UTS10BI seems to cause a fault on my UPS inverter

[Boatingrtb_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/27/2012

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I just installed my UTS10BI and tested the UPS by throwing the main breaker.

The UTS switches to UPS, the UPS flashes the overhead lights for a brief second, then throws a fault & resets itself. The UTS powers off completely, the UPS resets itself, the UTS powers back on, the overhead lights flash, the UPS faults & the cycle goes on & on.

I tested the UPS as a standalone with just a light bulb plugged into it & it works fine.

If I have nothing turned on in the house, the UPS does not throw a fault, the UTS powers ok & switches all the "either" circuits just fine and then I can turn on the house lights and it seems to work.

I did think of something this morning that I will try. I have the UPS Surge Overload Time set to 1 second. I will set it to Zero & see if that makes a difference. The UTS setting for the UPS is 1800 watts.

I have a Royal Inverter PIC2000 modified sine wave (2000 watts) with a 100 amp hour 12 volt deep cycle battery.

Does the UTS need a pure sine wave inverter?

Thanks for your help.

-Todd

[Boatingrtb_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/28/2012

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I tried setting the ups surge overload to zero.
It didn't seem to change in the results.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 9/28/2012

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i asked our UTS product expert who had several questions to try and figure out what is happening:

• Where is the PIC2000 plugged into during normal operation?
• How many outlets do you have set for "either" and also whether you have any set for "uninteruptible?"
• are the lights incandescent or fluorescent?
• are the lights on their own independent circuit?

It sounds as if the UPS/Inverter is becoming overloaded because without power from the UPS or any other source during a blackout or test, the UTS User interface will turn off - at this time, are suspecting the overload is likely related to the inrush.

[Boatingrtb_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/28/2012

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Warning, long winded gibber jabber approaching below...

The pic2000 is plugged into the convenience outlet on the UTS.

No circuits are set to "uninterruptible"

These are the circuits set to "either"

2-Cloths Washer & lights, set as "lights" on the UTS
4-garage door, lights, & plugs in living room set as "garage"
6-19 inch kitchen tv & microwave, set as "microwave", but no microwave plugged in yet.
7-lights & plugs, smoke detector, set as "lights"
8-Masterbedroom & Masterbath, lights & plugs, 46 inch LED 90 watt TV, Bose speaker system, 2 DVRs, blu-ray player, 2 alarms clocks, 1 electric shaver, set to "home theater" & "either" because I have a small APC BE350G UPS that the DVRs & the alarm clocks are plugged into that carry the DVRs until the UTS's UPS kicks in.

All lights are CFL bulbs.

B4 I throw the main breaker, those 5 circuits only show less than 100 watts between the 5 on the UTS.

If I use the PIC2000 solo (not plugged into the UTS) & plug a vacuum into it, the vacuum runs fine, runs in bypass mode while being plugged into mains, I unplug it from mains, the pic2000's own internal 10 millisecond 30amp transfer switch flips it from mains to inverter, the vacuum starts to shut down for a flash & then picks back up & is running on the 12v deep cycle. (1200 watts inrush)

It kind of sounds like inrush is causing the fault because if I have less then 100 watts asking for power at the time of the UTS switch from mains to UPS it works fine. If I have 3 or 4 lights on i.e. more then 100 watts asking for immediate power then the pic2000 throws the fault. But it doesn't make sense to my tiny brain why the pic2000 works fine as a stand alone with the vacuum asking for 1200 watts of immediate input, but not with the UTS when only asking for 150 watts of inrush power.

Thank you so much for the help!

By the way, my APC BE350G is not happy with the modified sine wave, nor is my smoke detector. The BE350 makes a buzz noise about every half a second or every second almost like a heart beat. I think I may go to a pure sine wave inverter.

Any recommendations on a pure sine wave inverter/charger at least 1000 watts that will use a 12v deep cycle group27 battery?

There seems to be so many inverter choices it's confusing to a simpleton like me to know what's a good one to get.

Of course ultimately it would be nicest to get the pic2000 working.

You folks are Great!!!

-Todd

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 9/28/2012

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i asked around again and we are thinking that it is possibly an inrush issue based on your new information or possibly a combination of step approximated sinewave with the CFLs as well.

Fluorescent bulbs - although they use low wattage nominally, have ballasts that are used to ignite the gases for illumination. All of them operating together could be causing the overload. i can't say we have specifically tested the CFLs with the UTS where I am at though.

also, Xantrex is a Schneider Electric company. it was suggested you take a look at something from their True Sinewave line maybe?

http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/power-inverters/overview.aspx

http://www.xantrex.com/power-products/power-inverters/prosine.aspx

[Boatingrtb_apc · Accepted solution]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 9/29/2012

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Thx, will the prosine handle the inrush?