APC UPS for Home and Office Forum
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
I've read many of the "it clicks constantly" threads regarding this APC, as well as others. I may have missed where any of them had an exact answer, other than "it's broken", but let me ask anyway:
Knowing the battery pack is dead creates the temptation, Hey, try with a new battery pack. But at $100 plus (that's if I pull it apart and replace each of the 4 12 volt 9ah batteries), that's a gamble to take, knowing the device itself may be malfunctioning.
Key questions:
Thanks in advance!
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
The SMX Series UPS is hot swap and cold start capable. As such it can be turned on with battery only when AC Mains isn’t present.
It also allows the battery cartridge to be replaced (Hot Swap) while the unit is running on AC Mains.
The system in normal operation will (click) several times upon power up. The click you hear are the relays opening / closing for the input / output / inverter circuit.
Based on your description there are a couple of possibilities from most likely to possible.
1. Relay Weld (Failed internal relays)
2. Bricked system from firmware load
3. MCU is in a unknown state
4. Internal hardware failure of various components from relays, power transistors, capacitors, etc.
If the system is connected to a computer running APC Power Chute Software you might be able to see what the active fault / error codes are. If there is a NMC installed you can login and view the Event / Data logs to see the history.
If the system came with the EPO plug you may consider connecting the same as outlined in the user manual. Once connected you can short the cable to engage the EPO circuit.
The system should immediately shutdown and disconnect itself from AC Mains (internally).
Remove the short from the EPO circuit and disconnect the AC Mains from the wall outlet. Wait another 30 seconds and than press and hold the power button.
Typically you would hear a click / beep as this would complete the Brain Dead procedure. In this case you won’t but it doesn’t matter because this step will still discharge the capacitors inside the unit.
Let me know what you see and observe. Lastly, I’m going to assume you never had this unit working or saw it working since opening the box?!?
What is the serial number for this unit?!?
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
@Teken, thanks for the reply. I'm not home to try the suggestions out yet (I admit I didn't have high hopes for diagnostics since it never fully turned on, but it is worth a try.) I do have the Serial Number handy from a photo, it is AS1538324833
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Posted: 2 weeks ago
Also, no, never have seen the unit in operation. There's still an inspection tag on it (from 2015!) saying Ok/Passed to everything.
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Posted: 1 week ago
Let me know results when you get them.
As an aside if you’re truly located in Florida (User Name) hope very much you, family, and home were fine from the impact of the two hurricanes! 👍
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Posted: Sunday
In addition to last Monday, I will attempt a reply (again.)
Thanks very much @Teken, for the help.
The powerchute software didn't get too far. The device never actually reached a state of being turned on. (I also didn't keep trying the install when the unit couldn't be detected. Perhaps I'll try harder.)
Using the EPO plug to short it out gave a momentary glimmer of hope, since after the shutdown, pressing and holding the power button after unplugging/waiting 30 seconds, the unit did click just once, as if something different to before happened. But once plugged back in, it was back to constant clicking.
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Posted: Monday . Last Modified: Monday
Hi John,
I normally would not suggest the following but you can try this if you want to.
Meter: If you have a True RMS multimeter available please measure the output at the UPS. What voltage is seen at those UPS outlets?!?
Case: Ensure the power outlet is disconnected from the wall outlet. Press and hold the power button for about 30 seconds.
Remove the screws from the top cover. You’ll see a row of brown / black rectangular relays. Take a plastic tool and tap / strike the relays 4-5 times not too hard but enough at the top / sides.
Reapply AC Mains to the unit and let me know if the clicking frequency changes.
IE. It used to click on-off every second. Now it clicks less or in a different pattern.
Let me know what happens keeping in mind you don’t need to do this step if you’re not comfortable in doing so.
As we can skip to another possible route assuming it’s not the relays. 👍
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Posted: yesterday
Thanks, yet again.
voltage fluctuates from 0, 0.8, and 1.4 Volts at more than one outlet. And I was impressed that my $15 multimeter from that place is True RMS!
Pictures attached.
Upon tapping, all the relays felt the same and seemed firmly seated.
no obvious capacitor swelling or leakage
the connector at J4-10 (dead center left to right and about 60 percent toward the top) next to the vertical/edge toward the camera board had a small amount of wiggle but was probably seated ok.
but.
And I don’t know what I did wrong in my past life to deserve loose parts in APC UPSs, in the two wooden-handle pics, note the loose magnet. (I plopped it in place for the full board picture). There is dried glue on the inside of the loose magnet, clearly it was on that transformer once. (But I haven’t messed with trying to plug in / turn on again yet. )
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Posted: yesterday
I should clarify: the last picture is where the magnet was, holding itself against the frame of the ups.
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Posted: 6 hours ago
Hi John,
Put the magnet back where it’s supposed to be in the photo. Fire up the system and listen carefully as to if the relays click differently.
If they make the same timed clicking noise. Take that Woden handle and strike the rows of relays.
If any of them are stuck while the system is powered on they will react if struck.
DO NOT ATTEMPT to do this if you’re not sure if this can be done safely! As there are very high voltage present when the system is running and energized. ☝️
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