Smart-UPS 1400 giving "Batteries Discharged" with New batteries

[HDRW_apc]

I have a Smart-UPS 1400 (among others!) which was reporting "Batteries Discharged" for some time, although the status was showing 100% charge level, and 27.74 Volts.
I changed the batteries for a new set, and it's still the same!
It flips in and out of "Discharged", sometimes spending a minute or two in the "Discharged" state, sometimes only a few seconds - here's a section of the reports that it emails:
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:32:34
Code: 0x0108

Informational - UPS: Battery discharge condition cleared.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:32:35
Code: 0x0107

Severe - UPS: Batteries discharged.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:36:14
Code: 0x0108

Informational - UPS: Battery discharge condition cleared.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:36:15
Code: 0x0107

Severe - UPS: Batteries discharged.
***
I tried to do a Run-Time Calibration, but it immediately reported "Low Battery" and stopped the calibration, showing a 3% charge level, despite the voltage still reading 27.74!

So:
1) If it's not using the voltage to decide if the batteries are discharged, what is it using?
2) What can I do about this? How can I get it working properly again?

Cheers, Howard

[HDRW_apc]

I have a Smart-UPS 1400 (among others!) which was reporting "Batteries Discharged" for some time, although the status was showing 100% charge level, and 27.74 Volts.
I changed the batteries for a new set, and it's still the same!
It flips in and out of "Discharged", sometimes spending a minute or two in the "Discharged" state, sometimes only a few seconds - here's a section of the reports that it emails:
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:32:34
Code: 0x0108

Informational - UPS: Battery discharge condition cleared.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:32:35
Code: 0x0107

Severe - UPS: Batteries discharged.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:36:14
Code: 0x0108

Informational - UPS: Battery discharge condition cleared.
***
Date: 10/29/2009
Time: 11:36:15
Code: 0x0107

Severe - UPS: Batteries discharged.
***
I tried to do a Run-Time Calibration, but it immediately reported "Low Battery" and stopped the calibration, showing a 3% charge level, despite the voltage still reading 27.74!

So:
1) If it's not using the voltage to decide if the batteries are discharged, what is it using?
2) What can I do about this? How can I get it working properly again?

Cheers, Howard

[Techie_apc]

The battery constants give the battery status via their life expectancy. If the battery ages and is “exhausted”, the constant is overwritten. The management software calculates the runtime of the UPS with these constants.If the battery is now replaced, a self test must be done with the new batteries. Through it, the red battery replace indicator goes out and the battery constants should be reset to the standard settings. This does not occur in some cases. Therefore, the constants must be reset manually in order to correct this situation. Please call in the regional APC Customer Care Center as they can walk you through the steps to adjust the battery constant manually.

[HDRW_apc]

Thanks, a very helpful tech support person gave me the information on how to re-set the figure, which was1E, to 9A, and it's all now working properly.
There was a bit of a glitch in determining what the correct figure should be, because it's a very old device, but we got there in the end!

Cheers, Howard

[Anonymous user]

I have the same problem with an old SUA2200XL with brand enw batteries. it worked great, I self-tested with the new batteries, showed a 500minute run time, then I restored the load and logged into the console and I find that I have 7% battery left and I ran self-test, but would not let me.

How do I change that constant parameter manually?

Michael

[BillP]

Hello Michael,

Have you tried running a runtime calibration from the software that you are using? Aside from that battery percentage are you also seeing flashing LED's on the UPS? If you do can you tell us what are those LEDs? Below is an APC KnowledgeBase Article which I hope could help you out, if not please call the APC Customer Care Center and they would be able to help you out should there be a need to change the constant.

[Why are the battery charge LEDs flashing on a Smart-UPS?|http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1497/kw/flashing%20BBG]

[BillP · Accepted solution]

try this technique http://www.IngenuityRedefined.com/APC