APC UPS for Home and Office Forum
Support forum to share knowledge about installation and configuration of APC offers including Home Office UPS, Surge Protectors, UTS, software and services.
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Posted: 2024-06-14 07:43 AM
In PowerChute Personal Edition 3.1, the User Guide states:
Battery Self-Test and Replacement Date
PowerChute runs tests on the battery in your battery backup automatically every two weeks, but if you are unsure of how well the battery is presently working click on the Run Self-Test button to find out.
You should replace the battery in your battery backup every three years or so. When you do so, click on the Replace Battery Date button on this screen page and, after you confirm in a message box, today’s date will be inserted in this field.
I've read most of the PowerChute Serial Shutdown 1.2 documentation, and cannot find anything that refers to a schedule battery test - other than the one-time manual Diagnostic.
Did this scheduling feature just disappear? Is it planned to be implemented in a future version of the product? Or is there no reason to test UPS batteries on a regular basis?
Anyone...
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Posted: 2024-06-27 06:04 AM
APC Support writes:
The issue of self-test not being recorded by PCSS will be corrected when PCSS 1.3 is released. We don't have a release date yet...
But good to know someone (eventually) noticed this problem before I called it in.
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Posted: 2024-06-14 08:41 AM
Pretty sure it’s not worded correctly as it relates to the Self Test.
All of the APC UPS will self test upon first start / power up. It’s this (first start) that determines the 14 day self test.
The basic (UPS) units rely on the internal counter. Power Chute software can initiate a manual self test if the user wants.
The higher end units allow six different options as it relates to the Self Test. They are Never, UPS Startup, Every 7th / 14th day, UPS Startup and every 7th / 14th day since startup.
The Self Test generally speaking is a POST (Power On Self Test) which tests all internal components in the system for active faults / errors. This also includes completing a rudimentary load test and comparing it to a voltage table.
The APC Self Test is anything but factual or accurate as it relates to a high confidence level! 🤢
Regardless, this is what you can expect from 1980 technology still being used in 2024! 🤦♂️
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Posted: 2024-06-14 12:11 PM
OK, you're saying those consumer boxes run the self-test on their own. I get it - PCPE recorded those events and depicted that information in the product view.
But PCSS doesn't show anything other than the first (more likely last) manual test. The UPS is still going, but this new software, what - just doesn't care?
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Posted: 2024-06-14 12:42 PM . Last Modified: 2024-06-14 01:42 PM
I have no clue if PCSS cares or even knows as it relates to your specific UPS hardware model.
Lots of older APC UPS models are NOT supported in PCSS Software. Hence why the consumer must continue to use the PCPE / PCBE software provided with their legacy hardware.
What specific model UPS is this that doesn’t show the Self Test being completed by the system?
Release Notes:
The 940-0023 cable does not perform properly with a UPS using Simple Signaling.
PowerChute requires the 940-0020 or the 940-0128 cable for UPS communications using Simple Signaling. If you were using the 940-0023 cable with a previous PowerChute product, you must replace it with the 940-0020 or 940-0128 cable when you use PowerChute Serial Shutdown.
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Posted: 2024-06-17 09:25 AM
OK, I see that entry, but it is only applicable to Smart-UPS. I've got a Back-UPS RS 1000MS with a 940-0127B USB cable that came with the device when purchased in March 2024. Are you suggesting that to get this software to work "properly" I am going to need to purchase a new USB cable? Or do I go without periodic updates?
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Posted: 2024-06-17 11:00 AM
Does the original PCPE software that was included with the Back-UPS RS 1000MS UPS have the option(s) to define when the Self Test is to be initiated?!?
If (Yes) than define whatever self test interval is available in the PCPE software. If the answer is (No) there isn’t an option to define a self test interval, than it’s not supported.
If the answer up above was (Yes) PCPE does offer the option to define the self test interval.
But, PCSS Software does NOT offer this option than its obvious the software hasn’t been fully developed and optimized to support this specific hardware.
As it relates to the USB cable the information was provided for more insight. Given you didn’t provide any information as it relates to (what specific hardware) was having this issue. This is something you can try now to see if it resolves the issue. ☝️
If it doesn’t work you and everyone else asking the same will know. Changing the cable does not make a difference and APC needs to iterate the software to do so. 👍
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Posted: 2024-06-27 06:04 AM
APC Support writes:
The issue of self-test not being recorded by PCSS will be corrected when PCSS 1.3 is released. We don't have a release date yet...
But good to know someone (eventually) noticed this problem before I called it in.
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