Smart-UPS 3000 Stuck in Self Test Mode

[Anonymous user]

I have a Smart-UPS 3000. It continually goes into self test mode until the batteries are depleted.
Here is a snippet of the event log - note the time stamps.
I have tried setting Perform self-test = Never.

Is there a way to upgrade the firmware, or flash the system?
Firmware Revision: 90.14.D
Serial No. YS0306210449

8/27/10 09:01:46 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:01:38 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:01:22 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:01:05 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:00:49 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:00:24 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:00:24 Battery Discharged
8/27/10 09:00:15 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:00:07 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 09:00:07 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:59:59 Self Test Failed
8/27/10 08:59:42 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:59:34 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:59:17 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:58:12 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:58:04 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:53:12 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:53:04 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:47 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:31 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:23 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:15 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:07 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:51 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:51 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:43 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:42 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:51:34 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:26 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:17 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:51:09 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:00 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:52 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:50:44 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:35 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:50:27 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:19 Self Test Passed

Message was edited by: rdennisak

[Anonymous user]

The logs are from the PowerChute Business Edition. To me this is irrelevant.

The UPS is connected via a Serial cable. There is not a usb option.

I have not tried removing the cable, but I will do that.

How do I monitor/configure the UPS without the cable connected?

Thanks,
Rick

[BillP]

Hi Rick,

We wouldn't really unplug/ remove the cable that long. I've seen cases wherein a bad cable that is connected to the UPS is the one that is causing the problem. Can we remove the cable for 3 minutes just to check if the UPS would still continue doing the self-test? By the way, are you just seeing the logs or you can actually see the UPS do a self-test?

[Anonymous user]

I will be on site today and I'll disconnect the cable and see what happens.

The UPS is physically performing the tests - it beeps/clicks and the fan goes on, lights go amber, etc.

[BillP]

Thanks Rick. Please keep us posted. Should you need a immediate assistance you can contact the APC Technical Support at 800.800.4272

[Anonymous user]

I've been experiencing the same problem recently and came across this thread and was wondering if there was an answer. UPS is an SUA3000 tower connected to a Dell 2950 with the same serial to serial cable since the UPS was installed 4 to 5 years ago. Recently the UPS began to stop suppling power to the 2950 for almost exactly 20 minutes on a random basis. After a week or so of I moved that power cord to another UPS (the 2950 has dual power supply) and ordered new batteries.

Installed the batteries and that is when the constant self test cycles began. Some time the self tests fail, some times they pass but they continue many times a minute until I disconnected the serial cable. Then they stopped.

Other than replacing the batteries no other changes made.

I suspect that the UPS itself is failing but can't be sure. The load on the UPS is very light (less than 30%) and I have had perhaps one power outage in the past 5 years.

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[BillP]

To be clear if the cable is disconnected it wont do a self test and if so, try pushing and holding the self test button and if it passes the ups is most likely fine,
also please provide the model and serial number of the unit.

[BillP]

I agree on what Wallander has said, if the unit stops doing self-test after disconnecting the cable and it all works well then the cable one possible culprit. To check if it is the cable, I would advise you to try a different APC cable on this UPS or try that cable on another UPS.

[BillP]

Test

[Anonymous user]

Thanks to both for the helpful reply. Sorry for delay in response, was offsite on another project. With cable disconnected ran self test on unit which passed. Installed new (serial to serial) cable and everything worked fine. Re-installed the original cable and the unit has been runing fine for over an hour now. Did a self test from the console which passed. Note that I now have the unit configured to not run scheduled self tests ( had made this configuration change on the 15th but it did not make a difference on that day ). So at this point it looks like the unit is back to normal with new batteries. I suspect that the batteries I removed are still good so I'll hang on to them. (FYI: this is a Smart-UPS 3000, Serial JS0749008115, mfr date: 12-5-07, firmware 655.17.D) Thanks again to both. jc.

[Anonymous user]

I posted a reply a few minutes ago stating that all was well. After pausing to wipe the egg off my face I have to report that the problem is not resolved and the unit is still performing continuous self tests. What I noticed is that on the self-test panel on the console there is a message stating that the battery does not have sufficient charge to run a self test. However, the APCBEAgent reports a continue stream of self test passed/failed events to the Windows Event Log. At this point I've disconnected the serial cable and will wait for the battery to come up to full charge, reconnect the cable and see what happens. (On the Self Test panel there is a message that says the unit does not have scheduled self tests.) I'll report back what I see in a day or so. jc.

[BillP]

this really sounds like a faulty serial cable to me or something touching the UPS serial port causing there to be voltage on the pins. are you able to leave that secondary cable hooked up to rule out the cable?

[Anonymous user]

Sure. I have brand new serial cable which i'll install after the battery comes up to charge. thanks. jc.

[BillP]

no problem - will await your feedback on trying that.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I have a Smart-UPS 3000. It continually goes into self test mode until the batteries are depleted.
Here is a snippet of the event log - note the time stamps.
I have tried setting Perform self-test = Never.

Is there a way to upgrade the firmware, or flash the system?
Firmware Revision: 90.14.D
Serial No. YS0306210449

8/27/10 09:01:46 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:01:38 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:01:22 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:01:05 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:00:49 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:00:24 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 09:00:24 Battery Discharged
8/27/10 09:00:15 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 09:00:07 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 09:00:07 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:59:59 Self Test Failed
8/27/10 08:59:42 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:59:34 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:59:17 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:58:12 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:58:04 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:53:12 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:53:04 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:47 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:31 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:23 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:15 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:52:07 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:51 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:51 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:43 Sufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:42 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:51:34 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:26 Insufficient Runtime Available
8/27/10 08:51:17 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:51:09 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:51:00 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:52 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:50:44 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:35 Self Test Passed
8/27/10 08:50:27 Self Test Initiated
8/27/10 08:50:19 Self Test Passed

Message was edited by: rdennisak