SmartUPS 3000VA rack, battery depleting quickly during runtime calibration

[BillP]

Have a SmartUPS 3000VA rackmount here. Recently started giving a "replace battery" error.

Purchased a new APC RBC43 battery and installed. Ran a self-test but the test failed, saying one or more batteries was bad. We let it charge back to 100%, then ran the self-test again - which passed.

I noticed it was showing a 8 minute runtime with 48% load, which didn't seem right. I started a runtime calibration, and the battery dropped to under 50% in 10 seconds or less so I cancelled the runtime calibration.

Could I have another bad battery out of the box, or could something else be wrong?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[BillP]

If you put new batteries in, you just need to do a self test to clear a solid replace battery LED as the UPS won't do it on its own. If you did, make sure to let the batteries charge for at least a day and re-do a self test. A solid replace battery LED is not a situation where you'd be doing a calibration of any type.

[BillP]

Have a SmartUPS 3000VA rackmount here. Recently started giving a "replace battery" error.

Purchased a new APC RBC43 battery and installed. Ran a self-test but the test failed, saying one or more batteries was bad. We let it charge back to 100%, then ran the self-test again - which passed.

I noticed it was showing a 8 minute runtime with 48% load, which didn't seem right. I started a runtime calibration, and the battery dropped to under 50% in 10 seconds or less so I cancelled the runtime calibration.

Could I have another bad battery out of the box, or could something else be wrong?

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[BillP]

i sent you some additional information via private message.

[BillP]

did the battery you bought have a serial number on it? also, is it possible to let the UPS discharge completely with a stable load of > 35% and turn off (meaning can you do a manual runtime calibration) and then let it charge back up? your load would need to come down though so i might suggest using a non critical load if this sounds like an option.

a software calibration would only deplete the battery to between 10-20% by design and not turn the UPS off and attached load. if it were me, i'd suggest letting it go and charge back up because i dont think we will be able to tell if there is a problem until we see the results. i understand if you were a little nervous based on the behavior during the calibration.

before tgoing further though, let me know what you have for a battery serial number and it might not hurt to check with a voltmeter or on the data logs to see what the battery voltage was/is.

[BillP]

According to the invoice, the serial # is S7A1209L24464 though I'm not physically looking at the battery. Does that help?

I could let the UPS discharge, but obviously this isn't idea as it would cause me a bunch of downtime. If there's any way around that I'd like to pursue it. Not sure what I have for a load to put on it that I can use to test.

It is taking a while for it to charge back up from the runtime calibration I tried (over an hour now and at 80%). I can try to let the runtime calibration go to completion, just trying to avoid any server outages. Estimated runtime is curently very low still (6 min).

On the Data Log it is showing 54.54 under the Vbat column, pretty much all the way down It was showing 54.54 even with the old battery (yesterday).

[BillP]

I completed a runtime calibration this AM. It took less than 2 minutes to complete, and is now charging back up.

Also I confirmed the serial # is correct.

Any further suggestions greatly appreciated.

Message was edited by: Kremlar

[BillP]

Charge is complete and now it shows an estimated runtime of 4 minutes.

[BillP]

can you get me the exact model number of the UPS off the sticker on the back of the UPS?

[BillP]

SUA3000RM2U

[BillP]

Got your PM, but no instructions in there?

Is this just as effective as recalibrating manually? Hooking a laptop via serial isn't the end of the world for me, but if the other method is better I'd rather just do that.

[BillP]

oh hm. let me email it to you if thats OK using the email on your profile? if you can do it via serial cable, i'd try that way before wasting a discharge on the battery.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

OK, I PMed you my address.