PC power up after blackout

[Anonymous user]

There are a number of posts on this topic as we all know. I want to make sure that what I am seeing with my setup is correct and that there is no work-around. I have a Back-UPS XS 1500 and I am using PowerChute.

The PowerChute  help file states that the Back-ups goes into a sleep mode after 2 minutes. The help topic is "What happens during a prolonged power problem?" 

In the case where PowerChute  has shut down the PC and the AC wall power is restored during the 2 minutes prior to the Back-UPS going to sleep, the  PC never sees a loss of AC, and does not  automatically power up. (If the wall power is restored after the Back-UPS goes to sleep -- all is fine, the PC powers up.)

As a result, there is a 2 minute window where the PC can't power up automatically  if the wall AC power is restored.

Has anyone got a work-around for this 2 minute window? Maybe a different APC model? Or does APC (or another company) make a box that sends wakeup LAN packets after a power restore? 

Thanks

[BillP]

Hi,

When PowerChute commands the OS down it sends a shutdown signal to the UPS. The UPS should switch off for a minimum of 5 seconds even if AC is restored between the time the command is received and the 2 minute delay elapses. You can test this by plugging a lamp into the UPS or using a volt meter and switching the UPS to on battery. Once PowerChute has started the OS shutdown wait 20 seconds and then restore AC. You should not unplug the UPS from AC source to run this test. To kill the power plug the UPS into a power strip and use the on off switch to cut AC. You should see the lamp or meter show a loss of AC for a few seconds once the 2 minute delay has elapsed. 

What may be happening is the computer power supply is not recording the loss of AC and therefore not returning.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks for the quick response. 

Your last sentence in your reply is the problem.  The tower PC I'm using needs closer to 10 seconds of AC outage for the power up function to work after AC is restored.

Thanks for pointing out that the UPS shuts down for 5 seconds after the 2 minute delay -- that is working properly.

I'm going to use an old laptop and some freeware to send magic packets to the tower pc for a few minutes after AC is restored and then shutdown the old laptop until the next AC blackout.

Does APC make a UPS where there is control over the amount of time it shuts down -- maybe a smart UPS and the pro version of powerchute?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

On 5/31/2016 1:02 PM, Frank said:

Does APC make a UPS where there is control over the amount of time it shuts down -- maybe a smart UPS and the pro version of powerchute?

Yes, Our Smart-UPS SMT, SMX and above have switched outlets groups and they can be configured to delay power restored.