PowerChute Serial Shutdown question: automated self-tests?

[LarryK]

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...

[Teken]

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! 🤦‍♂️

[LarryK]

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?

[Teken]

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.

[LarryK]

@Teken 

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?

[Teken]

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. 👍

[LarryK]

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.

[LarryK]

Of course, it is four months later and I'm still waiting to find out when - if ever - APC is going to release the update that fixes a problem that should not have existed in the first place...

[fredkm]

I don't know if PCPE actually supports the feature of triggering a self-test every two weeks. If it does then I'm afraid this feature wasn't ported over to PCSS.

Back-UPS perform a self test every time the UPS is powered on. Obviously PCSS will not be able to detect this self test if the UPS is powering the server that has PCSS installed. Once the server is powered on, and PCSS has established communications with the UPS, PCSS will report self tests. This is the reason you only see the manual self tests triggered from the Diagnostics page in PCSS Event Log. Most Smart-UPS support scheduled self-tests (like every week or every 2 weeks). You can configure this UPS feature in PCSS UI or through the UPS LCD. This feature is not supported in Back-UPS models afaik (at least not configurable) and thus not available in both PCPE and PCSS UI.

[LarryK]

This is the banner inside PCPE running on a BackUPS 600 M1.  If you were NOT aware that this software performs a test every two weeks, you should refresh your educational units.

I've been an APC partner for nearly 20 years, and PCPE has ALWAYS supported BackUPS devices for this VERY reason.

So Schneider Electric has failed to port the most basic testing logic into the new software (which boggles my mind).

[fredkm]

I'm well aware of the claim PCPE makes in banner and documentation, but I've never seen this automatic 2-week self-test working with my Back-UPS. Or, if it does work, it's not getting reported in PCPE and Windows Event Log. And yes, I've actually left the UPS powered on for more than two weeks, and OS with PCPE installed running uninterrupted, to test this. So, either this feature is not working / not supported with my Back-UPS model, or the information about automatic 2-week self-test in PCPE is incorrect.

PCPE does report a self-test triggered on the UPS in system tray and in Windows Event Log (on my Back-UPS you can trigger a self-test by pressing the Power button for more than 4 seconds). This means 2-week self-tests should also show up in Windows Event Log.

Do you have proof that this automatic 2-week self-test is actually working with your Back-UPS?

[fredkm]

I also found this FAQ which claims that all Back-UPS will run automatic self-test every 7 days after power on. Which makes the automatic 2-week PCPE-triggered self test rather useless (if it even works).

Anyway, if the claims in the FAQ hold true, then I don't see a good reason for adding support in PCSS for automatic 2-week self tests. Your Back-UPS already runs automatic 1-week self tests.

[Teken]

I believe there needs to be some clarification as to the ask.

One is capturing the automatic self test regardless of the interval (7/14 days) within PCSS.

The other is defining the self test period whether it be 7 or 14 days. As it relates to this specific ask I don’t ever see it being made available given APC’s history and track record in software development! 🤦‍♂️👎

I haven’t seen another Fortune 500 company do so poorly in software / firmware development as APC! 🤢

They are literally still using 1990 technology and development methods?!?

As it relates to PCSS recording this (Self Test) event - it obviously should! ☝️

[fredkm]

A running PCSS Agent service captures all UPS self-tests, including the automated ones, for both Back-UPS and Smart-UPS. These self-tests will show up in PCSS Event Log. If PCSS Agent service is not running during a UPS self-test then obviously PCSS will not capture the self-test.

This FAQ clearly outlines that all Back-UPS run automated self-tests every 7 days after UPS power on.

PCSS does NOT support configurable automatic self-test schedule for Back-UPS (none, on startup, on startup and every 7 days, on startup and every 14 days). This UPS feature is only available on Smart-UPS.

Hope this answers all the PCSS questions.

[Teken]

If PCSS captures the 7-14 day self test on his specific model Back-UPS 600 M1 in the event log that is perfectly fine. 👍

As to having the ability to schedule a self test via PCSS Software. In 2024, that should be a given feature / option! 🤦‍♂️

Than again this is the same company that can’t fix / resolve outstanding issues over decades on products that are now EOL!

Think email, certificate creation, firmware updates, documentation, etc. But wait there’s this thing they are pushing called the cloud!

But, it can’t poll and mass update the firmware on the UPS hardware?!? Than again, why anyone would be so incompetent in doing that in the first place just boggles the mind. 🤢

[LarryK]

Attaching screenshots of one computer's status with respect to the PCPE 14 day tests.

 

 

 

This is behavior that I've known - and expected - for years.

My expectation is that if APC/SE is retiring an old produc, then the new / replacement product should be capable of providing the same information.

[LarryK]

And - quite sadly - I just learned APC/SE released PCSS 1.3 near the end of November 2024, and the Release Notes make no mention of any correction to the self-test functionality.  I am sorely disappointed....

[LarryK]

So, being the APC glutton for punishment that I am, I upgraded my PCSS installation to 1.3 and manually ran the self-test.

This is what appeared in the Event Log:

The 1007 entry is the start of the test; the 1004 entry is the successful conclusion of the test.

Back in 14 days (or so) to see if there's any change..

[LarryK · Accepted solution]

I am very pleased to say that the 1.3 version of the PCSS software does conduct the requisite 14 day self-tests (despite no mention of this fix/feature in the Release Notes):

And:

[fredkm]

Automatic self-tests, every 7 or 14 days after UPS powered on, is a UPS feature (see this FAQ). PCSS does NOT conduct self-tests (and neither does PCPE). You are correct in your observation that PCSS 1.2 did not detect UPS-initiated self tests, and this was fixed in 1.3. On most Back-UPS you can trigger a self-test by pressing the power button for 4 to 8 seconds. PCSS 1.3 reports this self-test and PCSS 1.2 does not. I agree this fix should have been included in the release notes. And the automated self-tests feature should be included in Back-UPS User Guide.