Back UPS turns itself off intermittently for no reason

[Anonymous user]

Every once in a while I will wake up or come home to find that the UPS has shut itself off (and the pc) as if turned off from the power button. No evidence of power interruption (alarm clocks, microwave all fine). When I test it by unplugging from the wall, it performs as expected: switches to battery power, runs for 40 minutes, then shuts the PC off and then itself off, turns back on when power restored.

Checked software logs; nothing useful there. To eleiminate a software problem, I disconnected serial line from the PC but the behavior persists.

Model Back Ups Pro 650

[jikamens_apc · Accepted solution]

I am having this problem too. My BackUPS Pro 500 (BP500UC) periodically turns off for a couple of seconds and then beeps and turns back on. Other than that everything looks fine.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

How old is it? If you are able to, can you pull the plug from the wall and see if the UPS operates properly when there is a power problem or power event? I am just curious if it could do that because it is turning off and rebooting.

[jikamens_apc · Accepted solution]

I tried the unplug test and the UPS failed to power my computer. When I plugged the UPS back in the replace battery light came on. When I checked my records I discovered that the battery is 3+ years old. So I guess in my case the problem is simply a dead battery, and I just ordered a replacement.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I too have this problem and they ran me through the same steps, all to no avail. If the battery couldn't handle the load, the unplug test would reveal that, but everything is fine, so any momentary dip in line voltage would also not shut down the system.

This is clearly a bug APC is unwilling to fix, since their final solution was to suggest I buy a new unit.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Model number is BP650S

Serial NB0011262320

Happened again this morning. Logs are empty.

Last time it was restarted was 2/17 which is exactly 2 weeks ago. Maybe this is happening during self-testing?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This is going to be difficult if we couldn't see what did the UPS do (audible/visual indicator) before it has shut off itself and PC that is attached to it. Do you recall if there's any interval in terms of days or time whenever this happens?

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I, too, am having this problem. Last week I updated PowerChute to 3.0.2 on an ES650 UPS. My situation is that I have been sitting at my computer a couple of days around 5 PM and the UPS gives a quick squeal and shuts down for a second or less along with everything connected to it (don't know about the non-UPS plugs going down, since I don't have anything plugged into these outlets). It then comes back on line, but computer is shut down since I do not let it restart on it's own. I look at the status report in PowerChute and it does not register any power outage or fluctuation.

In essence, I periodically loose everything as though the UPS were not there, except since my power is very reliable, the UPS cycles my equipment like this many more times than if I didn't have the UPS.

Does the UPS perform periodic checks of battery state, and could it be shutting down instead? Battery was replaced in the UPS about two years ago. Problem was not noticable until I upgraded to the new PowerChute. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i would suggest you do a pull plug test on the UPS with some non critical load to verify basic UPS operation. maybe remove your computer and any USB data cables temporarily and then go ahead and connect stuff like a lamp or clock radio to the UPS outlets. then make sure the UPS is on and remove the plug from the wall and see what happens.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I did do a plug test, everything works fine as expected. Switches to back up power, runs ok, restores to using wall power when plugged back in. I even tried simulating some power glitches by keeping the plug blades barely touching so that can very quickly turn power on and off and generally abuse it that way but it always kept the load going and ultimately recovered proper operation. I think the problem is more likely to occur during storms: could high voltage spikes cause this?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

ok, well for your situation, what is the specific model of back ups 650? can you get it for me on the back of the UPS from the sticker? depending on that, i am curious if we can find out any information from the event logs. what OS do you use with your UPS? which software? for instance, on Windows with PowerChute Personal Edition, you can see information in the Windows Event viewer->Application log.

if its an older 650, we may have another option.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I've experienced this too on a BE400. To me it really did knock my confidence in APC products since the entire point of a UPS is to keep the computer running, not randomly shut it down. It seems like a pretty fundamental flaw to me and defeats the purpose of what a UPS is there to achieve -- in my case, the UPS caused 100% more power failures to the PC than the utility power did (mains power never failed once in the time I had the UPS).

APC did send me a replacement UPS and battery however, and the new unit doesn't exhibit the problem. I noticed on the faulty unit that it was difficult to get a good connection on the battery terminals, and they were very easily separated. But even if they came loose, I don't see why that should cause the unit to power off. Normally the 'replace battery' light simply comes up and the unit starts chirping to let you know the battery is disconnected.

It would be good if someone can shed any light on why this seems to happen. I'm a fan of APC products, but I haven't heard of anyone having this random shutdown issue on any other brand of UPS.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

My first thought is if the battery is missing/loose/disconnected and effectively is removed from the equation, if there is a slight power flicker or event, the UPS would turn off. Though, the UPS is supposed to alarm when the battery is disconnected, or as you said, is present but requires replacement (after a failed self test).

So, we'd need to know specifically what the cause was with your UPS to say for certain but if the battery was disconnected because the cable was missing, the UPS should've alarmed in some manner to tell you that, usually the replace battery LED flashes at you. (When it is solid, that means the UPS has failed its self test).

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I am having a similar issue.  BE650G.  A plug test is almost nearly always successful, but it shuts off randomly after a few weeks, even though there is no power event and the battery has 100% charge.  Every so often (sometimes multiple times a day), I will also hear a faint "chirp" come from the UPS, as if it's about to start beeping at me but then is interrupted from doing so.  There is no other sign of a brownout.  (It has a BE450G next to it that is working perfectly and has none of these symptoms.)

I recently unplugged it, and then tried to turn it on and have it run off of battery with no load (with the battery at 100% charge).  This worked.  But then I started moving the UPS around physically while it was on, and found that if I tilted it on its side or turned it upside-down, it would shut off.  It would fail to turn back on until I lightly shook the unit, at which point it would start operating normally again.  Whenever I shake it or reorient it (put it on its side, turn it upside-down, etc.), I do hear something loose in there that is knocking around a bit.  I suspect there is a physical manufacturing defect.  Others who are having this issue might try similar tests.

-- Nathan

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi nathana - were you also able to rule out a loose battery lead connection as well? In addition to the info you provided, that came to my mind - that one of the battery leads is loose. Just a thought.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I have a Back-UPS 700 which I just got in April 2015 which has the same problem where it would shut down intermittently at random times.  Tried unplugging it from the outlet and the battery takes over as expected every time.  Been using a Kill-A-Watt to monitor the usage and it has never exceeded 2.34 amps in the past two weeks but have experienced intermitten shutdown many times, once instance even 3 times within a 4 hour time frame.  Unfortunately I have never been in the room when this happens so as far as I can tell there were no audible beeps from the other rooms.

I also have a Back-UPS ES550 which has served me for several years with no problems until recently when I bought the Back-UPS 700 to replace it.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I have APC RS 550 Backup UPS. Past 4 years it was working fine. 

I have replaced the battery when its original battery was (CBS battery )  exhausted.

Local vendor  fixed normal 12v 7.5Ah lead acid cell after some modification inside to accommodate this big size battery.

I asked him this battery will work or not? He said no problem it work very well.  Now I noticed this problem of intermittent shutting down.

 After sometime I have to switch on again. What may the cause for this? I have tried input voltage setting  all mode but of no use..

Could you please let me know the reason.  Now I am using it for my LED TV and Airtel SD receiver backup. (Current ratting (40+10watts) Total only 50watts)

Please advice

Thanks

M.K.Prakash 

Ph 7760046015

PS: Is there any exchange deal with APC  ups 

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Hi, I purchased APC Back-UPS BX1100C-IN UPS 5 months ago and seeing "Every once in a while I will wake up or come home to find that the UPS has shut itself off" it's really annoying me as I have connected my router which turns off. UPS gives good back-up, everything looks good if try testing/creating problem.

Did you find any solution?

[guenthpw · Accepted solution]

My APC model BR 1300G has acted similarly.
Intermittent shutdown of all controlled power outlets 4 and 7 (see page 2 of APC manual) but not Master Outlet 8.
The UPS Power Saving (Leaf) is always on.
There are no Warning signs on the PowerChute.
When I disconnect the power to the PowerChute does not deliver power to the controlled outlets, and the front panel shows there is no battery time left.
I realize I have had this unit for many years. I also understand that batteries die and that electronics fail. What I am bothered by is that there was no warning.
After all, I spent precious money for the very security and peace of mind that the APC product failed to deliver when the chips were down.

[mjames · Accepted solution]

Same problem here, model BE850G2-UK, bought dec 24. It intermittently kills power then starts beeping, when there is no power cut, or problem. This is the exact opposite behaviour that i bought it for! 

[Dale]

I have the BR1500. My UPS will auto shut down 5mins or so after the power goes out. The UPS doesn’t show any errors in the log. I bought it a few weeks ago. It is carrying 4% load and shows 250+ mins left on the battery time. I have to hold the power button for 3secs to get it to start back up again where it will seem to work fine. This has happened for every power outage or test when I unplug the power. 
This isn’t acceptable.