Why is our SMT1500RMI2U dead after replacing the battery pack?

[Anonymous user]

Hi, we have an SMT1500RMI2U rack mount UPS that has been in storage for 2 years. It was working perfectly, albeit with only 40% absolute charge, when we retired it. We are trying to re-use it now but obviously the batteries were completely dead so we replaced the battery pack with a brand new one that shows 25.6vDC out, so fully charged. After plugging the new battery pack in and connecting to a known good AC source we get absolutely no indication of life from the front panel. Power/Reset doesn't respond at all and there are no LEDs lit up. I read in the posts here that this is common if the reference voltage drops below a threshold which it obviously did, but how do we reset it and get it going again? Sorry if this has already been answered somewhere, but I couldn't find a definitive answer, just try this or that. Thanks.

[Anonymous user]

Hi, we have an SMT1500RMI2U rack mount UPS that has been in storage for 2 years. It was working perfectly, albeit with only 40% absolute charge, when we retired it. We are trying to re-use it now but obviously the batteries were completely dead so we replaced the battery pack with a brand new one that shows 25.6vDC out, so fully charged. After plugging the new battery pack in and connecting to a known good AC source we get absolutely no indication of life from the front panel. Power/Reset doesn't respond at all and there are no LEDs lit up. I read in the posts here that this is common if the reference voltage drops below a threshold which it obviously did, but how do we reset it and get it going again? Sorry if this has already been answered somewhere, but I couldn't find a definitive answer, just try this or that. Thanks.

[Anonymous user]

HI Battman, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately we get no response from the unit whether the battery pack is connected or not. Also APC PowerChute reports that it cannot connect.

Can any APC reps comment on this as it appears to be a "feature" to disable the unit if it is not used for some time and the batteries die? Thanks.

[BillP]

This is not a feature and this model of UPS should work with no battery when connected to AC power. If it is totally dead, I'd say it is a problem with the UPS itself. Lastly, in checking with our Smart UPS support expert, if you had a component on the UPS "motherboard" that was dying, it would make sense for it to fail when power was re-applied to the UPS or more specifically, possibly the new battery.

[Anonymous user]

Hi Angela, thanks for your input. I guess we are up for a new unit and have a brand new spare battery pack too!

[BillP · Accepted solution]

You're welcome. Just make sure to maybe charge that battery every 6 months if you'll be keeping it in storage

I was channeling my inner knowledge base with that comment.. Battery Discharge During Storage | FAQs | Schneider Electric US