Smart-UPS 1500 - won't start after the grid is restored

[fpavel]

Hi, I operate SMC1500I-2UC in our SMB, the unit is still under warranty and the battery is working well. The problem is, once the rack is powered by the battery (the grid is down), when the battery runs out and the UPS switches off, even after restoring the grid power, the UPS won't automatically switch on and I have to go on-site and switch it manually ON.

Is this expected with this model or it should automatically switch ON once power is restored? The UPS is not managed by any other control software, it is just connected to SmartConnect without a subscription.

[Teken]

Assuming you still have access to SmartConnect I would see if there is an option to select the operational state. Most of the APC UPS's have the option to define how the UPS should behave upon power restore. You would of course select the option to have the UPS turn back on once 120 VAC was restored. If there is no option available in the SmartConnect portal I would suggest you install Power Chute Business Edition and connect the UPS to a computer system.

There should be power option within the Power Chute software to define the above option.

[fpavel]

I do have access to the PowerChute Business Edition, but what exactly should I focus on? I don't see any settings that are related to what should happen after the power is restored.

[Teken]

Depending upon version of software it should be under Configuration -> Shutdown -> On Battery Behaviour -> Restart when power restored. 

[fpavel]

The version is PowerChute Business Edition Agent Version10.0.5.301. Below are screenshots from the settings. Can you see if something is wrong with the settings? 

[Teken]

In the third image provided by you it shows the UPS is programmed to turn back on once AC power is restored. Which is what you want so that’s good. At the very bottom you have a 8 second delay on the output so changed that to 0 seconds.

Keep in mind none of this will address other possible faults / problems that may exist. Generally speaking you should test and validate for these behaviours:

Power On - No Battery: Disconnect the battery from the UPS while it’s running. Unplug the AC line wait 30 seconds. Plug the AC line back in. Does the UPS turn back on without the attached battery? If yes good. If no, this is how the UPS is designed.

Next step to verify: Unplug the AC line. Attach the battery cartridge. Plug the AC line back in. Does the UPS turn back on once the battery is attached? If yes good, which means there must be a connected battery for the UPS to turn back on. If the answer is no, the UPS does not turn back on and requires a user to press the power on button that is by design.

Test the above scenario and let us know. Keep in mind these tests also don’t address a weak battery, over loaded outlet, etc.

[BillP]

@Teken 

If the UPS turns off because the batteries have drained to zero or close to zero, the UPS will not power on without user intervention. This is by design. If you want the UPS to power on automatically when the AC is restored, configure it to turn the outlet groups off before the batteries are drained. You can do this through PowerChute or via the UPS LCD panel. 

In PowerChute go to Outlet Sequencing. Via the LCD panel go to Configuration, Config Main Outlet Group, Load Shedding, and do the same for Outlet Group 1. 

NOTE: configuration of the outlet groups via the LCD panel is only available on the SMT when the configuration menu is set to advanced.