Symmetra LX and Cold Shutdown

[Anonymous user]

Hello,

Without AC input I cannot shutdown my UPS. I tried to press both buttons on the Intelligent modules for 4 seconds - (as the coldstart), but I cannot shut it down. Please advice me - how to do it quickly.

Rui

[BillP]

Hello,

"Coldstart" is when you power up the UPS with no AC input, not powering it down.

I believe the "power off procedure" for Symmetra LX is actually printed on the rear of the UPS on a sticker for reference. You'd want to follow those instructions.

[Anonymous user]

The instructions written on the rear of the Symmetra are made for a complete dismantle of the UPS.

That would be a silly thing - to disconnect all breakers / batteries / power modules - everytime I want to just shut it down. (sometimes just for 1 or 2 minutes)

Well, I noticed that after 10 minutes I clicked "output power OFF", it just shutdowns itself. But there must be a command somewhere to make it quicker (ex:5 minutes) or manually.

Best regards,

Rui

[BillP]

If you just want it to shutdown and don't care about "gracefully" shutting down the UPS, the easiest thing to do is flip the system enable switch on the rear of the UPS. This will turn off the load and UPS electronics. What you saw after 10 minutes is what happens to most of the APC UPSs - they "braindead" after ~10 minutes of no AC power input. 

[Anonymous user]

Hello again Angela,

I know the "braindead" behaviour. I have a surt3000 and that is a common behaviour - l After (Test/Off) button is pressed, ups shuts down itself then a "click" is heard after 10 minutes. But on Symmetra LX - when you are working "On Battery", PowerView shows Status, etc.. If you choose Control > No AC Output, it mantains the UPS on standby mode. (And 10 minutes after it shuts down itself...)

Well, I'll have to check Powerchute commands in order to see where this flag (10 minutes) is defined and where this can be changed... or not ...(maybe it is a firmware thing)

Rui

[BillP]

What you're describing seems to be the normal behavior for something like Symmetra LX and cannot be changed. It is the equivalent for a UPS of this type to the SURT3000. The UPS braindeads all by itself. I think by flipping the system enable switch on the rear of the UPS, you'll have what you want.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Right, there is no command you can give to the UPS to power down the intelligence modules instantly. As you discovered, you can command the load be turned off but the intelligence modules will remain alive for about 10 minutes with no AC and in Load Disconnect mode.

System Enable switch will instantly kill the intelligence modules and all other UPS electronics and take the load down if you aren't in maintenance bypass.