BE450G makes a ticking sound

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

I have a "Back-UPS ES 450" labeled BE450G serial 4B0942P45750 containing its original RBC114 serial 090813913 that has started behaving oddly.

If turned on without a battery it makes the shrieking "no battery" sound.
If turned on with a battery it makes a quiet ticking sound (like a relay) every second or so.
Either way, it won't power anything plugged into it.

While it's tempting to simply replace the battery, that behavior doesn't match anything in the documentation and I'd hate to buy another RPC114 just to then find out that the electronics are fried. The troubleshooting guide says that, if the symptoms don't match anything in the list, to contact you.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Your battery's serial number indicates a date of production in early 2009 (8th week). Six (almost seven!) years is an outstanding lifetime for these batteries.

The ticking noise you hear is probably the charging circuitry trying to regulate itself properly in the face of a bad battery. (As best I know, there are only two relays in the BE450G...one to switch over to inverter/battery power in the face of a power problem and another for the "green" function if you use it. Both click very noticeably when triggered.) These units use a pulsed charging method, and sometimes its operating frequency can be heard (very quietly, as a hiss, whine or soft rapid clicking). Could the unit's circuit breaker have popped out?

Even with a bad battery, the unit should still have power at all times on the "surge protection" outlets and the battery backed outlets should have power present when the switch has been turned on, so long as it is plugged in to a working outlet.

Although not recommended or approved by APC/Schneider Electric, you may use a generic replacement battery. (In that same vein, I am not affiliated with or employed by either company. Should you require an official answer, you may wish to call or e-mail their support department, or wait for an employee to answer here.)

See Answer In Context

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

Your battery's serial number indicates a date of production in early 2009 (8th week). Six (almost seven!) years is an outstanding lifetime for these batteries.

The ticking noise you hear is probably the charging circuitry trying to regulate itself properly in the face of a bad battery. (As best I know, there are only two relays in the BE450G...one to switch over to inverter/battery power in the face of a power problem and another for the "green" function if you use it. Both click very noticeably when triggered.) These units use a pulsed charging method, and sometimes its operating frequency can be heard (very quietly, as a hiss, whine or soft rapid clicking). Could the unit's circuit breaker have popped out?

Even with a bad battery, the unit should still have power at all times on the "surge protection" outlets and the battery backed outlets should have power present when the switch has been turned on, so long as it is plugged in to a working outlet.

Although not recommended or approved by APC/Schneider Electric, you may use a generic replacement battery. (In that same vein, I am not affiliated with or employed by either company. Should you require an official answer, you may wish to call or e-mail their support department, or wait for an employee to answer here.)