Systems Crash during Self Test Unit not working pro-1000

[BillP]

It's the same on 2 computers and 2 pro 1000 units. Very disappointed that I dragged these all the way out to a client's house to have them both fail during power outages and crash during self tests. I've purchased over 20 APC units and this is the first time I've had an issue like this.

Specs:
Case Antec Sonata III 500w psu
Windows 7 64
Powershute Personal 2.2
Load on Battery 108W
Total Available Load 600W
Remaining Battery Charge 100%
Estimated Battery Time 47 Minutes

Devices Plugged in (to each battery): 1 Desktop, 1 Monitor (Plugged into Battery+Surge side with desktop as Master Device)
Computer Hard Crashes during all power brown/black outs, and the self test causes a hard crash as well with the software telling me it has never ran a self test when the system comes back up.

I need to buy 18 more UPS devices for another business and I'm pretty upset I can't get these working after configuring so many in the past. Spent 4 hours working on these two researching so far. Installed the batteries in them twice to make sure they were connected. Not getting any issue indicators from the batteries or the software.

[BillP]

Since the UPS does this during self-test and pull-plug test, I would like to know what happens when you turn the UPS on and then let it finish the self-test cycle and then turn the PC back on. Does it drop the load?

Can you provide the exact model number of the UPS? I've made some research about the kind of power supply that usually comes with that Antec casing. Based from Antec's website it comes with an EA-500D power supply and it is utilizing an Active PFC with a Power Factor of 99%. There is an APC Knowledge Base Article -> [http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/8883/kw/power%20factor|Computers containing PFC (Power Factor Corrected) power supplies and their use with Back-UPS or Smart-UPS SC UPS.] Based from this KBase, it shows that you need to get the rated output power of the PSU and multiply it by 1.25. In your case, 500Wx1.25=625W. And if you are using a BX1000G, this unit can only handle 600W.

There are cases as well wherein the Power Supply is too picky when it comes to the transfer time it takes for the unit to switch from online to on-battery and the kind of waveform the UPS supplies to the load.

I hope this helps you.

[BillP]

Thank you both for the replies. I tried the lamp test and the lamp did stay on. So I would say it definitely has been narrowed down to the battery not kicking on fast enough to save the computer from crashing. I did place the APC software on its most sensitive settings.

The APC Model Back-UPS BR1000G
Powerchute Personal Edition 2.2
Firmware 868.L.1.D

I am using the Antec Sonata III (case+500w psu (only putting out 117w load per APC monitoring)), and right now I'm debating who to call first. Will another model of APC handle these powersupplies if this one does not? Can I replace the APC units? Or do I need to install new power supplies (ex corsair)?

[BillP]

Thank you for doing the test for us. I would like to know if the unit drops the load when you do a pull-plug test. The transfer time of the UPS is unacceptable for the power supply. For a much faster transfer time, 2-4ms and a higher wattage/ VA rating getting an SMT1500 or higher would be good.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

I was able to build the whole computer for $500. Asking my clients to spend another $500 per system on just the battery backup is too much. I bought the pro units for $110 each and now have to sell those and ask my clients for an additional $390?

Sorry, but it's much cheaper to buy a new computer power supply for $50 that's not PFC Active.