Smart UPS 5000 - Discharged Battery

[Anonymous user]

We have just installed a brand new Smart UPS 5000 into our server rack. The load on it is pretty high (see numbers below):

Load in Watts - 80%
Battery Capacity - 100%
Runtime Remaining - 2 Minutes

However this UPS will continually alternate from no Critical Errors, to a Discharged Battery Error. It will do this every few seconds, alternating between no errors, to error.

I understand that the load is high. When I shut down some servers, the stability improves.

However in the next rack over, we have an indentical UPS, with pretty much the same numbers. It never generates that error message. Runtime remains stable, etc.

I checked the firmware on them, and both are running the same version.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Techie_apc]

Adam,

Check this document which addresses this issue. You will experience this situation whenever the UPS runtime is less than 2 minutes when the unit is operating online. If possible, could you please post some of the logs which are being recorded by the Power Chute? Could you please check the other Identical UPS runtime and its load power draw?

[Anonymous user]

We are currently not running PowerChute, so I don't have any logs at present. I will get it installed however, and see if that helps.

On the UPS that is causing the issues, here is what we will see in its log file:

11/07/2009 10:12:20 UPS: A low battery condition no longer exists.
11/07/2009 10:12:20 UPS: The battery power is too low to support the load; if power fails, the UPS will be shut down immediately.
11/07/2009 10:10:48 UPS: The battery power is too low to continue to support the load; the UPS will shut down if input power does not return to normal soon.
11/07/2009 10:10:48 UPS: A discharged battery condition no longer exists.
11/05/2009 06:08:33 UPS: A low battery condition no longer exists.
11/05/2009 06:08:33 UPS: The battery power is too low to support the load; if power fails, the UPS will be shut down immediately.
11/05/2009 06:08:25 UPS: The battery power is too low to continue to support the load; the UPS will shut down if input power does not return to normal soon.
11/05/2009 06:08:25 UPS: A discharged battery condition no longer exists.
11/04/2009 06:50:24 UPS: A low battery condition no longer exists.
11/04/2009 06:50:24 UPS: The battery power is too low to support the load; if power fails, the UPS will be shut down immediately.
11/04/2009 06:50:22 UPS: The battery power is too low to continue to support the load; the UPS will shut down if input power does not return to normal soon.
11/04/2009 06:50:22 UPS: A discharged battery condition no longer exists.
11/04/2009 06:29:52 UPS: A low battery condition no longer exists.
11/04/2009 06:29:52 UPS: The battery power is too low to support the load; if power fails, the UPS will be shut down immediately.
11/04/2009 06:29:48 UPS: The battery power is too low to continue to support the load; the UPS will shut down if input power does not return to normal soon.
11/04/2009 06:29:48 UPS: A discharged battery condition no longer exists.

This condition will clear, and then appear again, clear and appear, etc.

I just ran a run-time config, and am getting a run-time remaining of 0 minutes (it was at 2 before I ran the run-time). Power and load numbers on the problem UPS:

Load in Watts - 73.3%
Battery Capacity - 36% (Due to run-time test).
Input Voltage - 204.1
Output Voltage - 204.1
Runtime Remaining - 0 Minutes

On the other UPS (Identical Model) I am getting the following:

Load in Watts - 85.2%
Battery Capacity - 100%
Input Voltage - 204.1
Output Voltage 204.1
Run-Time remaining - 9 Minutes.

So it really doesn't makes sense. The flaky UPS has less load on it, but is reporting the wrong numbers. At this point I am not sure what we should do. I am thinking of checking the battery connections...maybe one is loose?

[Anonymous user]

An update to my last post.

Both UPS Devices have restored 100% battery power, from the Run-Time config. However the flaky UPS is still showing under 2 minutes of run-time, while the stable one (with the higher load) is showing 7 minutes.

Does that sound like we have a bad battery? What other steps should I take?

[BillP]

Adam,

Now that you've run a runtime calibration can you post the latest data that you have on your computer?

Please tell us what you currently have for the following:
*Load in Watts
*Battery Capacity
*Input Voltage
*Output Voltage
*Runtime Remaining
*Low Battery Threshold / Signaling Time

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

On the Faulty UPS

Load in Watts - 73.3%
Battery Capacity - 100%
Input Voltage - 201.5 VAC
Output Voltage - 201.5 VAC
Runtime Remaining - 2 Minutes
Low Battery Threshold - 2 Minutes

It appears that the UPS is mis-reading its Runtime. The other UPS (the 5000 that is working) has a higher load (85%) but after its latest runtime, is showing 7 minutes remaining.

NOTE: Contacted Dell, who is going to ship us another UPS.