Back-UPS 600 with continous beep

[Anonymous user]

Our backup unit is only 1 month old. It emits a continuous beep. It had a computer and monitor plugged into it, and they turned off (no power going to them)

I unplugged everything from it.

Now when I turn it on, the green light flashes a couple times, goes out, then a continuous beep.

Is it toast?

[Anonymous user]

Can you provide the UPS model and serial numbers?

It is possible that the battery has failed a self test. A unit that is only a month old should be fully covered by APC's limited warranty. The best route for this seems to be via telephone, using the appropriate number published on the APC web site for the country where you are located.

[BillP]

Hello Randy, 

I am sorry about the issue you are having, especially with a new unit. That is definitely not what we want to hear. 

There could have been a few things that happened. The UPS could have been overloaded, drew too much current on battery and dropped. That is not likely. If the unit sat for a while at the warehouse (6+months), the battery would be bad and we would replace it under factory warranty. This is most likely. It could also be a bad unit, but that does not happen too often.

Please call tech support at 800 800 4272 with you model and serial number and they can help you from there.

Thanks,

Shanon 

[Anonymous user]

We ordered 10 of these units from Staples, and so far 6 have failed!

They all have the same symptoms.

Did we get old stock with old batteries?

Not impressed!

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I'm curious to know if the power quality in your area is particularly low.

In areas with moderate to very bad power quality, I've seen similar APC Back-UPS models become "tripped up" into falsely indicating they have a faulty battery after a large number of frequent small electrical disruptions. Most were in rural locations where wind, distance and large electrical loads all conspire to place a lot of little disturbances on the power line.

You can test for this pretty easily to see if it is what has happened. Take one of the faulty units, turn the switch off and plug it into a working outlet for at least eight hours. (The battery will charge any time the unit has power. It does not matter if it is on or off.) After doing this, plug a test load (a lamp would work well) into the unit and power it up. See if it will complete a self-test successfully. If it does, you will have found the problem.

Unfortunately, I don't know of a fix. A unit having larger output (and therefore battery) capacity may fare better, as might a higher end model with voltage regulation capability, such as a Back-UPS 1000. Your Back-UPS 600 can only go to battery when line voltage goes too high or low.

Please consider posting at least one of your unit's serial numbers -- on both the battery pack and the unit itself.