PowerChute Serial Shutdown 1.5 – Outlet Restart Delay Limit (300s) Too Restrictive

[NotOnSugarMountain]

I am using PowerChute Serial Shutdown v1.5 with an APC SRT2200 XLA UPS over USB.

The maximum “Outlet Group Off Time” when utility power is restored of 300 seconds is insufficient for me because:

• The UPS battery is deeply discharged before shutdown
• My utility power is unstable 
• Systems require recharge buffer before safe restart

I think the old Business Edition allowed significantly longer delays. Why set a maximum of 5 minutes before powering the UPS outlets? The UPS battery needs more time to recharge before handling my workstation load again. 

Is there a workaround?

[Teken]

I would define the Minimum Return Runtime via Outlet Group Configuration instead on the UPS. Then disable the Power Chute Option and test / validate this meets your needs.

You’ll obviously need to balance, document and communicate the new behaviour. As the clients may vary well freak out thinking whatever is connected to the UPS is dead.

When in fact the system is simply waiting to achieve the user defined charged value. This is exacerbated by the fact when the RBC is nearing EOL the time to achieve the defined charged value level will fluctuate.

Meaning it can take minutes to hours to achieve the user defined charge level before the outputs will engage.

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[NotOnSugarMountain]

Teken, I like your idea, but...

While in PCSS, I can configure Outlet Group 1 and 2 independently in its Windows browser UI. But when I go to the SRT UPS Display, neither the Control menu nor the Config menu display either Outlet Group 1 or 2 submenus. That's probably why I can't find "Minimum Return Runtime" anywhere?
As a sidenote, in Control > UPS, neither "Turn On Immediately" nor "Turn On With Delay" are displayed. I was thinking that "Turn On With Delay" could be a 2nd best substitute for your "Minimum Return Runtime"
Is there an "Advanced" menu I need to unlock, or what is going on?

My firmware is 16.5 ID:1043, as displayed in the About menu.

[Teken · Accepted solution]

Yes, the LCD Menu will need to be changed from Standard to Advanced.

You may refer to the full users manual here:

https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_enDocType=User+guide&p_File_Name=JGNY-9U4AMZ_R1_EN.p...

Turn on with delay has a maximum duration of 30 minutes but may be enough time for your personal environment.

Minimum return runtime offers you up to 546 minutes of adjustment. I suggest you play with a combination of the following to see how it works and if it meets your requirements.

In some installations we only use specific features such as delay, minimum return, load shed. Other environments we use a combination of 2-3 of these to meet specific goals and targets.

The only thing I can’t stress enough is to test and validate the settings actually work in your environment.

Keep in mind if you have extended battery packs connected. You’ll really need to put pen to paper and discuss what is realistic for the business vs uptime etc.

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