart shows 34.6 minutes.

Well, that's nearly dead-on.

I'll mull this over, but I think that really answers my question overall.

Thank you!

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thank you. We're all set!