Smoke & Flames from BR-1200

[Anonymous user]

This is the second APC UPS I've had that went up in smoke and flames. The first was an RS-1000, which APC replaced with my current BR-1200. The power was off, but the unit was still plugged in. I heard a slight ringing tone, and then flame and sparks shot out of the unit. Another short ringing tone, and more flame and sparks, actually launching a burning ember out of the unit. By that time I had gotten under the desk and unplugged it. The room still smells of burning plastic and ozone. I suppose I should be happy that the unit protected my system by sacrificing itself, but it worries me that it could have started a fire if I hadn't been present. I often leave the system on when I'm gone, and even when I shutdown, I usually leave the UPS connected to the wall receptacle. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it a flaw in the unit, or something that's supposed to occur?

We were having a storm, with brownouts (which is why the unit was off), but it seems to me that a surge that would cause such a meltdown would have affected other electronic items in my house, but nothing else was damaged.

Thanks for any information

-aj

[Anonymous user]

I did contact Tech Support, and they are sending a replacement unit. I'm just nervous about using the new unit if it's going to go up in flames again. I posted here hoping to find out if this is a common occurrence or not.

Thanks,
aj

[TheNotoriousKMP_apc]

AJ,

As I had previously stated, after speaking with Product Leaders, it is extremely uncommon for one, nevermind two units to act like this. Chances are, it's something to do with the electrical that's passed to the UPS that's causing this. Two instances like this in one residence spread out over different sized UPS's are almost unheard of.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

This is the second APC UPS I've had that went up in smoke and flames. The first was an RS-1000, which APC replaced with my current BR-1200. The power was off, but the unit was still plugged in. I heard a slight ringing tone, and then flame and sparks shot out of the unit. Another short ringing tone, and more flame and sparks, actually launching a burning ember out of the unit. By that time I had gotten under the desk and unplugged it. The room still smells of burning plastic and ozone. I suppose I should be happy that the unit protected my system by sacrificing itself, but it worries me that it could have started a fire if I hadn't been present. I often leave the system on when I'm gone, and even when I shutdown, I usually leave the UPS connected to the wall receptacle. Has anyone else had this happen? Is it a flaw in the unit, or something that's supposed to occur?

We were having a storm, with brownouts (which is why the unit was off), but it seems to me that a surge that would cause such a meltdown would have affected other electronic items in my house, but nothing else was damaged.

Thanks for any information

-aj