Back-UPS ES 500 with constant tone, NO power LED light after tone starts

[BillP]

Hi all,

I have a  Back-UPS ES 500 that, yesterday, began emitting a constant tone.  Please note that the power LED light is OFF when it is emitting the tone.  

If I shut the unit off, the tone stops.  Then, when I turn it back on, the LED is solid green - until the tone starts.  Then, the LED goes OFF and the tone continues uninterrupted.  

Cam I replace the battery from a working ES 550 unit as a test?  Is the unit itself bad?

[BillP]

Hi,

Continuous tone indicates an overload but since there is no load applied it indicates an internal fault. You can try to reset the unit

1: Disconnect any attached load.

2: Unplug the UPS from the wall socket.

3: Disconnect the UPS' internal battery.

4: Push and hold the "On" button on the UPS for 5 seconds

5: Reconnect internal battery.

6: Plug UPS in to known good power source.

7: Turn UPS on.

You should also check the battery voltage. The voltage for a good battery should be around 13.5 volts DC. 

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Thanks.

Just ran those tests.  

Battery voltage was 11.47 V and drops .01 V every second that it is connected to the multimeter.

Plugging in the battery and turning it back on, the results are the same.  At first, LED is solid green;  then, after a few seconds, constant tone and LED is OFF.

So, is it just the battery or is the UPS dead, as well?

[BillP]

Can I move the battery from a working ES 550 unit into this questionable ES500 as a test, without damaging the battery?

Methinks so, but I thought I would ask the wisdom of the KB first.

[prince213_apc]

You can always do that no worry if battery get damaged. If concerned you can can add a suitable fuse in series with UPS and battery.

I think the battery have some problem as its not holding the charge. Anyway if you ae buying new battery better buy new UPS too as the cost of buying brand new battery and UPS are almost same.

[BillP]

It was not happy with the other battery - fast beeps constantly.

I noticed a section of the underside looks like it melted, so this unit is headed to the recycling center for electronics.

[BillP]

Hi.

I also have a ES 550 and this morning I woke up to a really high pitched (like ringing in your ears) frequency being emitted from the UPS. The computer connected was off, having been on last night (so must off just powered out or hopefully shutdown correctly by the ups... but doubtful??).

No lights on at all, just the high pitched tone.

Is this the same as what you experienced?

I turned the UPS back on and have a solid green light - the computer also powered back up no problem.

All is running ok again - but I just found your post and wondered how long before your UPS started the tone again and if it was the same as I had?

I've ordered a replacement ups today the ES700 and then may swap new batteries into the ES550 once my computer is using the 700 and test etc. But is is safe to be running with this UPS or should I not use it?

Thanks for any help.

[BillP]

I never had a solid green light with that unit after it failed.  

I put in a different battery from a working ups but it would not give a green light.  With the smell of burnt plastic and the sign of melted plastic on the bottom, I wrote it off as a failed unit and replaced it.

Sounds like your unit is working well but the battery may not be holding much of a charge anymore.