APC Back-UPS ES 500 shutting down in 5 minutes when 2 5V devices connected.

[Anonymous user]

I have a APC Back-UPS ES 500.

I have connected two 5V powered devices to it (to the battery backup available sockets). When there is a power outage, UPS shutdown in exact 5 minutes. No low battery warning. It act as the same way when there is no load.

How to fix it?

Thanks,
Simon Mandy

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Simon,

Can you provide the exact scenario that you are experiencing? Is the UPS shutting down after it has ran on battery for 5 minutes or only when there is 5 minutes runtime left? Do you have a PC connected thru the UPS communication cable as well as PowerChute Personal Edition?

[Anonymous user]

My UPS is connected to a Raspberry Pi using the USB port. OS is Debian based Linux and software used to manage UPS is apcupsd. Raspberry is powered using one of the Power points from UPS. Raspberry Pi's power adapter is 5V 2A AC- DC adapter.
When there is a power outage, in exact 5 minutes UPS gets shutdown. No low battery alarm. I am sure its not because of low battery. If I connect a normal PC it will run for more than 10 minutes before it beeps for low battery.
Its acting as there is no load on the ups, and it shutdown after 5 minutes thinking there is no load.

Thanks,
Simon Mandy

[BillP]

I am not too familiar with regards to the configuration of APCUPSD, have you tried seeking help from them if there's any setting that needs to be changed?

[voidstar_apc]

>
Its acting as there is no load on the ups, and it shutdown after 5 minutes thinking there is no load.
>

I think you're right; BackUPS will shut down and conserve battery if there's no load. The Model B uses 3.5W at most.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Is there anyway to change this setting? In case of a power outage, I want UPS to be running till the battery drains. Equipment I am going to connect would be just a 5V 2A, AC to DC adapter.

[voidstar_apc]

I don't think there's any way to adjust this. The SmartUPS UPSes will run on battery until they are depleted, but they're somewhat bigger and heavier than a BackUPS. I don't know if there's any BackUPS that will stay on at low load.

Perhaps run your Raspberry Pi on batteries? A DC backup like this or straight from batteries as described here.

[Anonymous user]

There is a setting in Powerchute to make the untit shut down after exactly 5 minutes.  Connect to your ES 500  with Power chute and see if you can modify it.

[Anonymous user]

I also face exactly similar issue with my ES500. The LED alternates between GREEN & RED on the shutdown. Any method to disable this autoshutdown feature? BTW, I don't have the Powerchute Software with me and the method to configure the UPS. Any help in this regard, please ?