APC UPS Data Center & Enterprise Solutions Forum
Schneider, APC support forum to share knowledge about installation and configuration for Data Center and Business Power UPSs, Accessories, Software, Services.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:11 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:25 AM
I have a Smart UPS 1500 X (SMX1500RM2UNC) with one external battery pack (SMX48RMBP2U) that just powered down all the outlet groups for no apparent reason.
The unit is not that old, it's been in service since December 2016 (manufacture date is October 2016). The load on it is rather low, 25%-30%.
1 | 06/03/2018 04:47:54.000 | 3 | distorted input |
2 | 06/03/2018 09:01:48.000 | 3 | distorted input |
3 | 06/03/2018 07:25:19.000 | 3 | distorted input |
4 | 06/03/2018 07:18:30.000 | 3 | distorted input |
5 | 06/03/2018 07:18:22.000 | 3 | distorted input |
6 | 06/03/2018 07:17:54.000 | 3 | distorted input |
7 | 06/03/2018 07:17:10.000 | 3 | distorted input |
8 | 06/03/2018 07:16:55.000 | 3 | distorted input |
9 | 06/03/2018 07:15:12.000 | 3 | distorted input |
10 | 06/03/2018 07:15:05.000 | 3 | distorted input |
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:12 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Thanks again Liam for your informative replies!
I've been an APC user for well over 20 years and I've been very happy with the products, so it's good to hear you think we have the right equipment for this site.
The Frequency being off in the data logs, is that something I should ask the local utility (DTE Energy) about?
Could this be related to a problematic ground at all? We had some issues with Comcast last year and Comcast thought maybe our ground was suspect, but it appears solid to me (but I'm not an electrician). I did have DTE check at the pole a year ago and they did replace some old taps, but otherwise said everything looked fine.
Matt
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:11 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:25 AM
Hi Matt -
What exactly is connected to the UPS? Could you attach the data logs?
You may find that lowering the sensitivty setting of the UPS will reduce the instances of switching to battery due to input distortion. this can be done via the LCD screen, Network Management Card, or Powerchute Business Edition.
Thanks
Liam
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:11 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Thanks for the reply Liam. I have attached the data log.
Do you recommend LOW or REDUCED for Sensitivity? I'm currently on Normal. What are the dangers in doing this?
After I posted last night, I went ahead and did the firmware update to 9.9 and the Network Card up to 6.5.6 (it was on 9.1 and 6.5.0).
I have a variety of equipment attached including:
A Dell T320 Server, 2 Netgear GS724Tv4 switches, a Synology 916+ NAS, an old Netgear ReadyNAS PRO 6, a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter Lite, a Comcast cable modem/gateway and an Apple Airport Extreme.
I believe that is about everything attached. I'll take another peek and make sure I didn't miss anything.
I did open a ticket with support. They told me to power every down, unplug everything from the ups, disconnect the batteries, then reconnect everything and power it backup on. They said this would reset the CPU in the UPS?
Matt
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:11 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Hi Matt -
I would probably start with "Reduced" and keep an eye on it. If the unit keeps switching to battery, then go with "Low". The tradeoff is that your transfer time (the brief moment when there is no output voltage from the UPS) is extended. Most IT equipment has no problem with this, but occasionally you will find high powered servers that do not like the transfer time. In these (uncommon) situations where the load cannot handle the extended transfer time and the input power requires lower sensitivity the only real option is a Double Online Conversion UPS like our SRT models. This is not common however, and I would not anticipate that you will see any issues.
thanks
Liam
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:12 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Thanks Liam.
Out of curiosity, was there anything of interest in the UPS data log? Anything that I should be worried about or have checked?
Also, do you think I should bother doing the "cpu reset", basically shut everything down, unplug all devices, disconnect the batteries, and reconnect and power up? Is there value in doing that?
The problem has not happened again since I did the firmware updates.
I thought about a true-online UPS, but that is a lot more expensive of course. I've always been a bit confused on this because some other competitors, like MinuteMan, offer "true" online UPS at a much lower price. But I've always bought APC so I'm leery about going anywhere else.
I know I'm getting a little off topic here, but how does this relate to what I see marketed as a "true sine-wave" UPS? I see that talked about a lot too.
Realistically, should all the equipment I listed be able to handle the transfer time w/o issue? Or is anything I listed more sensitive?
Thanks again.
Matt
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:12 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Hi Matt -
Everything looked fine in the data logs. Frequency seemed slightly off, but voltage was solid. This leads me to believe the issues you were seeing were related to THD or some instability in the utility power. If the issue has not returned, it's possible that it was just a temporary power disturbance and that there is no need to adjust the unit. If you do adjust the unit, I don't think your load will have any issue with the transfer time. I don't think there is any need to perform the "brain dead" procedure that tech support recommended.
The Online units do offer tighter power regulation and no transfer time. The power quality is definitely the best that can be had, and they are better at dealing with really poor quality input power. That being said, they are expensive and fairly complex. If there is not a pressing need for one, I really think that a standard Line Interactive Smart-UPS is probably the best bet for most applications in this size range. They're relatively inexpensive, reliable, and efficient. All Smart-UPS output a pure sine wave and are appropriate for IT environments. Given your application, I think your SMX1500 is probably the best tool for the job.
Hope this helps,
Liam
T
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Posted: 2021-06-30 08:12 AM . Last Modified: 2024-03-07 03:24 AM
Thanks again Liam for your informative replies!
I've been an APC user for well over 20 years and I've been very happy with the products, so it's good to hear you think we have the right equipment for this site.
The Frequency being off in the data logs, is that something I should ask the local utility (DTE Energy) about?
Could this be related to a problematic ground at all? We had some issues with Comcast last year and Comcast thought maybe our ground was suspect, but it appears solid to me (but I'm not an electrician). I did have DTE check at the pole a year ago and they did replace some old taps, but otherwise said everything looked fine.
Matt
Link copied. Please paste this link to share this article on your social media post.
Create your free account or log in to subscribe to the board - and gain access to more than 10,000+ support articles along with insights from experts and peers.