last transfer to battery

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Hi, I usually consider myself a pretty good googler, but info at any respectable level of detail seems to be missing on the whole of the internet for my Smart-UPS 2200. Even the users manual reads like a set of reminder notes for the people who built it. The manual directs you to the CD, where you find, of all things, the manual (Gee, thanks).

That's the bigger problem that I'd be happy to have any advice about (a structured, detailed document, anyone?)

Now on to the specific question . . .

The local power utility got around to testing my UPS before I did. We lost power in the few days after I first plugged everything in, before I got around to installing power-chute and/or any other management utility. The good news is that the battery seems to have done its job, and my server is fine. But I am confused as to why I still see "Last Transfer: Test Ended" on the little built-in LCD console menu (because that is all I have to work with for now). Previously this made sense; it was brand new, and the most recent transfer was probably during the factory test before shipping. I know we lost power yesterday, and I know the UPS transferred to battery because my jobs are still happily chugging away oblivious to their interim peril.

Does the UPS self test after each event? How can I get detailed information (times, cause: black-out vs surge)?

Thanks for any help!

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

Yes. I just verified - lowest number event is the newest.

I suppose there may be a few types of events (or even a bug) that causes the last transfer reason perhaps to not update properly. I just ran into that type of issue on another type of UPS where the last transfer reason did not update properly.

Anyway, PowerChute only has its own log that populates when the service is running on a computer. However, the management card (AP9630/31) does have the capability to show those logs that you see on the front LCD with some type of time next to it. I say "some type of time" since its in milliseconds and you'd need to convert it. See below from my SMX1000. I believe the UPS stores these on its own like you're seeing so the management card could display them. I don't see them being more helpful than what you can see on the UPS itself.

On this UPS, my last transfer reason says unknown.

Anyway, a site wiring fault is explained here (What does the Site Wiring Fault Indicator LED on my UPS/Surge Arrestor represent? | FAQs | Schneider...) so one of these conditions must be true or was at some point. It is something you should look into. Apparently, since these UPSs have the front display, there is no site wiring fault LED on the back now, like most of our other UPSs of this size and smaller.

Lastly, can you tell me the firmware version from the About menu on the LCD? Something like UPS 08.1 ,etc - we can see if its up to date and maybe upgrade it since you just installed it to verify latest firmware? Not sure its going to fix anything but if you'd like to be up to date, I figured I could help you with that.

See Answer In Context

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

Hello.

The UPS only does its self test (by default) when you turn it on and every 14 days (which you can also change). Is it possible the UPS was turned off/on after the event or it did its automatic self test in between?

For any detailed logs for date and time, you'd need to have either the Network Management Card installed (which at least if it was in the UPS, you could configure it and check the log after the fact) or PowerChute Business Edition agent service running via USB or serial as you also mentioned. The UPS itself can only hold those logs you see on the LCD (last 10 transfer reasons or last 10 faults) and they do not show any detailed data via that LCD. I don't think you'll be able to get any more detailed data for this one unfortunately.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Thanks for your help, Angela. I'm glad to have you confirm that the information that I do have means what I think it should mean. Going with that, the only explanation would be that the UPS self-tested (coincidentally) since the incident. Only two people have access, and neither of us touched the UPS.

However, I found the "Logs" section under the "Advanced Menus" and I can now see the last 10 events. "Xfer Events" 1 and 2 are:

1 "Acceptable Input"

2 "Distorted Input"

The remaining events are all "Test Ended"--"Self Test" pairs (4 pairs = 8 entries). There are no details, but I gather you read the lowest numbered entry as the most recent (otherwise the pairs don't make sense). This seems to contradict the "Last Transfer" entry under the "Status" menu, which caused me to write. Since there are no dates, I'm still unsure. Will those details be viewable when install power-chute and connect via USB? (I do not have a Network Management Card.)

Also, should I be concerned that there are 10 entries under "Fault Event" and they all say "Site Wiring"?

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

Yes. I just verified - lowest number event is the newest.

I suppose there may be a few types of events (or even a bug) that causes the last transfer reason perhaps to not update properly. I just ran into that type of issue on another type of UPS where the last transfer reason did not update properly.

Anyway, PowerChute only has its own log that populates when the service is running on a computer. However, the management card (AP9630/31) does have the capability to show those logs that you see on the front LCD with some type of time next to it. I say "some type of time" since its in milliseconds and you'd need to convert it. See below from my SMX1000. I believe the UPS stores these on its own like you're seeing so the management card could display them. I don't see them being more helpful than what you can see on the UPS itself.

On this UPS, my last transfer reason says unknown.

Anyway, a site wiring fault is explained here (What does the Site Wiring Fault Indicator LED on my UPS/Surge Arrestor represent? | FAQs | Schneider...) so one of these conditions must be true or was at some point. It is something you should look into. Apparently, since these UPSs have the front display, there is no site wiring fault LED on the back now, like most of our other UPSs of this size and smaller.

Lastly, can you tell me the firmware version from the About menu on the LCD? Something like UPS 08.1 ,etc - we can see if its up to date and maybe upgrade it since you just installed it to verify latest firmware? Not sure its going to fix anything but if you'd like to be up to date, I figured I could help you with that.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Ok, it's not worth it to go on a crusade to find out exactly what the UPS thinks happened. Mostly I was using this as an opportunity to make sure I understood, in general, what it is trying to tell me. If there is a known issue there, it's not a rabbit hole worth exploring. I will install PowerChute in the next couple days . . .

On that same note, with regard to the Site Wiring Fault, Yikes! I'll have electrical come check out the room wiring ASAP.

Also, I do like to stay up to date w/ firmware and software issues. Here is what it tells me:

UPS 05.0

COM 02.1

UBL 05.0

CBL 5.21

Thanks, again!

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

OK, silly question. Can you verify the SKU from the front LCD under About? I am struggling by going with "Smart UPS 2200" and the current firmwares. I am guessing it is SMT2200 or SMT2200RM2U and I just want to get you the correct update but I do believe there will be one.

Anonymous user · ‎2021-06-29

Sorry, I got buried in other things for a bit. I found SMT2200 under "UPS Part No:" in the "About" menu. I don't see "SKU" anywhere.

BillP · ‎2021-06-29

No problem - same thing. Per How do I update the firmware of my SMT, SMX, or SMC series Smart-UPS? | FAQs | Schneider Electric US , I believe the latest update is UPS 07.1

That article also outlines the way to update the file via our UPS Firmware Upgrade Wizard and if you ended up getting a network management card, you could push it that way too.