Symmetra LX 16000 battery capacity?

[beabaul]

We inherited a Symmetra LX 16000 that is reporting that:

 3 Critical Alarms Present

• At least one faulty battery exists.
• A battery fault exists.
• Self-Test Failed

We are being told that all nine batteries need to be replaced in this - for a hefty price tag. However - this thing is massive overkill for the room its in and what its doing. Even with those faults, it shows that it has 3 hours of run time and all that it is supporting is a stack of 4 switches, a few routers a couple firewalls and a server. We don't have nearly the 3 hour requirement of run time. 

I know next to nothing about these models. Does this UPS REQUIRE that all 9 batteries be in it? Can it run happily with 2 or maybe 3?

[Teken · Accepted solution]

That would depend on how the system detects the batteries. If the batteries are auto detected by a chip / resistor you can yank out the bad ones for each bank / set.

If the system only knows from a user input to define the number of cells / cartridge you can yank it out. Than define (enter) how many batteries / cartridges are now present in the bank / set.

In all cases a battery calibration must be done so the system can recalibrate. Keep in mind if the batteries are all from the same installation date and they are truly bad.

You’ll want to complete a lights out test to validate the actual state and runtime! Because dollars to donuts if there is just one bad cell it will take the entire system down! ☝️

Test, Validate, Don’t Guess . . . 👍

NOTE: It should be made clear you must know what kind of battery voltage is required. Larger units each (bank) provides the required DC voltage say 200 VDC etc. 

You can NOT remove a (single) battery from a (Bank / Set) as this would reduce the DC voltage required by the UPS to operate when on battery power.

[beabaul]

Thank you!