Backup-UPS CS 650 High line voltage shutdowns in UK

[Anonymous user]

Hello. I am looking for some advice.

I am on my second APC UPS in as many weeks. I was previously running a cheap UPS for the last two years. I had my first APC unit for about 3 weeks and was getting fairly frequent shutdowns (running linux and apcupsd). My testing led me to believe the unit was faulty. I have now recieved the replacement and am getting similar behaviour already. apcaccess gives me :

APC : 001,046,1153
DATE : 2012-12-05 08:31:35 +0000
HOSTNAME : desktop
VERSION : 3.14.10 (13 September 2011) debian
UPSNAME : APC650
CABLE : USB Cable
DRIVER : USB UPS Driver
UPSMODE : Stand Alone
STARTTIME: 2012-12-05 08:20:07 +0000
MODEL : Back-UPS CS 650
STATUS : ONBATT
LINEV : 270.0 Volts
LOADPCT : 19.0 Percent Load Capacity
BCHARGE : 057.0 Percent
TIMELEFT : 16.0 Minutes
MBATTCHG : 5 Percent
MINTIMEL : 3 Minutes
MAXTIME : 0 Seconds
OUTPUTV : 230.0 Volts
SENSE : Medium
DWAKE : 000 Seconds
DSHUTD : 000 Seconds
LOTRANS : 180.0 Volts
HITRANS : 266.0 Volts
RETPCT : 000.0 Percent
ITEMP : 29.2 C Internal
ALARMDEL : No alarm
BATTV : 12.0 Volts
LINEFREQ : 50.0 Hz
LASTXFER : High line voltage
NUMXFERS : 2
XONBATT : 2012-12-05 08:30:50 +0000
TONBATT : 46 seconds
CUMONBATT: 113 seconds
XOFFBATT : 2012-12-05 08:21:17 +0000
SELFTEST : NO
STESTI : None
STATFLAG : 0x07060010 Status Flag
MANDATE : 2012-08-03
SERIALNO : xxxxxxxx
BATTDATE : 2012-08-03
NOMOUTV : 230 Volts
NOMINV : 230 Volts
NOMBATTV : 12.0 Volts
NOMPOWER : 400 Watts
FIRMWARE : 817.v9.I USB FW:v9
END APC : 2012-12-05 08:31:36 +0000


So I am in the UK. If this is a High line voltage problem, what are the recommended settings? Thanks?

Message was edited by: kafkaesque

[BillP]

So what is your normal line voltage? I see it listed as 270v below. Are you saying that's your normal input voltage?

[Anonymous user]

I am reporting back what apcaccess reports. I am experiencing no power outages, and yet I am getting UPS power failures (with subsequent shutdowns) with regular frequency. I don't know what a line voltage is (high or low). Apparently "the UK voltage is now 230 V +10% /- 6%, AC, 50 Hz".

I want to know how to avoid "high line voltage" shutdowns.

Message was edited by: kafkaesque

[Anonymous user]

Okay. Perhaps I'm understanding this now. The UPS is shutting down because the LINEV value exceeds the HITRANS value (currently 266). So if I increase the HITRANS value this will solve my problem? 1) Is that safe to do? and 2) is there a maximum value over which I should not go?

Edit:
Tried low sensitivity. Just had another shutdown. So low setting hasn't helped.

Message was edited by: kafkaesque

[Anonymous user]

I have been on to APC support. Not a lot of help I'm afraid. I have increased the HITRANS value to a seeming maximum of 278. My LINEV has been fluctuating (watch apcaccess) between about 250 to 270. So no shutdowns in the last few hours. I am slightly concerned that this is not a safe configuration, but my research has not revealed anything. I have been advised by support to purchase a better model UPS. Not a satisfactory solution.

Nobody?

[BillP]

no problem.

[BillP]

if you are having a problem with the input voltage, the concern would be if your equipment attached can accept it. we allow the users to adjust the transfer voltages based on equipment requirements and personal preference. instead of raising the voltage and being worried if your equipment can accept it or not, are you able to get to the root cause of the high incoming voltage?

[Anonymous user]

I have no idea why the voltage is fluctuating. I have just ordered a meter to check the house voltages. The UPS behaviour is the only indication of anything being "wrong". I've never even thought about voltage before.

Does OUTPUTV 230.0 Volts not mean that the equipment are being fed 230?

Currently hitting between 270-274. How is it so much higher than it should be? Is it possible the UPS is mistaken?

Message was edited by: kafkaesque

[Anonymous user]

Attaching a graph I've plotted of the last hours voltage fluctuations. Just because it's about all I can offer...

Added another graph, this time totaling about 2/3 hrs. Resolution is 2 seconds.

Message was edited by: kafkaesque

[BillP]

well, i had to go over to http://apcupsd.org/manual/manual.html to verify in the apcupsd user's guide what this value is. my suspicion (because it was exactly 230.0v) was that it was telling you the nominal (expected) output voltage because it was so exact. It is not likely that you'd see your output be exactly 230.0v all the time.

anyway, i found this:

OUTPUTVOLTS

UPS nominal output voltage when running on battery. Allowable values depend on the last letter of the firmware or APCMODEL. Typical values are:

D 115
M 208
A 100
I 230 240 220 225
where D = domestic (USA), M = Canada, A = Asia and I = International.

based on that information, this is the output voltage of the UPS to the equipment when running on battery.

on a UPS like yours, the UPS will pass the incoming line voltage (LINEV) to the equipment unless it goes outside of those thresholds which may be unsafe for the equipment. that is when it goes on battery or of the UPS supports it, will use its transformer to boost/trim the incoming line voltage.

there is a possibility the UPS could read the voltage incorrectly so it is a good idea that you verify with another UPS or the meter that your line voltage is actually 270-274. if it is NOT, then we'd have to assume there is a problem with the UPS and its reading too high of a voltage - maybe somehow the voltage reading somehow got uncalibrated (is that a word) but ultimately, it would not be something you could fix without a replacement.

[Anonymous user]

Just on the phone to the energy supplier. I will check my supply when the meter comes. I guess there isn't much I can do other than investigate....

Thanks for the response. I will update as and when I get more information.

[Anonymous user]

My power company is currently (pardon the pun) digging up my front drive. I will hazard a guess that the UPS is fine... Marking as solved.

[Anonymous user]

Likely not a UPS problem.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i agree. at least they got to work quickly 🙂