Extending the distance of my Back-UPS ES 350

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-28

To Whom It May Concern,

I am in a bit of a situation here and I hope to get some good news haha. My desk at work has a notebook PC, a small lamp and a set of small speakers. However, the desk is positioned out of reach for my UPS ES 350. I am not able to move my desk and I was hoping someone could tell me which type of extension cable I could use with my ES 350.

I tried a long orange cable that is pretty heavy duty, but the red light (faulty building wiring) came on. Is it safe to assume that any cable I use which does not activate that red warning light is safe for use with the ES 350?

Once again. Is there a particular type fo extension cord I can use with the ES 350?
If the red warning lite does not come on, does this mean I have purchased a sufficient cable?
Thank you very much.

Best,
Jesse

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Per National Electrical code, you are not supposed to use an extension cable.

The APC product must be plugged into properly wired and grounded outlets; no extension cords, adapters, other ground wires, or electrical connections may be used... as stated in National Electric Code (NEC) NFPA 70A, extension cords are considered temporary devices and should not be used for prolonged periods.

It may be possible to use an extension cable which are underrated for the power being pulled. This might lead to overheating of the wire and in worst case scenarios, melting of the wire. Extension cords may also become pinched or severed during normal or prolonged use, exposing others to raw power and a potential for electrocution. Customers might perceive such problems as a result of using the surge protector/UPS. It also might lead to damages to infrastructure, which may lead to EPP claims and disputes over responsibility.

Futhermore, a site/building wiring fault light indicates one or more of the following:

•Missing or loose ground wire
•Reversed polarity
•Overloaded neutral wire

You can check out those issues and see if you can figure out what it is.

So even though APC does not recommend the extension cables, if you find a suitable extension cord with the proper gauge wire, I supposed you could use but I still strongly recommend against it due to the above notes.

See Answer In Context

BillP · ‎2021-06-28

Per National Electrical code, you are not supposed to use an extension cable.

The APC product must be plugged into properly wired and grounded outlets; no extension cords, adapters, other ground wires, or electrical connections may be used... as stated in National Electric Code (NEC) NFPA 70A, extension cords are considered temporary devices and should not be used for prolonged periods.

It may be possible to use an extension cable which are underrated for the power being pulled. This might lead to overheating of the wire and in worst case scenarios, melting of the wire. Extension cords may also become pinched or severed during normal or prolonged use, exposing others to raw power and a potential for electrocution. Customers might perceive such problems as a result of using the surge protector/UPS. It also might lead to damages to infrastructure, which may lead to EPP claims and disputes over responsibility.

Futhermore, a site/building wiring fault light indicates one or more of the following:

•Missing or loose ground wire
•Reversed polarity
•Overloaded neutral wire

You can check out those issues and see if you can figure out what it is.

So even though APC does not recommend the extension cables, if you find a suitable extension cord with the proper gauge wire, I supposed you could use but I still strongly recommend against it due to the above notes.