"Unable to carry out a self-test at this time" when trying to run self test

[BillP]

Running Powerchute personal edition 2.0 on Windows Small Business Server 2003 with a BX1000G. When I try to run a self-test, I get the following results (they just flip flop depending upon which round):

1. Gets about half way through self test and then complains that it cannot communicate with the battery backup and quits the self test.
2. Gets all the way through the self test and then gives me the "Unable to carry out a self-test at this time"

I've never seen this with the dozens and dozens of units I have dealt with.

HALP!

[BillP]

It is the 2nd one - I never actually saw it before LOL

That solves the blinking battery symbol but I still can't test and it still just shuts down any time I lose power, even just a blink in power.

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Michael,

Can you describe the battery symbol that is flashing? Is it the battery that looks like a AA battery or does it look like the one that you'll normally see on a car dashboard?

If it is the first, it means that you do have a disconnected battery issue. Although there is an actual battery inside the UPS, it fails to detect it. If it is the second one, it means that the UPS has transferred to battery power due to power disturbances.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I would like to know if you have tried downloading and applying the patch for PowerChute Personal Edition?

[SFPCPEUPD100|http://www.apc.com/tools/download/index.cfm]

Please let us know if it will work fine with the patch.

[Anonymous user]

I've had this problem also:

OS: Win7-64 (clean install with latest fixes)
APC Software: PowerChute Personal Edition 3.0
UPS Hardware: Back-UPS BR1000G
UPS Firmware: 868.L2.D

The "Run Self-Test" would only actually run the test every other attempt - i.e. First attempt - the relays would click at 10%, the power would switch to battery at 20%, the test would then fail at 50% complete indicating Power Source Unknown, and a few seconds later the UPS would switch back to line power and an error message of "Unable to carry out a self test at this time." would appear. Second attempt - the progress bar would go from 0% to 100% in 10% increments without any relays clicking, then the error message "Unable to carry out a self test at this time" would be displayed again.

The same software on the same Windows 7-64 computer, using the same cable, but run against an older Back-UPS RS1500 (over 4 years old and still working great) completes the Run Self-Test every time; the results indicate "passed" every time too.

Now, I seem to have solved this, but I don't quite understand why.

I installed PowerChute Personal Edition 3.0 (same .msi package used on the Win7 machine) on an old XP-32 laptop. Ran the self test against the BR1000G, and it worked - test completed normally and indicated "passed" I then moved the USB cable back to the Windows 7-64 machine. The first test went from 0-100% without doing the test, but the second test worked. So, now I still see the same behavior as above, with every other self-test not actually doing anything, but when the self test actually makes the relays click, it passes.

One further comment - when I tried to uninstall the PowerChute software from the XP laptop, the installer wouldn't uninstall without the UPS plugged in! This is bad behavior, what if the hardware had died and I wanted to uninstall PowerChute?


Edit - I'm continuing to test this (and I want to mention that Ronny from APC's customer support has been very helpful here) and there do remain some issues, though it now mostly works. Now when I run a test (that actually causes the relays to click, not the one that just progresses to 100%) occasionally I still get the "Unable to carry out a self test at this time." It seems that if the UPS remains on battery much beyond the 50% complete, there's a good chance that the test will not complete. I must also say that not once has the power from this UPS failed; I am only having issues with the manual self test and so far only when in Windows 7-64.

Message was edited by: mark_r

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I've got the same error with the following system:

Model: Back-UPS CS 500
Serial number: 4B1051P13097
Firmware revision: 808.q10.I
Software version: PowerChute Personal Edition 3.0
Date of last manual self-test: Never
Result of last manual self-test: Not Recorded

Any ideas?

[BillP]

Hi Andrey,

Are you also using the same Operating System like what the original forum poster is using?

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

I have had this problem a few times with my BX1000G. There is a log file in the powerchute folder. It gets overwritten so you need to look at it right away.

When this happens, mine says "lost communications with UPS" (something like that).. Once it happens, it will happen every time unit I "reset" the ups. I do this by:

turning off the ups
unplug it from the ac power source
remove the battery
let it sit for a couple of minutes, then install the battery and plug it back in.

It has happened to me 3 ~ 4 times. I'm waiting for it to do it again so I can capture the logs and RMA the device. It is only a few months old. Mine is able to handle a power event though..

In regards to your problem about shutting down with any type of power event..

Remove the usb cable from the ups or the host.
Unplug the unit from ac and see if it runs.

Have a non-critical load on the ups at the time you decide to test it.

Message was edited by: barryware

[BillP]

barryware - thank you for the tips, I will try them this weekend at the latest and let everyone know what happens.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

barryware - thanks for your answer! I was also getting this error message when trying to run the self-test. Same thing in the log file. I was going thru the process of doing the reset when I opened the battery compartment to find a cracked battery with material being exposed! I guess I have my answer. 8-)

I guess my question is, why isn't there something more conclusive/helpful in the GUI that says something like: "Next steps: Reset your UPS and check the battery."?

Just sayin'......

[BillP]

Running Powerchute personal edition 2.0 on Windows Small Business Server 2003 with a BX1000G. When I try to run a self-test, I get the following results (they just flip flop depending upon which round):

1. Gets about half way through self test and then complains that it cannot communicate with the battery backup and quits the self test.
2. Gets all the way through the self test and then gives me the "Unable to carry out a self-test at this time"

I've never seen this with the dozens and dozens of units I have dealt with.

HALP!