Can someone confirm battery model?

[Anonymous user]

I have a Back-UPS XS 1500 purchased on 03-25-2006. The m/n per bar code label is BX1500. It is one of the tall, thin tower models. It appears it was manufactured in India. Odd. I live in the USA (Georgia). The f/w this UPS reports is 8.g9.D.
So, I have been having intermittent and strange things happen with this UPS for the past 2 weeks. It is connected to my server. After 2 weeks of peeking and poking with both PCPE20 and PCPE30, I have concluded that perhaps my internal battery is not happy any more.

OK. Time for new battery. My UPS docs indicate I use the RBC33 replacement battery. Fine, but that battery costs $100!

The battery "pack" does have APC stickers/tape holding the battery pair together (CSB Battery, HR1234W F2). Yet I can find no label that identifies this "pack" as a RBC33. Each battery of the "pack" has a CSB sticker with the number 050623G41. If this is a date code, I decode this to be June 23, 2005, or, when the battery was made by CSB. I can not decode the "G41." The only other identifier is a bar code sticker that reads, "Made in India (Bangalore), OM-1332, and JB0539029319."

Question is: Is this battery "pack" replaced by the APC RBC33? At the $100 price, I'd like to be sure. I have never used an APC battery "pack" before.
Thank you.

[Anonymous user]

Hi dhs, yes the replacement battery for that unit is an rbc33. The original batteries in our unit's do not typically have model or serial numbers but the replacement one will. Could I ask what specifically is giving you trouble with this UPS (losing comm, power outage etc.) to suggest replacing the battery?

[Anonymous user]

R2,
Thank you for your reply. OK. I suspect my replacement batt module to be an RBC33. This confirms my research also. I was really gathering info for future actions. I have seen other forum threads about differences between the RBC32 and RBC33 Batt packs.
I am a bit embarrassed to deal with your question about suspicion of batt failure. But, I'll try.
My server had been connected to my BX1500 since 2006. The server OS was Win2000Server, sp4. I decided to upgrade the server OS to Win2003Server. I did this in 01/2011. The initial upgrade was painless; and, the BX1500 was connected via USB through the entire upgrade. Yes, prior to upgrade I did uninstall all of the chosen apps I had on the server. I even took the server offline when I killed the A/V app I use (ESET BE). However, once I completed all the MS Updates to Win2003, the server started posting pop-up windows indicating "BATT FAILURE." When I closed, or, clicked OK in the window, my server just shutdown! Odd shutdown though. The cooling fans and the RAID array remained active.

After peeking/poking through February (02/2011), I finally just pulled the USB cable to the BX1500.
At no time did the BX1500 ever light the BATT FAILURE LED. It continued to run with its' normal green LED was fully lit. No beeps. No resets. Zip.
With no USB connection between the server and the BX1500, all is good.

Now it is March (03/2011), and I decide to reinstall PCPE. I decide to try PCPE30. I reconnect the USB cable from the BX1500 to the server. I start the install of PCPE30. The install runs fine until it pops up a window about, "Not able to communicate with any APC UPS." Odd? I stop. I change the USB cable and retry the install. No change. No comm between UPS and PCPE30. I stop the install of PCPE30. Server pops up same window about "BATT Failure" and shuts the server OFF. Pull USB cable from server and power server the back on. Server runs fine again now; except for the "BATT Failure" windows.Think about an install of PCPE20. Never got there...... 😉

Now it is April (04/2011). I stopped the "BATT Failure" windows by disabling the UPS Service in Win2003Server OS. Fine. But, now I can not restart it! Another 'separate' project perhaps!

I pulled the BX1500 offline. I swapped in an APC BR1500. I reinstalled PCPE30 and it installed and linked up with the BR1500 and all is now well. The server is happy and I believe that USB comm between the UPS and the server is OK. (I still have other caustic tests (not done yet) to do to prove the server's USB ports are fully OK. L8R.)

Basically, I now sit with a BX1500 that does not play nice. I do accept that its' battery is pretty old (5-7yrs). Fine.
Perhaps a 'dead' UPS battery can effect the UPS's ability to speak USB? Just do not know ATM.
Hope this reply was not TMI............. 🙂
Duncan

[Anonymous user]

Hi dhs, thank you for the detailed response. because the software was not able to be installed, the win server was using its USB native support to control the UPS. If there was a batter issue (ie the battery was in a discharged state) it could signal a shutdown if the setting were configured to so so within windows. If this was the case, then replacing the battery could help with that message. Also given the age of the UPS I would recommend replacing the battery (our batteries typically last between 3 and 5 years). As far as the difficulties with the software that could be a separate issue. Win server 2003 is not listed as being compatible with PCPE 3.0. All and all i would say replacing the battery should help with your situation there. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

R2,
Thank you for your reply. For the most part, I agree with your share. Yes, I suspected that PCPE30 might NOT be compatible with Win2003Server.
ATM, PCPE30 works well with a RS1500LCD in Win2003Server sp2. No need to try and back the server down to PCPE2x ATM.

No harm, no foul. I knew my BX1500USB's battery was past APC's "3YR" limit before I started this thread. This BX1500USB has been chronic about popping up a nag screen (at reboot) about my battery being >3yrs old. Fine. Nice reminder. Then, the UPS stops communicating via USB while I'm doing other rather top level operations.....like upgrading an OS from Win2000Server sp4 to Win2003Server sp2. The APC noise got my attention! My APC UPS's are my baseline protection here. Just a bit scary. Thread Question!

I will test my suspicious USB comm questions (in the server) offline at some later date.

The server is happy running PCPE30 against a RS1500LCD with Win2003Server sp2.
I will order a new RBC33 for my BX1500USB. Life will continue.
When installed, and properly charged; I will put my BX1500USB back in service. It has a home!
I will not speak to suspicions about APC UPS f/w and the 3yr nag screens. Another day, perhaps.
Shame on me! LOL!
Thank you,
Duncan