Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD Light

[Anonymous user]

My front panel LCD is no longer brightly lit! It was working last night after I shutdown my computer. Power and mute button are lighted. I can see the display if I look at it from overhead. Functions are working correctly. Just got it in April! That did not last long!
Now what?

[BillP]

Hi Jeffrey,

Sorry to hear that about the UPS. Unfortunately, this is not a user serviceable part technically so we don't provide these types of parts. The only spare option available is the battery itself.

I am not sure if our authorized service provider (CoastTec) provides repairs for this type of UPS (I am assuming it is a BX1500LCD or BR1500LCD or the 1300VA model) that you may have.

tyler.s. - does your team service or repair Back UPS?

[Anonymous user]

Hey Angela!

I like your new avatar.

Yes, we still service the BX1500LCD and BR1500LCD models (as well as the newer "G" models), but as you mentioned, the screen is not a user-serviceable part, so the unit would need to come to us to be repaired.

Jeffrey, feel free to shoot me an email with the details (your model number from the white sticker on the back/bottom of the UPS as well as a shipping address) and i'll be glad to get you a quote to have it repaired. tsmith@coasttec.com or give us a call at (410) 521-1000.

Thanks,

Tyler

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Thanks for the update Tom.

[Anonymous user]

I keep mine on 24/7, although my PC is off when not in use.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Hello,

Have you gone into Full-Time display mode to see if that will fix anything? That should be outlined in the bottom left corner of page 2 of the manual, located here:

http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ASTE-6Z7VAU_R0_EN.pdf

[Anonymous user]

Well thats what I thought happend. But no, the display is on, I can see it. it is just barely lit. Now I can see that some of the segments are flashing randomly. My number 1 looks like an inverted L and the whole display looks strange. I am incontact with tech support. Looks like they are replacing the unit. I will reply back when i get some where.

[Anonymous user]

They sent me out a new unit, paid for shipping both ways and did it in a few days!!! I am impressed!

Rick

[Anonymous user]

Looks like I am having the exact same problem on the XS 1300. One of the first things I did after getting the unit home a few months ago was to set the display to be constantly on. Now, I have to look at it from slightly above to see anything and even then it is very faint.

Any luck with Tech Support for your unit?

Jim

[Anonymous user]

Weird. I just came here to research the very same problem. Sometime between yesterday and today the display on my unit vanished exactly as you described....it's on and can be seen from extreme viewing angles, but dead on, it's invisible. At that extreme angle where I can see the usual numbers, I'm also seeing the alert icon (lower left corner) flashing intermittently, but no error code is displayed.

I'll be calling APC tomorrow. The unit appears to still be under warranty according to the website.

Thanks for posting...good to know I'm not insane. 🙂

[Anonymous user]

Hi Kevin, Thank you for your response. Yes I already received my replacement and have everything back up and running. I now have two of these taking care of all my power needs. APC done a great job getting me fixed up and in a very timely manner. Thanks guys for all your help!

[Anonymous user]

Really sad, APC!

I had the replacement unit do the same thing a couple weeks ago.

APC sent me a refurbished unit that not only did the same thing, it was dimmer at full brightness than the old unit when it was dimmed!

After going around with APC, they agreed to send me a BRAND NEW unit. Great, right? WRONG!

The supposedly BRAND NEW unit is doing the the same thing.

Time to buy a Cyberpower unit.

Goodbye, APC!

[Anonymous user]

Hi, the LCD display of my BX1300LCD-CN recently exhibited the same problem as described on this thread. The unit is still in warranty and I contact APC for a replacement unit, which I received today. I was under the impression (based on another post in this thread) that APC would cover shipping both ways (shipping the replacement unit to me, and for me to ship the defective unit back to APC). However, the replacement unit I received today did not have any pre-paid packaging for me to ship the defective unit back to APC. Was APC suppose to pay for the shipping both ways? Please advise, thanks.

[BillP]

APC's general rule (for this product) is that if the unit was purchased within 30 days, shipping will be covered by APC both ways. If it is outside of the thirty days, then APC asks that you pay the shipping of the old UPS back.

[Anonymous user]

Is the warranty coverage different between the RS and the XS? The OP (Bluemagicx) bought his unit in April 2007 and had problems in December 2007, and yet APC covered the shipping costs both ways.

[BillP]

No, it shouldn't be different. Depends on the situation. I can't explain it but that is the general rule, as posted above.

[Anonymous user]

Ok, thanks for your reply.

[Anonymous user]

I have seven of these Back-UPS RS units (the 1500 LCD and the 1300 LCD red display varieties). Four of the seven have the display problem as noted above. This is really a problem with the LCD (and not the backlight), and I really believe it is more common than the few isolated cases reported here on this thread. My units are older (3 years or so), and I first replaced batteries, thinking that would fix the problem. It did not. Should I assume that APC is replacing only units still under warranty? There is obviously a newer form factor out from about a year ago (it is now at Micro Center in the UPS section) - the LCD is a black/white display. The older, red LCD type units have been moved to a pallet on the floor - obviously being "moved out".

[ginbot86_apc]

I hope that doesn't happen to the new XS 1500LCD I just bought...

[Anonymous user]

Even if it does, I wouldn't worry too much. I've been quite impressed with APC's support. After reporting the problem to Support, they went through some troubleshooting, then concluded the LCD was defective. They promptly shipped me a replacement unit, which I received a few days later. Then after the swap, APC agreed to have the defective unit shipped back to them at their expense.

[Anonymous user]

I just had the same thing happen to my BX1500LCD. I bought mine in March of 07. I will be contacting APC first thing Monday. I'm worried because I just bought a second one and wonder how long the display will last on it. But I have dealt with APC warranty service in the past and it has been fantastic.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Tom,

It's possible that the dimmer LED within the LCD display has malfunctioned. I assume since it is now Wednesday you have since spoken to Tech Support and are in the process of receiving a replacement. I can assure you that it is an isolated incident and your other new LCD UPS will not exhibit the same problem.

[BillP]

does everyone experiencing this keep their LCD on full time?

[Anonymous user]

OK, I am experiencing the same loss of backlighting on my BR1500LCD display.

Pretty sad, since the unit is less than a year-and-a-half old.

[Anonymous user]

OK, this is strange.

After posting, I left the rig for a couple hours, and upon returning, the backlight is working again?

[Anonymous user]

And now it went out again.

RMA time!

[BillP]

the only thing i can think of that makes sense is that if you keep it on all the time, i mean eventually like any other LCD type of thing, it will burn out. but yeah, you are due an RMA if its under warranty.

[Anonymous user]

I received the cross-shipment confirmation email today, I should have the replacement in a week or so.

I am pleased that I will not be without a UPS while waiting for shipment.

Thanks APC!

[Anonymous user]

Well, I've got a RS 1500 LCD coming direct from APC (trade-in program). Hoping I don't experience similar problems!

[Anonymous user]

I just want to give kudos to APC for excellent service.

I sent an email to APC on 12/21 about my backlight issue.

I received the replacement unit today, 12/31. I thought I would be receiving a used/refurbished unit. but the unit I received looks brand new!

All I need to do is ship the old unit back in the same box.

Thanks APC, I have always recommended your products for the quality, now I can also recommend them based on customer service as well.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Jim,

Please call APC tech support to have the UPS replaced.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

My front panel LCD is no longer brightly lit! It was working last night after I shutdown my computer. Power and mute button are lighted. I can see the display if I look at it from overhead. Functions are working correctly. Just got it in April! That did not last long!
Now what?