Smart-UPS 3000 RM Battery power too low to support the load

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

We have a Smart UPS 3000 which every couple of days we get the following message appear in the log:

+'Critical - UPS: The battery power is too low to support the load; if power fails, the UPS will be shut down immediately.'+

And then we get another message after the above in the same minute:

+'Informational - UPS: A discharged battery condition no longer exists.'+

Since getting these messages we have fitted a replacement genuine new APC battery but we are still getting the messages. Here are some details displayed in the UPS software:

Input Voltage: 237.6 VAC
Output Voltage: 237.6 VAC
Runtime Remaining: 6 minutes
Last Battery Transfer: Due to software command or UPS's test control
Low Battery Duration: 02 minutes
Shutdown Delay: 090 seconds
Maximum Required Delay: 2 minutes

Any ideas why we keep getting the warnings?

Regards

[Anonymous user]

It is a new APC genuine battery. Would calibration power off attached equipment? Is it best done 'out of hours'?

[BillP]

it sounds like you may need to calibrate the UPS and its battery since your runtime is only 6 minutes.

before i say that though, how much load is on your UPS? this alarm generally means that your reported runtime (6 minutes) is within 2 minutes of your low battery signaling time/low battery duration. thus, your load might be fluctuating a bit where the runtime is dropping and getting close to only 2 minutes, since your low battery duration is set to 2 minutes, according to the data you provided.

thus, please provide the percentage load on your UPS and then also, how much runtime do you normally get on battery?

you may also see a flashing battery bar graph if this is an older UPS.

[Anonymous user]

The Load on the UPS is 41.6 % (not flashing so i guess not that old 😉
We used to have up to 7 minutes battery on the UPS.

[BillP]

oh hm ok. so the 6 minutes is probably correct. via the data log on the UPS, is the load fluctuating a lot? to cause the runtime to go down a bit, closer to the 2 minute low battery duration? the alert is trying to tell you that your low battery time is close to your reported runtime so if the UPS goes to battery, everything will immediately shutdown.

what is the exact model of UPS? are you local to the unit? id like to reference the runtime chart since that UPS is not even fully loaded and it only gives you 7 minutes. seems a little low.. if you dont have the exact model, like SUA3000RMI2U, then does the UPS have an LCD screen on it or the LEDs I referenced?

[Anonymous user]

The exact model number is DLA3000RM12U and yes i am local to the unit. The load doesn't fluctuate really as the servers attached to the unit stay up at all times together. We do a power off test every two months which is the only event that changes the load on the unit.

[BillP]

hmm, ok. i think you should get more than 7 minutes. i am looking at an old runtime chart for the APC Smart UPS 3000 of this model and at about 1100 watts, or 41% of its capacity, you should see more like 15 minutes.

i'd like to recommend we do a calibration on this new battery. is it an APC battery or third party battery?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

well, there are a few ways we can do it. the software calibration will only discharge the UPS to between 10-20% so it will not turn off your load.

if you'd like to adjust the calibration setting via hyperterminal/serial connection, let me know. this requires the APC serial cable of 940-0024 or 940-1524. any other serial cable attached will most likely cause the UPS to drop the load since it has a special pinout.