APC Back-UPS 650 doesn't work when breaker trips

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I bought a APC Back-UPS 650 a few months ago. We have a newer home (less than 2 years old) with GFCI breakers installed. The breakers do not like the voltage current patterns from my desktop computer and it causes the breakers to trip at times. I had an electrician check out the breakers and he determined that it is not a load issue or a wiring issue, but rather the voltage pattern being put out of my desktop (specifically during gaming.)

So I bought an APC Back-UPS 650 to provide power to my desktop when the breaker trips so I can safely shut it down rather than having it hard-off when the breaker trips. However, the APC Back-UPS 650 isn't working. Twice over the last 5 months the UPS worked when the breaker tripped and my PC went onto battery power. At least another six times the breaker has tripped and the UPS does nothing, the computer just dies when the breaker trips.

Some additional data:

- Desktop PC & monitor are plugged into Battery + Surge outlets

- The only 2 things plugged into the UPS, desktop & PC

- I have the APC PowerChute software installed and according to the software there is 25 min of estimated battery time

- The APC PowerChute self-test has a result of "Passed"

Do I have a bad UPS?

[BillP]

Hi Aaron,

Can you provide the exact model of the UPS that you have?

What would happen to the UPS when the breaker trips? Does it automatically drop the load or it makes a beep and runs on battery for a few minutes?

While the UPS is online, unplug the UPS from the utility outlet and observe what will happen to the UPS.

We also have an FAQ that can help you understand what is happening with your load and GFCI's. It can be found here > GFCI circuit breaker trips after UPS or SurgeArrest

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi Aaron,

What you may be seeing here is an under sized UPS for your configuration. The 650va UPS typically has a smaller battery capable of supporting a maximum of 390w for a very limited amount of time. Once discharged it takes the unit several hours to recharge the internal battery back to it's 100% capacity. Depending upon the length of the power fluctuation it may take upwards of 24hrs to fully recharge the unit and depending upon the number of outages you observe, there may not be enough time between outages to recharge the battery enough to support the load.

Secret Squirrel