BX1500-Strange Behavior?

[Anonymous user]

I have a BX1500 connected to my server. 2 months ago I upgraded my server to Win2003Server SP2. The server runs fine.
But for 2 weeks of "honeymoon" time the new OS kept shutting the server OFF telling me about "suspected battery failure."
YES. I did leave the UPS' USB cable connected.

Prior to the OS update, I used APC PCPE 2.0 (on Win2000Server SP4). Clearly I can not go back. Yes, PCPE 2.0 did status me that my battery was >3 years old. Fine. I RTF!

My BX1500 was purchased in 2006. And, I know that the UPS batt module (rbc33) is dated 2005. So, based on other forum posts about shelf-life, I can accept that my batt module may be at EOL.

The BX1500 has never made a sound. The BX1500 has never turned its' RED Battery Failure LED ON!
So, I pulled the USB cable to the UPS. The "suspected battery failure" shutdowns at the OS level stopped. Fine.

I tried to install PCPE 3.0 on my server after I re-connected my UPS USB cable. It would not load. It told me IT could NOT find a valid UPS. Odd. The BX1500 was running fine! So I vacuumed connectors, did the plug-unplug regime, and tried to install PCPE 3.0 again. The SW installs to its same "comm failure/no ups" screen." But, if I tell it to "RETRY", the SW installs fully! OK. Except when I open the SW, it only shows me minimal status.

The MONITOR SYSTEM section shows only Performance.
The CONFIGURATION section is blank. Zero choices.
Yes, I can read the Technical Data in HELP AND SUPPORT. It gives me the correct info about my UPS. This tells me that the USB communication is sorta working between the server and the UPS, I believe.
The UPS F/W is 8.g9.D.
The USB F/W is g9.

I am now on the fence. The new batt module, RCB33, is $100USD (APC).
New USB cable is $35USD (APC).
A Trade-UPS to a BX1500G is $193USD (APC).

Thoughts/suggestions are welcome. I will now try to install PCPE 2.0. Sad too. I run PCPE 3.0 on 5 other XP clients ATM.
Thank you.
Duncan

[Anonymous user]

Clarkson,
Thanks. No. I do not have a screen shot of the message. The message began appearing after I installed the server 2k3 OS. At that time, I was still doing OS completion stuff (sp2 and WinUpdates). This would be prior to loading any apps (PCPE and/or faststone capture, etc.).

No. Not the mains AC power cord. It is the USB cable between the server and the BX1500.

The unusual screen msg would pop up when I clicked on the small blue battery icon that would sometimes appear in the system tray. The USB cable between the server and BX1500 was always connected. I just assumed that the default battery backup (ups) service of the new OS was reacting to some signal(s) from the BX1500 via the USB cable.

The popup msg stated that the UPS service has detected a batter failure and will now shutdown the server. If I left the popup msg open, nothing happened. If I closed the popup msg, the server shutdown to a state I have never seen before (perhaps StandBy?) and stayed in this state until I pressed the power on button of the server again. The server does a cold boot start and came back to its' 2k3 desktop.

After 2 days of the odd behavior, I disconnected the BX1500 USB cable from the server. The odd behavior stopped. I then disabled the UPS Service of the OS. This final action could explain why PCPE v3.0 does not load; it must need to communicate with the UPS Service of the OS.
Best,
Duncan

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Clarkson,
Thanks again. Yes, I thought about re-activating the UPS Service in the OS. If for nothing else than to see if the old behavior (2 weeks back now) happens again. My concern is that I never use Hibernate or StandBy, which I've come to accept are major features of "Windows XP." Yet, I do so understand that should my BX1500 declare any sort of internal anomaly, it should be a wise idea to try and force the server to gracefully shutdown. No harm, no foul.

Accept the 'clutter up the system' with PCPE. LOL! I've used V2.0 for many years now. PCPE20 works well. I was surprised to watch the PCPE30 installer dialog ask me to wait while it disabled my existing (XP) hibernation logic. PCPE30 installed fine on my lan client machines. When I tried to install PCPE30 on the server, it choked and said it could not find an attached UPS or logic to disable! It asked me if I wished to RETRY. I said yes. It churned on and finally completed the install. Yes, the OS UPS Service was still disabled! However, the user screen for PCPE30 opens properly, but is missing normal selective information:
Monitor System-Performance (only)
Configuration: blank
Help and Support: OK (even shows the BX1500 and its' F/W properly(?) on the Tech Data pane

I accept some deep interface between PCPE and the UPS Service of the OS. Fine. I can backup and re-baseline now that the server is fully loaded and operational (it runs 24/7).

I will now restart my OS' UPS Service and see if I can get the 'blue battery in systray' msgs to appear again. I will screen-capture and share!

Yes, the BX1500 continues to run rock solid. Have never seen any outward (faceplate's red LED) indication of potential battery failure. Yes, PCPE20 (when the server used Win2000Server OS-prior) was nice to remind me that "my battery stack was 3 years old; let's go to APC.com to order a replacement battery?" Pass. OK. The battery pack (RBC33) is now ~5 years old. I will accept full condemnation about this; and, any reasonable logic that focuses on battery age. I run my APC UPS batteries to the red LED (Batt Fail) indication. At $100USD for this UPS battery replacement, I'd like to be sure.
Best,
Duncan