An oldie but goodie? BF280C

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Hello,

I have an old UPS (BF280C) that stopped working years ago and I am now finally looking at it... I see a component on the circuit board that looks something like a capacitor... it has two leads coming out of it... originating from the center of the disc (about 3/8") on each side, it is a flat black color, it is labeled X3 on the circuit board... the outline drawn on the board for placement is a rectangle with an oval around it but bulged out some at the midpoints... I have attached a picture here.

Does anybody know what that is and can I buy a replacement and solder it in?

Thanks,
Bill Holtzhauser

voidstar_apc · ‎2021-06-29

Might be a MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor). Used for clamping surges or sacrificing itself to one, and from the looks of it, it did a good job.

See Answer In Context

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Well,
I looked around on the circuit board and in some web pages for components ... I don't think it is an MOV because there are other MOVs and they are labeled MOV1, MOV2 etc. There must be something to this label "X3"... If anyone has this old APC UPS lying around maybe you could crack it open and see if there are any markings on this X3 that could suggest what it is?

It seems to be hooked up to a relay right near by on the board.

The APC support system was completely ineffective, they told me it was old and tried to sell me a new one. I agree it is old but this seems like an interesting challenge 🙂

Thanks,
Bill

voidstar_apc · ‎2021-06-29

Might be a MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor). Used for clamping surges or sacrificing itself to one, and from the looks of it, it did a good job.