APC Powerchute Sensitivity vs Voltage setting

[BillP]

I've been meaning to ask this for a couple of years but what is the difference of the "sensitivty" and "voltage" adjustment settings in APC Powerchute? I have the BK6500-AS, BR1500GI, and SUA750I UPS units. Both settings are pertaining to when the battery output will interven when the input voltage range goes out of the specific thresholds, so for me both are the same. It's just that the sensitivity is more of a "pre-defined" range and the voltage setting is a manual setting. But I'm not sure which takes precedence over the other and I frankly don't understand why there are two settings that do the same thing anyway.

Can anybody (including APC support guys) confirm this please? Thanks.

[BillP]

Sensitivity typically looks at these three parameters (THD, dv/dt, Hz) and makes a quantitative analysis based on all three things using a proprietary algorithm. There are not pre-defined limits for each parameter. (IE: There is no way to say "At medium sensitivity, the UPS will transfer at X percent THD."). Unlike Voltage which is more direct on the AC Voltage that the UPS is reading . Both works at the same time. It's just a matter which one needs to work first depending on the issue.

[BillP]

Ok, thanks. How about the AVR function then? This monitors the input voltage too and is used so that AVR Trim or AVR Boost kicks in without transferring to battery output. So when will the Voltage setting ever kick in? Which comes first, AVR or Voltage setting?

[BillP]

Hi,

AVR will kick in first and then if needed the UPS will switch to battery. AVR is a feature of Line Interactive Topology. With AVR Technology, instead of going to battery during high or low input voltages, the unit will increase (BOOST) or reduce (TRIM) the voltage to a safe operating range. This is achieved by re-routing the input voltage through the internal Automatic Voltage Regulating transformer, all without running off of the internal battery. The main advantage of this is that it helps to prolong the life of the battery and extends the operating range in which the UPS can operate online.

[BillP]

So are the AVR thresholds something that can be adjusted? I'm assuming the voltage threshold settings are for when the unit switches to battery.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

This forum thread should answer your question.

https://forums.apc.com/spaces/5/smart-ups-symmetra-lx-rm/forums/general/10898/smart-ups-avr-boost-tr...