Powerchute Serial Shutdown indicates Failed self-test

[A_Anderson]

Recently purchased new desktop & attempting to connect to Back-UPS ES 650G1. Since powershute personal edition was end-of-life downloaded the new powerchute serial shutdown software. installation was fine, software recognizes UPS, and all was good until I attempted a self test thru the Powerchute serial shutdown. Results show failed every time and it does not sound as thought the unit switched to battery.

This is a simple home setup, workstation & ups with CPU, Router, and monitors on battery back up side of unit.

I examined the pcss.log file & extracted all the entries from the self test. They are attached.

Would appreciate it if someone could point me in the direction of what may be wrong.

Thanks

[BillP · Accepted solution]

@A_Anderson 

The UPS firmware does not support running a self-test via software so the test fails. By default the UPS will run a self-test every 14 days or when powered on. 

[WildWilly · Accepted solution]

I had an 8 year old BE650G1 battery fail which I replaced and then noticed the unit failing self test run from PowerChute Serial Shutdown.  I spent lots of time with APC tech support and they eventually recommended that I replace the unit to cure that self-test failure.  Only after buying a new BE650G1 and finding that it also failed (using 2 different laptops, different USB cables, different USB ports) and then checking my BE850G2 to find it passed did I conclude that the 650 does not support self test.  Another long call with APC eventually  (after lots of troubleshooting steps) and the support agent eventually said that, oh no that unit does not support the PowerChute self test.  It's unclear to me why, since the PowerChute software clearly knows what unit it is connected to, the self test is even a menu option.  So, lucky for me, Amazon allowed me to keep the unit while giving me a full refund.  No thanks to APC for wasting hours of my time.  Besides having sub-standard software, why does APC not make this software/product incompatibility obvious somewhere, anywhere?  Actually, it's worse than that. The PowerChute software help section says it only shows relevant menu options: 

"The model name of your UPS displays at the top level of these menu options, e.g. Back-UPS NS 650M1. All of the menu options relate to your UPS."

[BillP · Accepted solution]

@WildWilly 

Uninstall PCSS 1.0 and install PCSS 1.2 

https://www.apc.com/us/en/product-range/137943580-powerchute-serial-shutdown

I tested with NS675M1 with PCSS 1.0 and when running a self-test the software reports the test was triggered but does not report pass or fail. I could also see that a self-test was not triggered on the UPS. After installing PCSS 1.2 a self-test is run and pass/fail is reported. 

NOTE: If the UPS firmware does not support running a self-test the self-test will fail. The way to verify if the issue is the UPS firmware is to install PowerChute Personal Edition. The run self-test option should be missing from the menu options. 

https://www.apc.com/us/en/product-range/61934-powerchute-personal-edition