BX1000G intermittent problem

[barryware_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/5/2011

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This has happened twice now.. Once about 3 weeks ago, once last weekend.

I have a BX1000G back-UPS, firmware 869.L1.D

I wake up, go into the computer room, wiggle the mouse so the screen output shows, and I am greeted with a powerchute (personal 3.1) message stating the ups has an internal fault and to contact APC.

The ups shows no fault on the lcd screen. Powerchute just states there is a fault.

A little digging, there is a log file in the powerchute folder. This log seems to get over written so the 1st time, I could not find the problem.

At says that the battery charger has failed. Running a self test, it says that it can not be completed at this time. The log shows a loss of communication during the self test.

To correct the problem.. I turn off the ups, unplug it from ac, remove the battery and let it sit for a couple of minutes.. Then reinstall the battery, plug it in to ac, and turn it on. Then everything is ok.. it will run and pass a self test, the battery status shows 100% charged.

I didn't think much of it the 1st time but it has happened again.

The device is only a few months old and is still under warranty.

Has anybody else seen this? Should my level of concern be high or should I wait to see if it happens again?

[R2_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/16/2011

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Hi barryware, if there is in fact a charging issue with the UPS the best test to perform would probably be to unplug the unit and have it drain the battery down (with some non critical load attached) and then plug the unit back in and see if the batteries charge back up. If the unit is under warranty and it still gives your issues i would suggest contact tech support for further troubleshooting. Hope this helps.

[barryware_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 8/18/2011

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thanks for the reply.. I guess my 1st post was stupid.. "I have a problem, should I care?" (paraphrasing)

The 1st time it happened, I didn't know the what the fault reported by powerchute was.. just said there is a fault and to contact APC. I went digging and found a log file. It seems the log file gets overwritten.. FIFO in regards to data. I also think the powerchute gui uses this file.

The second time, I was able to read the file before the data I needed to see was overwritten.

I don't like to needlessly stress the batteries. But after the reset procedure I explained earlier, I did unplug the ups from ac for about 10 minutes. The batteries showed about 40% drained. I plugged the ups back in and a couple of hours later, the batteries were at 100% charged.

I have been using APC ups's (smart ups) for years. Both at work and at home.

As the older ones at home die, I am replacing them due to their age as well as how they are failing.. In the last year, I have had three smart ups-nets fail by over cooking the batteries. The batteries swell, get hot & melt. The 2nd ups to fail this way, I thought it was a battery problem so I replaced the batteries. 24 hours later, I woke up to the smell of someone lighting matches.. It was the new batteries melting down.

I must say that I am disappointed in the new powerchute personal software (3.1). When the machine boots (win7) you get the warning message from the UAC. The logging is none existent in regards to events & history. The powerchute GUI lets you know the last time the UPS intervened.. Big deal. I don't care about how may pounds of CO2 were put into the air or how many trees were cut down due to my equipment connected to the UPS.

The software needs to go back to providing useful information.

The old powerchute software in which you needed to run the server and client modules, would log everything for as long as you wanted it to at any interval you wanted. Power events, ups status including battery voltage, incoming voltage, internal temp of the unit, etc.. Everything you would need or want to know.

If this unit has a brain fart again, I will RMA the device with APC.