APC BX600C-IN 600VA, 230V Back UPS is TRIPPING MCB sometimes.

[Anonymous user]

I'm from India and i have this UPS : https://www.apc.com/shop/in/en/products/APC-Back-UPS-600-230V-without-auto-shutdown-software-India/P...

Few weeks ago my UPS was flashing red and green alternate signal which points towards a bad battery or low power.(Please confirm me from its online manual, I got the warning only once) but Yes, its old.

but since then once a week as soon as i turn on the UPS(and the ups starts charging) my MCB trips. I fix the MCB and it runs for another week until it trips again. 

My friend told me this might be because the UPS is pulling more current to charge the already discharged old battery? The MCB for my computer's socket(plus 2 fans and a light) is rated at 6A, 1000w. Can the UPS pull more than 6 Amps when charging the discharged battery? Can that be the reason?

-Much Thanks

[BillP]

Hi Sam,

I cant see the UPS pulling more than 6A by itself, however if the UPS is suffering an internal battery short, it may be enough along with the additional circuit load to trip the MCB. Batteries can develop sulfite crystals from being continuously charged and discharged over long periods of time. This would result in the bad battery indication you have received. I would expect that you would be continuing to receive the same indications, so I'm not sure why that has stopped. I would recommend replacing the UPS, as attempting to charge a bad or shorted battery can cause overheating and is not recommended.

Secret Squirrel

[Anonymous user]

On 11/9/2018 10:27 PM, Secret said:

Hi Sam,

I cant see the UPS pulling more than 6A by itself, however if the UPS is suffering an internal battery short, it may be enough along with the additional circuit load to trip the MCB. Batteries can develop sulfite crystals from being continuously charged and discharged over long periods of time. This would result in the bad battery indication you have received. I would expect that you would be continuing to receive the same indications, so I'm not sure why that has stopped. I would recommend replacing the UPS, as attempting to charge a bad or shorted battery can cause overheating and is not recommended.

Secret Squirrel

Hii. Thanks for your reply!! And yes i have got the battery signal only once a month ago. And the MCB trips only once a week or so and it happens only when immediately switching on the ups. On subsequent try, it runs fine. Although the pc can still run on battery for 3 mins.

I don't really know what to do. Replace the ups or battery? 

[BillP]

I recommend battery replacement. I believe that would be the APCRBC110.

[Anonymous user]

On , said:

I recommend battery replacement. I believe that would be the APCRBC110.

Thanks.

I called APC and they said they don't make official batteries in India. Instead suggested me to go for Exide batteries from 3rd party..do you have any information on that? 

[BillP]

Hi Sam,

I'm sorry I don't. I will say however, exide is the largest selling battery company in India. If you were to reach out to a reseller of computer electronics, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Secret Squirrel

[Anonymous user]

Hi again. I'm considering changing the battery myself. Can you please tell me where can I get a guide to open my UPS BX600C-IN? Thank you.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Sam,

We do not have a guide on how to open the UPS as the battery in the BX600C-IN is not user replaceable.

Regards,

Tom