What are the events on my APC Back-UPS 1500 that are not logged in PowerChutePersonalEdition software

[jakeeer]

My UPS regularly trips and my home's lights flicker at the same time, usually half a second after it trips. The front panel of the UPS records events but the PowerChute Personal Edition software does not log any of them. First question:

Does my PC have to be running with the data port connected for the events to be logged in the software? I left my PC on last night and 2 events were logged on the front panel, but not not in the software.

How can I get more information about these events? I want to know what's causing them. On "bad" days the UPS will trip more than a dozen times.

In the software, the sensitivity is set to normal.

The only things plugged into the UPS are my gaming PC and my monitor. The UPS has been doing this ever since I purchased it brand new. 

[Teken]

At a high level the computer running APC PCPE software must be on and connected to record the events that may occur. 

The events and data logs that you need to focus on are the AVR events. The input / output voltage, frequency, and the number of times the system goes on battery only mode.

All of the above will offer some insight as to the power quality or lack thereof in your specific area. ☝️

In no way should you rely solely on the UPS to determine the true power quality of the line. If that is your intention you’ll need to spend a lot more finances and time to monitor, track, and record past events with a power quality analyzer and scope.

The UPS can not show you THD (Total Harmonic Distortion). It also can not show you extremely fast & short (timely events) such as voltage sags, rise, spikes, surges.

This is why reviewing the input / output voltage offers an overview of these events. If your unit includes an AVR circuit when this system engages it tells you (generally speaking) the user defined upper / lower voltage has been met.

At which point the system engages the AVR circuit to trim / boost the output voltage to the connected loads.

If the system goes into battery only mode this indicates the user defined sensitivity (Power Quality) has been met. At which point the system will provide clean inverted power directly from the battery / inverter system to the output(s). 

Let me know if you have more questions. 👍

NOTE: It should be made clear there are dozens of reasons why you don’t see something vs it being reacted to but not visible to you. 

IE. Polling frequency, update frequency, graphs / charts are RMS (Averaged), hardware is not capable in tracking fast / short transients etc.