battery discharging with no power alerts

[Anonymous user]

Twice in the last 2 weeks the battery has discharged to 50% with accompanying audible alert but there is nothing in the power alert history and another unit next to it has not gone to battery.

The alert tone was still happening when the battery got to 100%.

When it finally got back to 100% I did a self-test. This passed but suddenly the battery was at 47%.

[Anonymous user]

This is now regularly (every couple of days) sounding an alert tone with battery showing 100% and no events.

Anyone else seen anything like this?

[BillP]

Hi Chris,

Can you please provide the model and serial number of this UPS to help us troubleshoot this issue.

Has the battery in the UPS been replaced previously? If so, when was this replaced?

Regards,

Tom

[Anonymous user]

Model: Back-UPS XS 1400U
Serial number: 3B1637X21134
Firmware revision: 926.T2.I
Software version: PowerChute Personal Edition 3.0.2
Date of last manual self-test: Never
Result of last manual self-test: Not Recorded
RAM: 5.99 GB
Free disk space: 18078.21 GB

Despite what it says I did a self-test through the app and have now (took a few days to organise) done a full power off and restart.

The unit is only 2 1/2 years old so have not replaced the battery.

Unfortunately the app now says remaining battery charge unknown and battery is currently unknown. This is obviously not satisfactory and very worrying.

[Anonymous user]

Thomas any update?

[BillP]

Hi Chris,

Can I ask you to brain dead the UPS.

To do this, follow the below procedure:
 

1: Disconnect any attached load.

2: Unplug the UPS from the wall socket.

3: Disconnect the UPS' internal battery.

4: Push and hold the ""On"" button on the UPS for 5 seconds

5: Reconnect internal battery.

6: Plug UPS in to known good power source.

7: Turn UPS on.

Regards,

Tom

[Anonymous user]

Thomas I was planning to do this at the weekend when I could arrange an orderly shutdown of the systems.

Unfortunately Friday morning there was a minor blip in the power supply and the unit FAILED causing all my systems to undergo a sudden power off.

I Have since performed the steps that you suggested and the unit reports no problems, no manual shutdown and running a self test seems to proceed to 100% then reports 'unable to perform self test'.

I no longer have any confidence at all in this unit.

Please advise

Chris

[BillP]

Chris,

If the unit is showing 100% charge and not over loaded when it switches to battery it would indicate a bad battery. You should check the load and if high decrease it. You should also check the batteries voltage. You will need to power down the load and the UPS to remove the batteries for testing. Each battery if good should read around 13.5v DC. If they have weakened they should be replaced. 

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I have done further tests on this unit.

It had been off load since the failure and recharged to 100%.

I did a manual self-test, and after two attempts it passed (appeared on test screen passed) but still stated in status screen 'no self test performed'

With 100% Charge and zero attachments drawing power I removed the power supply.

At 1 minute 10 seconds it showed 50% charge and then continued dropping to 42%

A 5 minutes it dropped to 37% before rising again to 42% where it remained until...

15 minute it turned off but continued to show 41% in the app.

This unit has never been above 30% load and if the battery is failing (which it shouldn't do after 2 1/2 years) surely the unit/app should indicate this?

Why is nothing being recorded in the status screen for power offs, last time on battery or self tests?

At this point I am mo

On 29/1/2019 7:32 PM, Bill said:

Chris,

If the unit is showing 100% charge and not over loaded when it switches to battery it would indicate a bad battery. You should check the load and if high decrease it. You should also check the batteries voltage. You will need to power down the load and the UPS to remove the batteries for testing. Each battery if good should read around 13.5v DC. If they have weakened they should be replaced. 

re likely to buy a replacement from another supplier than spend money on a new battery for a unit that I don't trust.