Back UPS shuts down but Replace Battery light not on

[Anonymous user]

I have a 10 year old Back UPS RS 800 with a 2 year old battery. The unit is shutting down regularly, without alarm and the Replace Battery light is not on. I'm trying to figure out if I can simply replace the battery or if I need a new unit.

My syslog (xubuntu 12.04) sees proper shutdown:

Nov 13 09:55:14 imagine apcupsd[2720]: Power failure.

Nov 13 09:55:14 imagine apcupsd[2720]: Battery power exhausted.

Nov 13 09:55:14 imagine apcupsd[2720]: Initiating system shutdown!

Nov 13 09:55:14 imagine apcupsd[2720]: User logins prohibited

And the self test passes, but the battery reports 0% (see below). Do I have a faulty unit? Are there any other tests I can/should perform?

Thanks!

=Fen

# apctest

2013-11-13 10:22:49 apctest 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) debian

Checking configuration ...

Attached to driver: usb

sharenet.type = Network & ShareUPS Disabled

cable.type = USB Cable

mode.type = USB UPS Driver

Setting up the port ...

Doing prep_device() ...

You are using a USB cable type, so I'm entering USB test mode

Hello, this is the apcupsd Cable Test program.

This part of apctest is for testing USB UPSes.

Getting UPS capabilities...SUCCESS

Please select the function you want to perform.

...

2)  Perform self-test

Select function number: 2

This test instructs the UPS to perform a self-test

operation and reports the result when the test completes.

Clearing previous self test result...CLEARED

Initiating self test...INITIATED

Waiting for test to complete...COMPLETED

Result of last self test: PASSED

...

10) Perform battery calibration

Select function number: 10

This test instructs the UPS to perform a battery calibration

operation and reports the result when the process completes.

The battery level must be at 100% and the load must be at least

10% to begin this test.

Battery level 0% is insufficient to run test.

...

4)  View/Change battery date

Select function number: 4

Current battery date: 05/13/2011

...

5)  View manufacturing date

Select function number: 5

Manufacturing date: 08/02/2003

[BillP]

I suggest taking advantage of the APC Trade-UPS program (if available in your region) to replace the unit. APC Trade-UPS

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Couple of things to check / try: 

1. Make sure the Anderson or faston connections to the battery are good and tight. If its weak it could drop loads unexpectedly.

2. Try to brain dead the ups (to reset its internals ) by pulling the plug, let it run on battery til it dies, unplug the battery to finish kill of all power sources, reconnect the battery and plug the ups in. Wait 6 to 8 hrs for the battery to charge then power it on and let it do a self test.