Smart-UPS 1400 not detecting full battery

[Anonymous user]

I have an SU1400BK (with an AP9617 Network Management Card) which appears to be having trouble detecting when the batteries are fully charged - the front panel bar graph fluctuates between four and five LEDs, and the NMC reports the capacity fluctuating between 99% and 100% during what should be steady-state operation:

		Smart-UPS 1400
Date	Time	Vmin	Vmax	Vout	%Wout	Freq	%Cap	Vbat	TupsF
09/12/2015	01:04:39	123.5	124.1	124.1	32.7	60.00	100.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	01:03:39	124.1	124.1	124.1	33.2	60.00	99.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	01:02:39	123.5	124.1	124.1	34.8	60.00	99.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	01:01:39	124.1	124.1	124.1	33.2	60.00	100.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	01:00:39	124.1	124.1	124.1	34.3	60.00	99.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	00:59:39	124.1	124.1	124.1	34.3	60.00	99.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	00:58:39	122.8	124.1	124.1	34.3	60.00	100.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	00:57:39	122.8	122.8	122.8	32.7	60.00	100.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	00:56:39	122.8	123.5	122.8	34.3	60.00	99.0	27.20	78.0
09/12/2015	00:55:39	122.8	123.5	123.5	33.2	60.00	100.0	27.20	78.0

I don't know how long this has been going on. I first noticed it a couple of months ago and didn't pay it much attention, but last week the monthly self-test detected a faulty battery and I realized that I had only got a little over a year out of the current batteries when normally I get around three years out of a set, so I started to wonder if the two are related and whether perhaps the UPS is constantly trying to "top off" the batteries and reducing their service life.

I replaced the batteries again this week, but the symptoms continue.  I remembered I had a Smart-UPS Calkey (940-0260) that APC sent me some time ago to reset the battery constant on another Smart-UPS, and thinking that perhaps the battery constant on this one has also gotten screwed up, I went through the procedure to reset it with the Calkey.  The UPS indicated successful reprogramming, but the problem persists.

So I come to the assembled experts here to ask if anyone has seen this behavior before, or if anyone has any thought on how to resolve it.  Any and all suggestions gratefully accepted.

Thanks in advance!

[BillP]

Hi Jon,

The changing between 99% and 100% is not an issue.

How old is the unit in question (what is its serial number?)

What is the model and serial of the new battery you have installed into the unit?  Is it brand new or was it kept in storage?  Is it an APC battery?

The calkey that you were given for this UPS - is it specific to this UPS or was it given to you for use with another model?  Reprogramming calkey's is not something we support now as it is a high risk procedure and no longer necessary with newer models.

Have you tried a braindead procedure on the UPS?  This procedure entails turning off the unit, unplugging the unit from utility power, unplugging the load on the unit, disconnecting the batteries, and holding the power button for about 20 seconds.  Afterwards you may plug everything back in and bring the unit back online to see if the reset cleared the condition mentioned.

[Anonymous user]

Hi, Jordan.

It's a few years old now but still going strong:

Model:	Smart-UPS 1400
Serial Number:	WS9913013914
Firmware Revision:	70.11.D
Manufacture Date:	03/25/99

The new batteries (and the ones they replaced) are third-party, not genuine RBC7.  They're brand new.

The Calkey was originally sent to me to reset an old SU2200RM.  The engineer that I dealt with at that time indicated that Calkey's contained information for all then-current models, and suggested I hang on to it in case I needed it again in the future.  It's dated Dec 14, 2011.  I followed the instructions that I received with it, and the UPS LEDs blinked and the UPS beeped to indicate successful reprogramming, per the instructions.

I have not performed the braindead procedure you describe - I've not heard of that one before.  As part of the Calkey procedure, I did remove load, remove power, switch off, then press the power off button to fully shut it down before I removed the NMC prior to reprogramming, but I only held the button down long enough for it to shut off.  I'll try that procedure later today.  Do I need to remove the NMC while doing so, or can it stay in place?

Thanks,
  Jon

[Anonymous user]

On 9/14/2015 9:50 AM, Jordan said:

The changing between 99% and 100% is not an issue.

It may not technically indicate a problem, but it's annoying and can potentially interfere with runtime testing, since you can't start a runtime test if the battery is at less than 100%.

[BillP]

Jon,

No, the NMC can remain in during the braindead.

Knowing that the batteries are not genuine RBC's my official recommendation would be to buy the correct batteries as I have seen numerous issues due to non-genuine batteries.  But the braindead procedure is a great step to try regardless.

Best of luck,

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Well I tried the Braindead procedure this evening, and it's still doing the same thing.  Guess I'll just have to ignore it.

Oh, one other thing I noticed: the battery gauge doesn't move when I disconnect the battery, and the NMC log still reports 27.2V even though the connector is hanging there with nothing connected.  Is that normal?!?

Thanks,
  Jon.