Estimated Battery Time <1 Min After Replacing Battery

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

My APC Model No. is Back-UPS RS 1000. Day before yesterday i had replaced my old batteries (Two Nos) through the APC technician. I had left the UPS without any load for 12 hours approx. for charging. Even then I am surprised to see the Estimated Battery Time status as "<1 Min" and it goes into the hybernation mode immediately on unplugging the cable from the mains. But after unplugging the USB cable the system ran for 15+ mins!!...that shows the battery time is more than what the system is showing. I am using APC PowerChute Personal Edition 2.2.

Now how do i correct this wrong software reading?

My System Information
Windows Vista
Dell Vostro

Regards

TP Pramod Kumar
New Delhi
India

[Techie_apc]

I do not see a screen shot of the Run Self test. Could you please attach it again?

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

My APC Model No. is Back-UPS RS 1000. Day before yesterday i had replaced my old batteries (Two Nos) through the APC technician. I had left the UPS without any load for 12 hours approx. for charging. Even then I am surprised to see the Estimated Battery Time status as "<1 Min" and it goes into the hybernation mode immediately on unplugging the cable from the mains. But after unplugging the USB cable the system ran for 15+ mins!!...that shows the battery time is more than what the system is showing. I am using APC PowerChute Personal Edition 2.2.

Now how do i correct this wrong software reading?

My System Information
Windows Vista
Dell Vostro

Regards

TP Pramod Kumar
New Delhi
India

[BillP]

Hi Pramod, welcome to the APC Forum.

Let us try to perform a manual runtime calibration on your UPS. Please make sure that you have charged the batteries for 24 hours before doing this. I have listed below the things that you will do.

Runtime Calibration:
- Stop the APC software running on your computer and disconnect the USB cable.
- Remove all critical loads on your UPS and make sure that you have at least 30% load on it.
- Unplug the UPS from the power source and let it run On Battery until it discharges completely.
- Once the UPS is completely discharged, reconnect it back to the power source to recharge.
- Reconnect the load and cables back to the UPS and check the APC software for the runtime.

[Techie_apc]

Pramod,

And also update the last Replacement Battery Data through the PCPE software.. and check the UPS runtime. Once the battery is charged fully, perform a self test to see if the battery passes the self test.

I hope that this helps.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

Thanks for the help. I will come back after i try your suggested method.

[Techie_apc]

Pramod,

We are glad that we could help you to solve your issue.

[Anonymous user]

Hi JonPro


I have performed the runtime calibration as suggested by you. Now after switching on the mains with all loads the sofware is showing the following status:

Remaining battery charges is *5%*
Battery is currently: charging

Estimated Battery Time: *<1 min* (As shown previously no change in the status)

However, the bottom status now shows *"Your battery backup is operating normally"* against previous status as *"actual battery backup is less than the estimated battery time"*

I am attaching wherewith the snapshot of my screen.

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie,

I am eagerly waiting for it........ Currently it has charged upto 51% with the same status message.

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie,

Now my UPS is 100% charged but dissappointed to note the status as same. Attaching the screen shot of the same. Whats wrong!

[Techie_apc · Accepted solution]

Pramod,

This is weird issue..I was wondering if you have updated the last Battery Replacement Date under Run-Self Test option.

You just need to click on the Battery Symbol once you are in Run-Self Test option in order to update the last battery replacement date.

I hope that this helps.

[BillP]

Pramod,

Aside from what Techie has said might as well try to stop/start the APC PowerChute Service, unplug/replug the USB cable. Also for the shutdown option on the software have you chosen Keep my Computer on or Shutdown After Running on X amount of minutes?

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie,

I have not updated the last bettery replacement date as i dont know how to do that. Under run sef test option i don't see any option as such. The battery symbol you mentioned i suppose is the bottom right section (appears only on self test), but that is not clickable. I am using PowerChute Personal Edition 2.2. Attaching the run self test screen shot.

I have even contacted APC at their toll free number. They have asked me to uninstall the software and reinstall it. Even this has failed!!

Message was edited by: tppramod

[Anonymous user]

JonPro,

I have uninstalled the software and reinstalled the same twice.

My default selection is: Shut down my computer when the time left on battery backup power is *5 Min*

[Anonymous user]

Techie,

Sorry for that.. I have attached the same in my previous post.

[Techie_apc]

If possible, could you please stimulate a power failure by unplugging the UPS from the wall when the battery is at full charge and check how long the unit runs the connected equipment on battery?

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Techie,

This i have already clarified in my first posting that the system ran for more than 15 minutes after unplugging from the main i.e. on battery mode. Problem is only with the software not sensing the battery level. Otherwise the battery is fully charged. Now i have a bad feeling if the technician might have missed any connection inside. Is it possible? Just a guess........

Message was edited by: tppramod

[Techie_apc]

hmm...I do not think that there is an issue with the battery connection with the UPS. This issue is most likely Software issue. However, I request you to configure the USB native support on your Vista computer and check if it reports the runtime more than 1 minute. You will need to uninstall the PCPE version 2.2 from your Vista computer in order to enable the USB native support. Please follow the below K-base document instructions to configure the USB native support.
http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=8536

[BillP]

Pramod,

Would you happen to have another computer wherein we can install PCPE and see if it would replicate the issue? How about another UPS?

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie,

I just got my problem solved and very excited. Here are the steps i have taken:

1. Uninstalled APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 2.2 downloaded from the site.
2. Managed to get hold of my previous APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 1.3.1 for Windows 98/Me/2000/2003/XP that shipped with the UPS.
3. After the installation, I found the following option under Monitor System>Run Self Test:
To Help PowerChute to keep track of battery life, please click HERE when you replace battery"* on clicking it the following popup appeared *"Are you sure that you want to update your battery's replacement date now"*. On clicking, it instantly reported the estimated battery time as 45 Min!!!!.

It is very surprising that this simple feature is missing in the latest version, which is really very important for all the customers who have just changed their battery and are using Windows Vista.

I really appreciate the effort put by you and JonPro for a possible solution.

Thanks & Regards

T. P. Pramod Kumar
New Delhi

Message was edited by: tppramod

Message was edited by: tppramod

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie,

I just got my problem solved and very excited. Here are the steps i have taken:

1. Uninstalled APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 2.2 downloaded from the site.
2. Managed to get hold of my previous APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 1.3.1 for Windows 98/Me/2000/2003/XP that shipped with the UPS.
3. After the installation, I found the following option under Monitor System>Run Self Test:
To Help PowerChute to keep track of battery life, please click HERE when you replace battery on clicking it the following popup appeared Are you sure that you want to update your battery's replacement date now. On clicking, it instantly reported the estimated battery time as 45 Min!!!!.

It is very surprising that this simple feature is missing in the latest version, which is really very important for all the customers who have just changed their battery and are using Windows Vista.

I really appreciate the effort put by you and JonPro for a possible solution.

Thanks & Regards

T. P. Pramod Kumar
New Delhi

[BillP]

Pramod,

You are very much welcome and thank you for the patience that you've shown while we are fixing the problem. I will install the latest version of PCPE for Vista and double check that battery replacement date and if I could replicate the issue I'll forward it to the responsible department.

Thanks again for using the APC Forum.

[Anonymous user]

Hi Techie / Jon Pro

My above post did not show all the text. Hence reposting:

I just got my problem solved and very excited. Here are the steps i have taken:

1. Uninstalled APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 2.2 downloaded from the site.
2. Managed to get hold of my previous APC PowerChute Personal Edition Version 1.3.1 for Windows 98/Me/2000/2003/XP that shipped with the UPS.
3. After the installation, I found the following option under Monitor System>Run Self Test:

"To Help PowerChute to keep track of battery life, please click HERE when you replace battery" on clicking it the following popup appeared "Are you sure that you want to update your battery's replacement date now". On clicking, it instantly reported the estimated battery time as 45 Min!!!!.

It is very surprising that this simple feature is missing in the latest version, which is really very important for all the customers who have just changed their battery and are using Windows Vista.

I really appreciate the effort put by you and JonPro for a possible solution.

Thanks & Regards

T. P. Pramod Kumar
New Delhi

[Anonymous user]

Hi JonPro

Please read my new post as my previous post did not show all the text. Thank you once again for the prompt action on taking this issue with the concerned department.

[BillP]

Hi APC & APC users,

I too just replaced Batteries in UPS. I have a Back-UPS XS-1200 (same as BX-1200). After replacing battery, PowerChute Personal Edition Version 2.2 reported 'Estimated Battery Time < 1 min'. I had talked with APC tech support and they did not have quick answer. I did notice that PowerChute Personal Edition had a 3.0 version, so I removed 2.2 and installed 3.0. PCPE still reporting 'Estimated Battery time still < 1 min'.

Then a quick google search led here and Version 3.0 has the 'Replace Battery Date' button on the 'Run Self Test' page under Monitor. I clicked that button and was prompted to update date and instantly, the 'Estimated Battery Time is 30 min'. So, that is working correctly.

However, the version 3.0 mis-reports Total RAM and Free disk space and should also hold current screen viewed between showing/hiding the PCPE Gui window. I like to leave on 'Current Status' page and a simple double-click on tray icon does not take me back to that page. I get some 'Recommended Tasks' page by default. I could see showing that page if no other pages have been selected, but if user goes to a page and then closes window, when double-clicking tray icon, that same window should re-appear!!

Also, have the APC techs search forums for solutions. I should have searched first, but was worried that the replaced battery might have been bad.

[BillP]

See screenshot.

PCPE reports 7.99GB and Windows reports 8.00GB (not much I know, but 7.99 != 8.00).

PCPE reports 396.77GB Free disk space. As you can see drive C: has 274GB Free. So then I thought maybe PCPE is combining (adding) free space across volumes. C (274GB free) + D (7.5GB free) + K (114GB free) = 395.5GB (no other sticks or anything plugged in). So, I would guess PCPE is reporting 'total free space across all volumes on system', but that number does not have any real meaning. Reporting primary disk (C: in this case) and/or disk PCPE installed on would seem more relevant. Either way, the 'Technical Info' screen in PCPE should be more descriptive.

PS: for Version 3.0.1, please hold last viewed page in PCPE when I close and re-open. Also, I like that you improved your Tray Icon and the PowerChute parachute graphic, but the Tray Icon just looks like a 'swoosh' thing and has lost all Branding, IMO. Tray icon should look more like parachute, that is your symbol ! Yes, the old XP-type tray icon needed some work, but new one has lost identity (again IMO).

Message was edited by: stellablue: need space between * and ! for bold to work

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for providing this easy solution. My apc ups br 1000-in was having same issues. Three years back i asked pathetic apc  service  center in India to resolve this issue but they were unable to resolve it. I was pretty much sure that my ups is fine and refused to replace the main board by apc  technicians, they even asked for $50 dollars. Till now I was using my ups with less than 1 min backup 😂. Now the problem is solved thanks.😁😁😁😁😁. Apc ups are reliable and trustworthy for power backup.

[BillP]

Hi,

On 12/6/2010 7:44 PM, Mike said:

However, the version 3.0 mis-reports Total RAM and Free disk space and should also hold current screen viewed between showing/hiding the PCPE Gui window.

PowerChute will report the free diskspace for all attached and networked drives. The RAM number displaed should match the total physical memory number displayed when running msinfo32.exe

On 12/6/2010 7:44 PM, Mike said:

I like to leave on 'Current Status' page and a simple double-click on tray icon does not take me back to that page. I get some 'Recommended Tasks' page by default. I could see showing that page if no other pages have been selected, but if user goes to a page and then closes window, when double-clicking tray icon, that same window should re-appear!!

If you collapses the window when you reopen it will display the last viewed page. If you close the window then PowerChute will re-launch to the home page. This is by design based on previous customer requests. 

[BillP]

I'm using PCPE 3.0.2 (the only and latest version that seems to be available to download from APC). I just replaced my battery in my ES350 unit. PC reports it's 100% charged and yet it also is reporting < 1 battery time. It would be great to do a self-test or to reset the replacement date BUT NEITHER OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE LATEST VERSION. So what should I do besides go to another vendor who updates their software and documentation on a more frequent basis than APC? Version 3.0.2 is 5 years old and the documentation is dated 2011. The documentation talks about needing to reset the replacement date and using a self-test but those features aren't in the software. So, again, I ask, what am I supposed to do?

[BillP]

Hi,

PCPE 3.0.2 does offer the ability to set battery replacement date and to run a self-test however those features are only enabled for UPS that offer the ability to do so. The BE350 does not offer those features. For those features to be enabled you will need a BE750G.