handling power outage

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I bought an APC UPS unit with the only reason an intention: handle power outages so that my PC doesn't restart while I'm away from home. It this unit totally fails to do what I need.

First of all, I don't get why parachute app doesn't list model and other such details in the "Current Status" page?

Runtime configuration options just freak me out: why is it so freaking useless? Why are there only these options: to shutdown after X minutes on battery power, OR to shutdown when X minutes of battery power left. I've had it already multiple times fail on my for that dumb reason: when power was out for extended amount of time my PC turned off and obviously I had no other choice but to fly to my home to turn it on. WTF?!

IMO, it's missing this runtime option: when power is off put PC into sleep mode after X minutes on battery (e.g. power consumption is lowest, but PC isn't turned off) this way my battery will easily support hours if not days of continuous operation until power is restored. Also, when power goes back up PC will wake up when network tries to "talk" to it.

The other good option: hybernate after X minutes on battery, and the most obvious and important part: unhybernate when power is restored! Why is it missing??

In my case I had two occasions when extended power outage made the unit useless: it shutdown my PC (even though hybernation is enabled) and all my open apps and state got lost (which shouldn't happen if regular hybernation was used). Why don't you enable laptop-style power options that allow me to configure how it should run on battery power?

[BillP]

Hi,

We apologize for your inconvenience. 

On 7/12/2016 2:28 AM, mtlroom80 said:

First of all, I don't get why parachute app doesn't list model and other such details in the "Current Status" page?

Model and serial number of the UPS will be found under the Technical Data section. 

On 7/12/2016 2:28 AM, mtlroom80 said:

Why are there only these options: to shutdown after X minutes on battery power, OR to shutdown when X minutes of battery power left. I've had it already multiple times fail on my for that dumb reason: when power was out for extended amount of time my PC turned off and obviously I had no other choice but to fly to my home to turn it on.

PowerChute is designed to power the OS down when the UPS switches to battery. When the PowerChute commands the OS down the UPS will wait approximately 2 minutes and then go into sleep mode. After being in sleep mode for approximately 9 minutes the UPS will power down. When AC is restored the UPS will re-energize the outlets and if the system BIOS has been configured to do so the OS will restart.

NOTE: some BIOS and some system power supplies will not restart without user intervention. 

On 7/12/2016 2:28 AM, mtlroom80 said:

The other good option: hybernate after X minutes on battery, and the most obvious and important part: unhybernate when power is restored! Why is it missing??

When PowerChute is installed it enables hibernate so when the OS is commended down any open files and apps are stored as is to the system harddrive and restored when the OS restarts.

NOTE: there are some system that do not hybernate and if a user in logged in remotely PowerChute cannot hibernate the system. 

[Anonymous user]

If I may ask, I'm curious as to which APC UPS model you purchased.

Use of the included PowerChute software is totally optional. Every version of Windows since Windows 2000 will recognize your UPS without any other software being installed. You can use Windows' own built in power management settings, and that might work better for your situation than the APC PowerChute program. (In particular, this approach would give you the "laptop like" settings you're looking for.) Even Windows 98 may have the needed software built in to recognize and configure an APC USB UPS.

If the model you selected is 750VA or smaller and you require that your computer continue running "no matter what" until power returns, I'd recommend getting a larger UPS. The larger models will have longer runtime and as the batteries gradually wear out, they will also have a larger "safety net" as a result. Depending upon just how important it is that your computer stay running, APC offers Back-UPS and Smart-UPS models that support the attachment of external battery packs for much longer runtime.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

sorry for delayed reply. The model number from technical data is listed as "Back-UPS ES 450G".

My usage: I need my PC to be always "ON", if there is short power down event then the unit works as expected, but over last couple of years I had two events where power was down for extended amount of time. Right now powerchute says "estimated battery time: 126  minutes", e.g. it should last for quite a while on battery alone. So, I DO NOT want pc to be restarted, so putting it to sleep or hibernate mode is OK when power goes down. All I need is that powerchute wakes up my pc when power is back up.

I think it's obvious scenario and I don't get it why it's not built into powerchute (supposedly APC is the company that should have figured out that kind of basic scenarios). Regarding waking up pc from sleep/hibernation: even teamviewer can wake up my pc. So... I just to understand: is the unit useless in my scenario? If it was able to put my pc to sleep then 126 minutes of battery time would easily becomes days in sleep mode (as it takes only a few percent of normal power at most to keep pc in sleep), and in hibernation mode it's essentially off. All I require that the unit not only able to put it into sleep or hibernate mode, but also wake it up once power is restored. Also, I just don't get it at all: how come there is no option to put it to sleep?! That option alone might be enough for my case: if APC unit is unable to do basic obvious stuff like I need, then I at least I'd be able to wake it up from sleep using teamviewer remotely when power goes back up.

[BillP]

Hi,

When power fails PowerChute Personal Edition will wait x time and hibernate or shutdown the OS or it will wait for battery to have x minutes of remaining battery life and hibernate or shutdown the OS. That is its job. Shut the system down when there is a power failure and before the battery drains. Once the shutdown process has started the UPS waits approximately 2 minutes and then it kills power to the outlets. When AC returns the UPS re-energizes the outlets and if configured to do so in the system BIOS the computer will restart. PowerChute cannot restart the computer since it resides on the computer and it is off.

If you want the computer to sleep while on battery uninstall PowerChute and configure Power Options in the Control Panel to have the system sleep after being on battery for x time. As William mentioned you do not have to run PowerChute. It is optional. 

[Anonymous user]

I don't get what's the point of PowerChute then if it cannot do basic obvious tasks?! Off course it is possible to do what I described: to put a PC to sleep and then wake it up. To put it to sleep is obvious basic task, to wake it up: battery unit is attached to pc via USB cable. Once power is back up, ic could wake up PC by through USB cable (just like it can wake up when you press a key on a USB-attached keyboard).

Anyways, I find it freaking strange that APC doesn't have that obvious functionality and I'm ok to remove PowerChute as long as I get behavior that I need... however, I just doen't get that suggestion about battery power: I'm using a desktop PC, not a laptop, and even though I have a battery connected, somehow the unit doesn't advertise itsef to the OS that it's a battery. So, I don't see any battery related option in PowerOptions. What can I do? Also, are there any other manufactures for back up batteries?

[Anonymous user]

By the way, today I had scheduled power down in my area again. I handled it as if I don't have any backup battery. Basically, it's just sitting and taking real estate in my place.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Perhaps, as has been mentioned, PowerChute isn't the solution for you. Windows' built in power management may be the better choice. If you uninstall PowerChute and let Windows' own software support take over, the computer will for all intents and purposes appear to have a battery as a power supply option. (The APC UPS presents itself as a USB HID battery class device, same as almost any other UPS you can buy with computer communication capabilities.)

There certainly are other companies that manufacture uninterruptible power supplies. A quick web search ought to readily turn them up. Likewise these other brands are carried by most any reputable computer parts or office supply retailer.

On 8/4/2016 2:40 PM, mtlroom80 said:

By the way, today I had scheduled power down in my area again. I handled it as if I don't have any backup battery.

I don't really understand what you're saying here. Are you saying that the UPS is disconnected and out of service, or that it is connected and failed to work as you expected?