Disable beeping without a computer? ES750

[Anonymous user]

I got an ES-750 to protect my entertainment system. There are two Tivo's on it and the battery backup feature for preventing those long reboots Tivo's do for a minor power fluctuation.

I don't want the UPS to tell me when power has been lost though. I want it silent, no beeping. Is there any way to do this without installing software on a computer and hooking it up? I really don't want to go through the hassle of installing software and drivers. I am a bit amazed there is no "silent" switch.

[Anonymous user]

I got an ES-750 to protect my entertainment system. There are two Tivo's on it and the battery backup feature for preventing those long reboots Tivo's do for a minor power fluctuation.

I don't want the UPS to tell me when power has been lost though. I want it silent, no beeping. Is there any way to do this without installing software on a computer and hooking it up? I really don't want to go through the hassle of installing software and drivers. I am a bit amazed there is no "silent" switch.

[Anonymous user]

Actually, I find this feature to be very nice. Alerts me when the power is lost, etc. It's wonderful. You get what you pay for, invest on a smartUPS. I believe the alarms can be silenced.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

There is no hardware silencing switch on your UPS. That capability is only available through the PowerChute Personal Edition software that was included with the UPS.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thanks. That is so lame. I'll keep that in mind when I buy my next UPS. It won't be APC if the default is "annoying beep on, and you must install our software on your PC even if the UPS isn't for a PC"

I am very tempted to take this one back because of it in fact.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Once you store the silenced alarm setting within Powerchute, it stores it within the UPS. So if you have a pc, install PowerCHute, disable the alarm notification sounds, and proceed with using the UPS as you intended with your entertainment system.

[Anonymous user]

Why would anyone care at 2am that the power goes out for 10 minutes in their home? Who wants to be woken up to that? I think it is a fine option, but to turn it on by default for a consumer that essentially forces them to install their advertising onto their computer and hook it up just to turn that feature off is ridiculious.

[Anonymous user]

Thank you for sharing useful information its better to have an alarm. I have researched the net and to my delight found a helpful site: http://www.shakeawake.com. You can choose from a range of alarm clocks that have the latest technology to suit your needs.

Message was edited by: CooperRichardson

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Reasons to disable alarms are basically so the UPS can be used for
applications not thought of by APC. ( I've used many technologic items for purposes not considered by the manufacturer, why not here?)

In my environment, I'm using UPSs for computers. I'm also using one in my bedroom for power failure. The heating system fan is also always on. I'm alerted to power failures by a silence! Also, my current unit alarms for a brief second if the power voltage drops momentarily--before even my digital clock resets. If there is a power failure, I want about 2 or 3 hours of low-voltage flourescent use.

There should be a way for someone with some guts to (after discharging the unit) take it apart and disconnect the stupid alarm.
I may try this myself with an old UPS that I don't mind junking if I fail.

Doctor Al

[Anonymous user]

Same problem, ES725. No way am I putting any software I don't need on my 'puter. I just want a UPS that doesn't rattle my eardrums every time the power browns out for a few milliseconds. If I'm awake, and the lights go out, I have a pretty good idea there is a power outage. If I'm asleep, I don't want to be waked up to tell me there's a power outage. My alarm clock has it's own backup battery.

So if there's really no way to manually disarm the screecher, will the unit still function if I simply remove the noise-maker from the circuit? IF the noise-maker can NOT be removed without breaking the circuit, could I cover it in a thick glob of epoxy to at least deaden the piecing annoying shriek ? I enjoy being able to hear high frequencies and wish to continue being able to.

Bad call, whoever the idiot was that decided NOT to put an override switch on the unit.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

APC AV Black 1kVA S Type Power Conditioner This is the one you have to have to shut off the alarms and it is used for A/V systems sells for 449.00 dollars very nice unit. I use APC on 3 systems and to power my phone and some other equipment and have no problems with the software and the alarms can be turned off and if set up correctly they will not shut down your PC. In my case that is what I want to happen to shut down my equipment properly in the event of a power failure or over voltage. It never fails there is always a glitch in all system and yes I agree there should be a way to turn of the alarms manually.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Ed,

I understand your concern with not wanting to be woken up at 2am to be alerted that power has gone out in your residence. I use the software at home to disable the audible tone as well, however, I think taking a look at it from a different approach may be ideal. Is the UPS your source of power for your alarm clock in the morning? What would occur if you were to have to wake up at a specific time during the week, and your alarm clock, which is not powered by your UPS, powers off due to a blackout, even if it is momentary? I think it would be ideal in this scenario that the UPS wakes you to notify you of a power failure. That would allow you to possibly find an alternate source of power for the alarm clock, or, if power is to be restored within a reasonable period of time, to reset your clock so that you wake up on time.

[Anonymous user]

I feel bad for the people who have trouble comprehending the fact that these UPS's are meant for PC's, NOT AV EQUIPMENT. They are too lazy to install software on their "'puter" and would rather stoop so low as to put a glob of epoxy to cover the speaker. I laugh at "*No way am I putting any software I don't need on my 'puter*" when this UPS is REALLY meant for a *'puter*.

I'll buy an HP printer and I might as well "IN NO WAY" install the drivers. Drivers? PAH! Who needs em? I'd rather chuck the software CD's at birds, and get mad at the printer because it won't cook me breakfast instead of printing pages.

You buy a car for transportation, not to play football with it.

Use the UPS for what it is intended for.

[BillP]

Thanks. That is so lame. I'll keep that in mind when I buy my next UPS. It won't be APC if the default is "annoying beep on, and you must install our software on your PC even if the UPS isn't for a PC"

I am very tempted to take this one back because of it in fact.


I can definitely see where the beeping from the UPS would be distracting, especially when your watching TV. The ES-750, however is not design for use with AV equipment. It's purpose is battery back up for home computers. If you were purchasing a device for your AV equipment, you may have wanted to purchase an AV UPS.

AV UPS come with the beeper disabled by default.

[Anonymous user]

Yeah. Instead of $50 on a PC one, you should have spent $500 to $1500 to get an AV one so it doesn't beep.

Don't be tricked into the trap of using the PC to try to "fix it" when it does start beeping in the middle of the night either. I've got the software installed on my laptop and had some noise or some overvoltage thing going on at 2 AM one night cause the power is still on and nothing else in the house . The UPS wakes me up. I then hook up my laptop to try to "fix it", then it shuts down my laptop because the software assumes that the UPS is protecting the PC on which it is installed, so it takes me 3 reboots to finally get the PC to stay on long enough to change my sensitivity settings so the situation will not keep happening. In the meantime i had to power cycle the UPS and hence my DVR a couple of times to get it to stop beeping. Preventing hard power cycling of the DVR is why I bought this thing in the first place and it has hard cycled more than anything else in the house so far.

It would be really nice to tell the UPS that the computer is being used only to manage the UPS and doesn't need to be shut down.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Barry,

I would like to reiterate the Squirrel's comment about the beeper being inactive, since you are using the UPS as a power source for your DVR. Please keep in mind that the A/V UPS systems are not intended to be used in unison with PowerChute software, and therefore, makes no assumption that any attached equipment is being controlled by software. When you power your notebook on, whether the UPS is a physical power source for the notebook or not, the PowerChute software will assume that since there is a communication source of a UPS, that the power source is the exact same UPS, and will prevent the system from having any data loss by doing the graceful shutdown.

[Anonymous user]

I certainly don't mind installing software on my PC to manage this UPS and didn't consider it advertising. I bought it to keep power on my DVR and do not want the extra features of an AV UPS that cost tons of extra money. I like that I can control and configure it with my PC. The cost of the AV centric models are about 10x to PC centric models, so this is almost perfect for me. I just wanted a battery backup.

I just want the software to have the option to not shut down the PC that is connected to it. I know it does not have such an option now. It really works great except that kept shutting down my pc one night when it thought there was a power failure when I had the settings set to stringent (I had either noise or an overvoltage problem, the power was still on). All I wanted to do was reset the settings, turn off the beeping, and go back to bed. It took an hour because my PC got shut down 3 times before I could get it to change the settings. A simple "don't shut down my pc, it is an independently powered laptop" option would be great. The last thing I wanted to do was power cycle the things connected to the UPS, which I ended up doing due it taking so long to change the settings and the UPS battery ran down to 0.

[Anonymous user]

All the talk of using the software to control the alarms would really be a mute point if there was a 50 cent switch installed to just turn the dang alarms on or off. I'm using my UPS as a backup to a power recliner/lift chair for a disabled person and to run a low wattage lamp if the power should fail. The beeping is very annoying and in my application the UPS will run the things for several hours.

In the grand scheme of things an inexpensive switch would be a cost-effective solution during the manufacture of a product in this price range. Putting it under the battery cover would eliminate accidental changes since it isn't something you'd be changing on a daily basis. If you want to be notified of power failure turn them on, if not turn them off. And to respond to the person who asked if you'd wouldn't want to be notified of a power failure at night so your alarm would go off at the correct time, buy an alarm with a battery backup for $10. sheesh!

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Doug,

Please understand the reason for reiteration throughout this entire thread. UPS systems are designed to back up PC's, Servers, Workstations and Networking equipment. Critical components that could have a disastrous affect on operation if a UPS was not in the mix. Therefore, software integration is there to turn the beeper off, and the beeper is there so that you are alerted that you have critical components running critical applications with critical data you want shutdown.

Secondly, the life I assume has a DC motor. Have you tested it on battery w/ the UPS yet? Back-UPS are not designed to work with devices with motors, so you may force the Back-UPS into overload immediately on starting the lift.

Third, the low-watt lamp you speak of, is it higher than 50W? If not, the UPS will never recognize there is a load attached, and after about 3 minutes on battery, is going to power off because it's not sensing a load.

I do agree with you however, in that it would be easier if someone like Ron Popeil partnered with our UPS's. Then you could just set it and forget it.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

What is also being overlooked here is InRow's comment about how the UPS will store the "mute all alarms" setting even when NOT connected to any computer.

Silencing the BackUPS requires a one-time installation of the software to make the "mute" setting active. After that you can run the UPS without any PC connected. You can, if you so wish, uninstall the PowerChute Personal Edition software immediately after muting the UPS.

This is exactly how I have my Back-UPS RS 800 set up to run my DLP TV, DVR, DVD players/recorders, cable modem, cordless phone, and WiFi router.

I've never heard a single beep from the UPS since muting the beeper the first time I set it up.

[Anonymous user]

>

There should be a way for someone with some guts to (after discharging the unit) take it apart and disconnect the stupid alarm.
I may try this myself with an old UPS that I don't mind junking if I fail.

kinda an old thread, hope no one minds I replied. if so, apologies in advance.

Doc, I took the buzzer off the PCB of my 6 year old APC 350 that I use for DVR duties. disconnected the battery, hit the power button to discharge any capacitors, took it apart and just ripped it off with a pair of pliers (subtlety isnt my strong suit - unsoldering it would be better). runs fine without the beeper.

since it was out of warranty and it wasnt the kind that you could disable via software, I just took my chances. I obviously dont recommend doing this with a warrantied unit and if youre not comfortable with electronics, dont try it.

I was glad to see my new 550ES had the software option to disable the beeper and stored it in the unit itself, as was mentioned just hook it up to a PC, run the software, configure it once and then use it wherever you want in blissful silence.

[Anonymous user]

The Notorious K.M.P. wrote:
Ed,

I understand your concern with not wanting to be woken up at 2am to be alerted that power has gone out in your residence. I use the software at home to disable the audible tone as well, however, I think taking a look at it from a different approach may be ideal. Is the UPS your source of power for your alarm clock in the morning? What would occur if you were to have to wake up at a specific time during the week, and your alarm clock, which is not powered by your UPS, powers off due to a blackout, even if it is momentary? I think it would be ideal in this scenario that the UPS wakes you to notify you of a power failure. That would allow you to possibly find an alternate source of power for the alarm clock, or, if power is to be restored within a reasonable period of time, to reset your clock so that you wake up on time.

Most decent alarm clocks are backed up by 9v battery.


Getting back on topic, older metal chassis BackUPS from early 90s had a mechanical dip switch to disable alarm, but it also didn't have the capability of TTL level control through interface.

[BillP]

The OPTION to disable the annoying beep notification via a switch or some mechanism on the UPS is necessary.

Everyone is perfectly aware of what these are made for. The environment is the issue. In a data center or office environment you probably want the beep turned on, but maybe not. At home, you might want the OPTION to have beeping turned off and let the OS or APC software perform a shutdown or other form of notification instead.

Give us an option instead of locking us into one way of thinking. Windows, other OSes, and the UPS software from APC is sofisticated enough to provide other means of notification and actions besides beeping. I've setup many a data center and small network. I would LOVE to see this feature from APC, but unfortunately shop elsewhere when setting up small networks because of this problem.

[BillP]

I also find the UPS alarms extremely annoying and unwanted. Also just as annoying are the responders that insist on giving you the benefits of the alarm that you want to terminate. Like you, I don't need any annoying alert to tell me of a power outage at 2 AM or even 2 PM. Give me a friggin break . Anyway, it's just plain wasteful to leave equipment on 24/7 so I always turn off my stuff when not in use.

Unfortunately, until the manufactures get a clue and build in an external solution (preferably an unobtrusive dip-switch) you only have 2 choices. 1) use the software provided by the MFG or 2) open the case and snip a wire or break the solder depending on your BU configuration.

I have 2 UPS. One APC and one CyperPower. One supports a desktop, laptop, cable modem & switches. The other supports my TV & components. I really use it to protect against those violent 1-20 second power company station switching and any stray lightning that may find it's way onto an electrical pole.. Both play havoc with electronics. I'm not concerned with holding up my equipment. A clean power disconnect is far less destructive than power surges & spikes unless your running a Bill Gates OS. With both of my BU's I opened the case and snipped a wire - no more annoying alarms..

Good luck

[Anonymous user]

Bravo:  Sean!

The main point here is that APC has saved them (and maybe us) some money to leave off a couple of buttons and switches.  Yes, it lowers their cost, and presumably some cost to the consumer as well.  But I think I'd pay a bit more for a small control panel.  I certainly would pay it NOW, at 0-Dark-Thirty, with the power off for the last couple of hours, and no way for me to silence this thing unless I want our cable modem and router to go down (our only link to the outside world at this point).

Yes, that's right. I'd pay EXTRA to have a user control panel, like the old UPSs all had!

Who in the world ISN'T aware when their power is out?  And seriously:  Who uses a UPS on an alarm clock?!!  For that matter, who actually uses an alarm clock at all these days?  (Can you say "Cell Phone App"?)  I can, if I want, still get a wind-up alarm clock with a mechanical clapper that rings actual bells if I am that insistent on avoiding modern technology.  Which brings up the irony of someone clinging to their non-battery-backed, yet electric alarm clock, to the point of employing a UPS to power it!  Hah!  The very idea is hilarious.  It inspires an amusing meme concept, doesn't it?

Anyhow:

What about a momentary pushbutton on the front of the unit that lets you acknowledge/silence the current power failure notification, yet allows future power failures to be reported?  And along with that a separate switch that lets you permanently disable all power-failure/power-quality alerts if that's your desire?  The customer can use these both at their discretion.  You've done your due diligence and provided the customer with the OPTION of having audible alerts.  And you've given them a way to silence and acknowledge the current alert.  Plus, you've given them the option to silence ALL power-failure/quality alarms as well.  And all it costs is a couple of switches on the existing LED front panel PCB, a bit more circuitry on the PCB itself, some extra conductors in the existing cable, two more inputs to the microcontroller, and some programming time for the folks writing the firmware.  That's it!  The ongoing production costs would be minimal.

And now, you've got a feature you can boast about on the pretty box!

Now that everyone has been conditioned for a few years to being assaulted by the incessant beeping of the "Your power is STILL OFF, Dummy.  Just thought we'd add to your ongoing annoyance at the situation." alarms, You, APC, can advertise this revolutionary breakthrough, and give customers the "New and Improved" models with a "User Control Panel that lets YOU silence  annoying alarms!"  They'll sell like hot cakes!

And you can provide a coupon in the box that customers can mail in, along with $9.95 for postage and handling, and get a mechanical wind-up alarm clock, too!

OK.  Now to do beeper-ectomy surgery on that pesky Back-UPS NS 1250 that's making me crazy here!  Ahhhhhhhrrrrgh!  (And it's not even "Talk Like s Pirate" Day)

[Anonymous user]

no

i dont want any bleeping beeping at all

i have other alarms that are not on mains if i must hear the alarm clock

worse when power is out ALL the bleeping beepers beep all over the house

by the time i run around and shut them all off i could not get back to sleep

cant you just realise that most customers do not want any beeping

i was in an office that had over a hundred of these on their pcs

the din from all of them beeping when the power was off was deafening

we do NOT want beeps !!!!!!!!!!!

they add no value 

[Anonymous user]

does not matter what they were for designed for

even with pcs we do not want any beeping

how hard si that for you bleepheads to grok

we do NOT want any beeping at all

i was in an office with hundreds of these devices

totally unacceptable when they all beeped 

and do realise taht we will use these things on low power devices to avoid the problem of sudden surges and power off situations 

[BillP]

Hi Joe,

Schneider Electric has recently released a new line of products which allow the user to select the level of audible tones they prefer. This was in response to customer concerns similar to your own. 

APC Back-UPS // BE450M / BE600M1 / BE850M2

Secret Squirrel

[BillP]

Doug hit the nail on the head and ALL the other issues just complicate a simple choice, IMO.  

The best solution is to give the user options. It is logical that if you generate a noise, you also include a way to silence it.

For less than 50 cents ( maybe under 25 cents) a mute switch could be included as is done on many other models. Manufacturing is a matter of trimming pennies off the cost of an item because those pennies add up when talking about hundreds of thousands of units. I get that but not having a silence button on a noise maker is a bit crazy. **

 I have used hundreds of APC products as well as specify them for clients for over 25 years and that will continue as my comments have nothing to do with that.

** if the cost of that mute switch is deemed too much, then put a sticker on the box saying "Alarm beeper can not be silenced" and then you have done your job as well as to see if that affects sales of that model.

[Anonymous user]

Just wanted to say that this is the first aand  last time I bought something  from this manufacturer. It is unbelievable that you cannot disable the beeping sound each half a minute when using it as a battery. Also no word about it in technical specifications. Total disappointment. You are totally unprofessional. Who ever designed this product is simply a genius 😉

[Anonymous user]

BEWARE that power and high voltage lurk inside and turn it off and unplug it.  Disconnect battery.  Remove 4 screws on the bottom.  Slide the case off. 

Find the noise generator.  It's a black cylinder, about 1/3" tall and round.  Anybody with an electronics background will recognize it instantly.  Connect battery (hands clear!) and turn the power switch on momentarily and hit test if you're not sure.

Clip it off the board.

Problem solved;  sometimes 'hardware' solutions are best.    You can always tell if it is active by the hum.