Power protection advice needed

[Anonymous user]

I think I should describe my setup before asking my question:

I just had two new circuits put into my office, making at least three, possibly four (my husband thinks the existing plugins were already on two separate circuits.

Into a Back-UPS NS 1250 I have plugged
a Mac Pro
four internal hard drives (20gb total)
One pci slot is filled with a usb card adding four ports
Am using two LCD monitors each 26 inches but only one is plugged into the NS 1250.
Also plugged in are my router & modem, and small speakers

Into a separate APC surge arrest unit I have plugged a phone (digital), my ethernet cord, a small laser printer, and an external usb hub. This was plugged into the same wall circuit and is now plugged into a separate circuit since I had a problem last night with my setup.

My photo printer, scanner and second 26" monitor are plugged into a Backup LS 700 on a separate circuit. When I use an external drive for backup I plug it into the LS 700.

We had a storm last night. This morning the NS 1250, which is the newest protector, possibly still under warranty, was blaring a warning. "Replace Battery."

Of course it's the weekend and no one at APC is available. Other than the green "on Line" light, there are no lights that I can see to tell me if the rest of the protection is still working. I'm even more concerned about brownouts, power surges etc, than I am about battery backup.

So my main question is whether my equipment is protected even though the battery is dead. Should I be pulling plugs until I can replace the battery or the whole unit?

I'm a total novice and can't afford to replace my equipment. Have been reading threads and someone said "have only the computer and monitor plugged into one unit and that in a separate circuit." Why then are there more receptacles? I have a large U shaped desk (working with photoshop mostly) and cords keep getting shorter. If my cpu and monitor need a separate power protector and separate electrical circuit I will have to figure out a whole new arrangement for my equipment.

Please, can anyone help with the protection question or give other advice?

Peggy

[Anonymous user]

Hi. Thank you for your quick response! The replace battery LED is solid. I'm not sure from what I've read if the software will work on an intel Mac Pro. I just switched from Windows a few months ago. I think I downloaded a Mac version from the APC website awhile ago but if it doesn't work there's no sense in installing it.

It's safe, then to leave my computer on while it (hopefully) recharges? Will it do the "self-test" without the software. I remember that there was an option to test using the software.

Thank you about the reassurance about the other equipment.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Hi Peggy,

Was the replace battery LED on the front of the UPS flashing or blinking? If it's flashing, verify the battery connection. If it's solid, and you experience a sustained power outage and the UPS ran on battery, chances are, the UPS is just indicating that it's in a low battery state and needs some time to recharge and then a self-test should clear that. Do you have any APC PowerChute software integrated into this setup? That should provide some useful information in helping to arrive at a cause/problem/resolution.

Also, as far as your setup, I wouldn't worry about the equipment plugged into the UPS. The extra ports there are available for peripherals, which is what you seem to be using it for.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Peggy,

Since you just switched to a Mac recently chances are there's no supported software for you, yet.

As for the charging, yes the design of the UPS will allow a trickle charge to the battery while outputting most of the input power to the load attached.

In order to run a self-test without software, simply depress the power button for 4-5 seconds and you'll see the Green ONLINE LED flash, you can release the power button and the self-test should initiate.

[Anonymous user]

Thank you again. Can you tell me if the other protection, such as from surges, is still working even though the battery is not?

As soon as I find out about that, I'm going to power down my computer because if understand you, that will allow the battery to recharge faster and I will know if I need a new battery or not.

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

Peggy,

Yes regardless of a fully functional battery you still have full surge protection and range of Automatic Voltage Regulation.

And yes unplugging equipment from the UPS will allow it to charge faster.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

It's so good to know questions can be answered on weekend. I'm powering off now. There is actually another storm heading this way. June has been unusually active! Thanks again!
Peggy