Back-UPS XS 1200 battery connection question

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I'm trying to use a Back-UPS XS 1200 that was purchased about 2 years ago, but is just now being used for the first time - it's been sitting in the box for all that time (PowerChute indicates the last battery replacement was June 8, 2006).

When I turn on the UPS, the "replace battery" light flashes, but the PowerChute software keeps flipping back and forth between reporting "Battery in APC unit is disconnected", and "Your battery backup is operating normally". It switches every few seconds.

From what I've read, it sounds like I should expect to have to purchase a new battery based on the amount of time that the unit sat unused. The messages from PowerChute are confusing me, though - are they consistent with a dead battery, or do they indicate that something might be wrong with the connection to the battery? I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery several times, with no change in the results.

It's not a problem for me to purchase a new battery, but I'm just trying to avoid wasting money in case the problem is with the connection cables rather than with the battery itself. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Ryan.

[Anonymous user]

Hi Notorious,

I have tried disconnecting and reconnecting the battery several times, but it never gets rid of the problem. The connection seems secure, and there only appears to be one way to connect the plugs, so I'm pretty sure I'm doing it correctly. The Replace Battery light is always flashing, though.

The software reports an intermittent connection - for a couple of seconds it will say the battery is connected properly, then it will report no connection. Sounds to me like something is flakey with the connection to the battery.

Are there any other diagnostics I can run myself to figure out the cause of the problem?

Thanks,
Ryan.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Ryan,

The flashing Replace Battery LED indicates that the UPS is not sensing a battery connected at all. Have you verifed the battery connection (you may have, but we always want to double check)? If so, and the battery is secured properly, then the problem may be the unit itself. The fact that the replace battery is not solid means that the UPS is incapable of sensing a battery present, even if there was an insufficient charge or capacity present on it.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Unfortunately there aren't. The flashing replace battery with a battery securely connected, regardless of charge, indicates a fault present with the UPS. Since there is only one other user-replaceable part outside of the UPS, being the battery, I can't advise a replacement battery is going to rectify the situation.

[BillP]

just one quick thing i thought of..

if you have the battery connected, with the replace battery LED flashing and plug something into the battery back up outlets (maybe like a lamp or something), does the UPS actually go to battery and support the item or turn off immediately?

if the items stays on, that would mean its only cosmetic, but just as noted above, it is going to be an issue with the UPS that you arent going to be able to solve, whether it works when you pull the plug or not. if it doesnt work then yeah, definitely a problem that you'd need to most likely need to replace the unit or the battery if it happened to be really old. you could always check voltage on the battery itself with a voltmeter.

[Anonymous user]

Call support and make a warranty claim and make 'em fix it under warranty. As far as I know, the 3 year warranty on APC UPSs is "bumper to bumper"
http://www.apc.com/support/service/in_warranty_service.cfm

Check your serial number. It would be something like AB0612##### which indicates the UPS was built in the 12th week of 2006. If the serial # is within 3 years of when you make the claim or you have a receipt that's dated within 3 years of when you call , your claim should go through.

[Anonymous user]

You should never let lead acid batteries sit for more then a year withou being charged. They lose charge naturally and when it reaches a point of very low charge, it enters in a "self destroying" state. Lead acid battery when are deep discharged it's plates start to oxidize.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

rau wrote:
You should never let lead acid batteries sit for more then a year withou being charged. They lose charge naturally and when it reaches a point of very low charge, it enters in a "self destroying" state. Lead acid battery when are deep discharged it's plates start to oxidize.

Yep, that'd be a good advise for future, however in his case, I'd still make a warranty claim.