Smart-UPS X 1500 Distorted Input

[Anonymous user]

Afternoon all -

I have a Smart-UPS 1500 that, several times a day, gets kicked over to battery power due to distorted input messages. From what I can see, it always cuts back over in less than a second.
Is there anything specific I can check in the logs to verify that an issue exists before contacting someone to have outlets, etc checked? From a bit of forum surfing and asking around it seems that the good old dirty power-explanation seems to be the most common cause. I just want to verify before calling in extra help.

Happy to provide extra information as needed. Thanks!

[BillP]

When I had this problem it was due to the mains being more than 10% out of spec, I hit peaks of 255v when it should have been 230v. In the en I contacted the power company who fitted a monitoring device, that only recorded every 5 seconds so it missed the spikes the UPS picked up but based on what they got they put the monitor at the substation and that confirmed it was going outside the 10%, they dialed down the voltage and it has been fine since.

Check if you are on 220-240 that you have selected the correct voltage.

[prince213_apc]

This is common where the supply voltage have lots of fluctuations and distortions. The way to overcome this is by replacing with an online UPS which supplies the load from battery power always whereas the supply is used to charge the battery. What line interactive UPS is doing is momentarily putting load on battery and returning back to supply and that is doing more harm than good.

[BillP]

Sometimes total power interruptions get reported as "distorted input".  Your UPS is just doing its job.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks Prince - Would you know if  this is something that can actually be corrected on the power-side, rather than changing out hardware? I guess, is there a way to get the fluctuations and distortions cleaned up on the feed-end of things. If possible and this is the issue I'd like to fix the root rather than a symptom.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks Joe - is there a way to verify what is happening for certain via logged data? I'd like to nail down the definite cause before accepting the issue or changing anything.

[BillP]

Hi,

If your Smart-UPS has a NMC installed you can view the event and data logs to see what is happening. If you do not have an NMC and the Smart-UPS is a SMX1500 you can view the status via the LCD and in advanced mode you can view event log. 

[Anonymous user]

Hey Bill. Yeah I've got a NMC and can see all the logged info. It sees that there is a distorted input and I am just wondering if there is a way to validate that is actually what is happening. I've seen mentions elsewhere that while it may report that, the cause or what was actually happening was something different. I guess I'm just trying to confirm the issue and make a plan to handle it.

[prince213_apc]

Hi,

Input voltage and frequency distortions occurs usually when the power is supplied from low power generators. Since the supply is from power company that is not the case. The other reasons include a faulty transformer or capacitor from the distribution network pof power company. It can also occur if the phase you are using is used by some heavy electrical machines which is drawing much current ex: single phase welding machines, large motor applications etc this can make momentarily large variations in input voltage. If above is the case you can change the phase and see if the problem solving. Also can ask power company to sort out any transformer or capacitor issues from their end. Anyway the best solution is replace with an Online UPS as in many cases such input distortions can occur many times in power line due to various reasons. Even windy rains can cause electric lines to get shorted and bring huge momentary sags and spikes.

[BillP]

Jesse, you can adjust the sensitivity setting on the UPS to stop the unit from constantly going on battery. You can adjust this via the NMC. You can also adjust the voltage range and widen it to allow a larger amount of voltage through before the UPS goes on battery. Obviously, this more dirty power will be passed through to your load. For some, this may not be an issue. For others it may. SmartUPS by default come set as high sensitivity, so out of the box they have a small tolerance for out of spec power. You should be able to find this setting in the NMC under:

Configuration->Power Setting-> Sensitivity. If set to high then it will only take a small amount of distortion to put the UPS on battery. Low will allow the greatest amount of distortion through before it goes on battery. 

[Anonymous user]

Thanks David - I had moved it from High to the mid setting and was still seeing warning. I set it to the least sensitive and that does seem to have corrected the issue.

I appreciate the reminder on that!!

[Anonymous user]

Can we change sensitivity setting with when there is load on UPS?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Patrick,

You can change the sensitivity setting on the UPS without having to turn off the UPS output, the load should not be affected.