BR1500LCD: Discharged overnight, now won't recharge.

[Anonymous user]

Seems that sometime overnight my BR1500LCD decided to discharge all of its battery, despite the fact that we didn't lose power at all. I woke up this morning to the sound of constant beeping. Checking the LCD shows the UPS is online but with zero battery charge. The battery charge indicator was flashing, but there was no other text visible. I left it and went to work, figuring that it would recharge over the day. I just returned to find the same issue: constant beeping and a flashing battery charge indicator, with no other indicators present. I can confirm that it was completely discharged overnight, as the computers I had connected completely powered off, rather than remaining in sleep like normal. Perhaps the discharge started some time ago, as the computers consume no measurable power when asleep (LCD shows 0W load).

So what could have caused this and more importantly, how do I get my battery to recharge?

[Anonymous user]

I just left it powered off completely over night and it still hasn't recharged. Next step is to check the internals, but like I said, there are no other indicators visible aside from the flashing empty battery.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the response. I'll look at getting it replaced. I've already checked the battery and all the connections seem fine. Unfortunately, I don't have a multimeter laying around so I'll just contact APC. Thanks.

[Anonymous user]

Just chatted with Shwetha and they're sending me a new battery. If that doesn't work I'll get the whole unit replaced.

[Anonymous user]

Replacement batter, though a bit dingy, seems to have succeeded in returning the unit to normal operation. Hopefully that will be the end of that.

[BillP]

Please note that if the input voltage is determined to be unsafe for your computer equipment, the UPS will transfer to "On Battery" and will beep. The UPS will return to "On Line" operation and stop beeping when the input power returns to normal. It is not necessary that there must be a complete power outage for the UPS to switch to battery.
You would need to keep in mind that while normal power may seem to exist, many power problems are transparent or invisible to a user. These unforeseen power problems, such as voltage waveshape distortion, harmonic distortion, and frequency variances, will cause the UPS to switch back and forth between battery and normal power. Occasional transfers to "On Battery" should not be a matter of concern, but rather, should be considered normal operation. The UPS is trying to provide clean, safe, and reliable power to your valuable equipment.
However, frequent incidents like this will drain the battery in your UPS unit. Also, the UPS may not get sufficient time to recharge the battery, causing the battery to completely discharge.
I would suggest that you try plugging the UPS to a different wall outlet, like in another room or in another building and see if the issue persists. You may also contact a qualified electrician to check the outlet to which the UPS is connected or contact your power company to check if there are any problems with the power in your area.
In order to prevent unnecessary trips onto battery, ensure the UPS is plugged directly into the wall outlet and not through an extension cord. All equipment should be plugged directly into the UPS as well. Do not use power strips or surge protectors in conjunction with the UPS. Also, make sure the UPS is not overloaded. Only a computer and monitor should be on the battery side and accessories on the surge only side. Make sure no laser printers, copiers, portable heaters or other high-powered devices are on the surge only side of the UPS. Also make sure the UPS is not sharing an outlet with a high-powered device.

If your input power from your wall outlet is too low or the quality of that power is bad enough (i.e., the shape of the ac waveform is bad or there's too much noise or distortion), the UPS will frequently go to battery. Try setting the sensitivity to low in the UPS and see if that help to resolve the issue.

Thank you!

[BillP]

Please note that if the input voltage is determined to be unsafe for your computer equipment, the UPS will transfer to "On Battery" and will beep. The UPS will return to "On Line" operation and stop beeping when the input power returns to normal. It is not necessary that there must be a complete power outage for the UPS to switch to battery.
You would need to keep in mind that while normal power may seem to exist, many power problems are transparent or invisible to a user. These unforeseen power problems, such as voltage waveshape distortion, harmonic distortion, and frequency variances, will cause the UPS to switch back and forth between battery and normal power. Occasional transfers to "On Battery" should not be a matter of concern, but rather, should be considered normal operation. The UPS is trying to provide clean, safe, and reliable power to your valuable equipment.
However, frequent incidents like this will drain the battery in your UPS unit. Also, the UPS may not get sufficient time to recharge the battery, causing the battery to completely discharge.
I would suggest that you try plugging the UPS to a different wall outlet, like in another room or in another building and see if the issue persists. You may also contact a qualified electrician to check the outlet to which the UPS is connected or contact your power company to check if there are any problems with the power in your area.
In order to prevent unnecessary trips onto battery, ensure the UPS is plugged directly into the wall outlet and not through an extension cord. All equipment should be plugged directly into the UPS as well. Do not use power strips or surge protectors in conjunction with the UPS. Also, make sure the UPS is not overloaded. Only a computer and monitor should be on the battery side and accessories on the surge only side. Make sure no laser printers, copiers, portable heaters or other high-powered devices are on the surge only side of the UPS. Also make sure the UPS is not sharing an outlet with a high-powered device.

If your input power from your wall outlet is too low or the quality of that power is bad enough (i.e., the shape of the ac waveform is bad or there's too much noise or distortion), the UPS will frequently go to battery. Try setting the sensitivity to low in the UPS and see if that help to resolve the issue.

Thank you!

[BillP]

Please note that if the input voltage is determined to be unsafe for your computer equipment, the UPS will transfer to "On Battery" and will beep. The UPS will return to "On Line" operation and stop beeping when the input power returns to normal. It is not necessary that there must be a complete power outage for the UPS to switch to battery.
You would need to keep in mind that while normal power may seem to exist, many power problems are transparent or invisible to a user. These unforeseen power problems, such as voltage waveshape distortion, harmonic distortion, and frequency variances, will cause the UPS to switch back and forth between battery and normal power. Occasional transfers to "On Battery" should not be a matter of concern, but rather, should be considered normal operation. The UPS is trying to provide clean, safe, and reliable power to your valuable equipment.
However, frequent incidents like this will drain the battery in your UPS unit. Also, the UPS may not get sufficient time to recharge the battery, causing the battery to completely discharge.
I would suggest that you try plugging the UPS to a different wall outlet, like in another room or in another building and see if the issue persists. You may also contact a qualified electrician to check the outlet to which the UPS is connected or contact your power company to check if there are any problems with the power in your area.
In order to prevent unnecessary trips onto battery, ensure the UPS is plugged directly into the wall outlet and not through an extension cord. All equipment should be plugged directly into the UPS as well. Do not use power strips or surge protectors in conjunction with the UPS. Also, make sure the UPS is not overloaded. Only a computer and monitor should be on the battery side and accessories on the surge only side. Make sure no laser printers, copiers, portable heaters or other high-powered devices are on the surge only side of the UPS. Also make sure the UPS is not sharing an outlet with a high-powered device.

If your input power from your wall outlet is too low or the quality of that power is bad enough (i.e., the shape of the ac waveform is bad or there's too much noise or distortion), the UPS will frequently go to battery. Try setting the sensitivity to low in the UPS and see if that help to resolve the issue.

Thank you!

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Seems that sometime overnight my BR1500LCD decided to discharge all of its battery, despite the fact that we didn't lose power at all. I woke up this morning to the sound of constant beeping. Checking the LCD shows the UPS is online but with zero battery charge. The battery charge indicator was flashing, but there was no other text visible. I left it and went to work, figuring that it would recharge over the day. I just returned to find the same issue: constant beeping and a flashing battery charge indicator, with no other indicators present. I can confirm that it was completely discharged overnight, as the computers I had connected completely powered off, rather than remaining in sleep like normal. Perhaps the discharge started some time ago, as the computers consume no measurable power when asleep (LCD shows 0W load).

So what could have caused this and more importantly, how do I get my battery to recharge?