BP1000 Shuts Off Without Warning

[Anonymous user]

I have a BP 1000 serving my workstation computer, monitors, and speakers.

Occasionally the UPS chirps like a cricket for about 15 seconds and then it goes silent. It still operates and the computer runs uninterrupted during these episodes. I have not looked at the LEDs during this chirping.

Lately, the UPS shuts off without warning, and the computer turns off as if you pulled it's plug from the outlet. Then the UPS turns back on.

I have tested the UPS by unplugging the computer and all peripherals from it, plugging in a lamp, and pulling the UPS is power cord from the wall outlet. When this is done the battery LED illuminates. When plugged back into the wall outlet, the UPS returns to normal operating mode.

I have replaced its battery several years ago with an APC replacement model. But if the battery was bad again, wouldn't the "replace battery" LED be illuminated?

It has been years since we last lost power, and the UPS performed as expected. Occasionally we have what I would describe as brownouts, where the lights in the building quickly flash on and off. When this occurs the UPS humms briefly and then returns to normal mode.

The UPS is connected to my computer with a serial cable. In the power options properties window the manufacturer is set to American Power Conversion and the model is set to badk-ups. Its status is AC Power.

Does anyone know why the UPS occasionally shuts off without warning?

Message was edited by: ctc

[BillP]

Hello, here are some more questions to try and help determine what is going on here.

When the UPS shuts off does it make any kind of alarm or warning before doing so?

Do you know how old the battery is?

Do you know if the unit has/can pass a self test?

What type of chirping do you hear, could you give an example of the pattern, if any?

Are you using any shutdown software that might be initiating a shutdown from a parameter that the UPS might be meeting?

It could be that the UPS battery is very weak, if you say its been in the unit for a few years, and is failing during a ST which is dropping your load. It also might be from a power issue, dirty power, low or high voltage, etc.

Let us know what you find

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for your help.

When the UPS shuts off does it make any kind of alarm or warning before doing so?No

Do you know how old the battery is? *5 yrs. + or -*

Do you know if the unit has/can pass a self test?I believe that the UPS performs and passes a self test each time it is turned on, which I do shortly after it shuts off.

What type of chirping do you hear, could you give an example of the pattern, if any?It sounds like a continuous cricket for about 15 sec.

Are you using any shutdown software that might be initiating a shutdown from a parameter that the UPS might be meeting?No. Windows xp power management only.

It could be that the UPS battery is very weakIf that was the case shouldn't the "replace battery" LED be illuminated?

[BillP]

ctc wrote:Thanks for your help.

When the UPS shuts off does it make any kind of alarm or warning before doing so? No

Do you know how old the battery is? 5 yrs. + or -

Do you know if the unit has/can pass a self test? I believe that the UPS performs and passes a self test each time it is turned on, which I do shortly after it shuts off.

What type of chirping do you hear, could you give an example of the pattern, if any? It sounds like a continuous cricket for about 15 sec.

Are you using any shutdown software that might be initiating a shutdown from a parameter that the UPS might be meeting? No. Windows xp power management only.

It could be that the UPS battery is very weak If that was the case shouldn't the "replace battery" LED be illuminated?>


Hm ok, well the battery is fairly old which I'm sure isnt helping matters. Does the beeping happen after any other event, like a Self Test? Going on battery? It could be that the battery failed a self test and is providing the alarm as such, or has gotten very drained due to age and is giving a low battery alarm until it recharges itself enough. The battery could possibly pass the Self Test and afterwards be weak enough to enter that kind of state before recharging. The unit could also 'shut off' if the battery was sufficiently weakened during a Self Test, and that could possibly be the culprit here too.

If the unit had a new(er) battery and gave no indicators and would randomly shut down with no warning, no shutdown command or other indicator of some form of power issue, I would say the unit could be having some internal issue, possibly from past surge/voltage stress. That could be the case here too, though it is difficult to say with a battery on the very last edge of normal life expectancy.

I would tend to think the problems are arising from a weakened battery, you could try to do a couple Self Tests in a row with the unit and see if it behaves strangely or drops. You also could try to do a pull plug test (with load on the unit, pull the cord from the wall) and see if it sustains the load. Either of those tests should help us see if the battery is strong, or weak. You may want to use some things like Fans or Lights (not overloading the unit), but if you do, make sure you have a decent amount on there that you think may be comperable to your normal load if you do not want your normal equipment to chance being dropped.

Hope this helps a bit, let us know.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

I completely agree with syn on this one. Definitely sounds like a combination of old/weak battery and a relatively high load.

Time for a new battery. 5 years battery life is excellent, so don't ignore the most obvious possibility that the battery requires replacement.