Automatic and explicit self test return opposite results

[Anonymous user]

Hi all!

On one of our Back-UPS RS 800, running the self test from the OS returns WARNING, and the "Replace Battery" LED gets on.
But, if we turn the workstation off and then turn the UPS off and back on again, the automatic self test which runs on "power on" leaves the "Replace Battery" LED in its "off" status.

So which self test result is correct?
Should we change the battery or not?
The UPS is 2 1/2 years old.

Thanks, Richard

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[Anonymous user]

The Replace Battery LED was solid and yes, an audible alarm started.

[Anonymous user]

Ok. It's most likely asking for a replacement battery. If you can do this, as part of troubleshooting, measure the battery voltage and it should be reading ~27V.

[Anonymous user]

apcaccess (the command from apcupsd for Linux) shows

BATTV : 27.1 Volts

What does this value tell you?
We have another UPS, bought only about 2 months ago, showing the same voltage.

The other values shown by apcaccess are:

# apcaccess
APC : 001,043,1057
DATE : Wed May 05 18:43:25 CEST 2010
HOSTNAME : idefix
VERSION : 3.14.6 (16 May 2009) suse
UPSNAME : CHEUPS02
CABLE : USB Cable
MODEL : Back-UPS BR 800
UPSMODE : Stand Alone
STARTTIME: Wed May 05 16:58:18 CEST 2010
STATUS : ONLINE
LINEV : 228.0 Volts
LOADPCT : 26.0 Percent Load Capacity
BCHARGE : 094.0 Percent
TIMELEFT : 9.4 Minutes
MBATTCHG : 5 Percent
MINTIMEL : 3 Minutes
MAXTIME : 0 Seconds
OUTPUTV : 230.0 Volts
SENSE : Medium
DWAKE : 000 Seconds
DSHUTD : 000 Seconds
LOTRANS : 194.0 Volts
HITRANS : 264.0 Volts
RETPCT : 000.0 Percent
ITEMP : 29.2 C Internal
ALARMDEL : Always
BATTV : 27.1 Volts
LINEFREQ : 50.0 Hz
LASTXFER : No transfers since turnon
NUMXFERS : 0
TONBATT : 0 seconds
CUMONBATT: 0 seconds
XOFFBATT : N/A
SELFTEST : NO
STATFLAG : 0x07000008 Status Flag
SERIALNO : QB0707337059
BATTDATE : 2001-09-25
NOMOUTV : 230 Volts
NOMINV : 230 Volts
NOMBATTV : 24.0 Volts
NOMPOWER : 540 Watts
FIRMWARE : 9.o4 .I USB FW:o4
APCMODEL : Back-UPS BR 800
END APC : Wed May 05 18:43:57 CEST 2010

The battery charge value is at 94% because it went down today to 70% on one of my tests, it's charging now and it probably will go back to the 100% it had before.

Thanks,
Richard

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

1.
The reason why I suggested you to measure and see the battery voltage is because, sometimes it causes a replace battery LED to turn on detecting a weak battery voltage. But since, age is also considered to be one of the factors affecting the battery life, it's most likely wanting a new battery.

2.
During the self test the UPS will switch from online to on battery using ~25% of the battery charge, that's why it dropped to the level that you have specified.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Hi all!

On one of our Back-UPS RS 800, running the self test from the OS returns WARNING, and the "Replace Battery" LED gets on.
But, if we turn the workstation off and then turn the UPS off and back on again, the automatic self test which runs on "power on" leaves the "Replace Battery" LED in its "off" status.

So which self test result is correct?
Should we change the battery or not?
The UPS is 2 1/2 years old.

Thanks, Richard

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