APC UPS Problem

[Fulmar]

So I have an older APC Smart UPS 1400 hooked just to my PC (I have a separate UPS for the monitors).  About 15 minutes ago I was just browsing the internet and my computer shuts off and the UPS starts beeping and theres a red X flashing (not static) over the battery symbol.

I'm hoping its not an internal fault with the UPS.  The power did not surge/spike/go out at any time during this since I have another UPS plugged into the same socket and that was unaffected.  I got the unit second hand and I've used it for about 4 years, which is also the age of the batteries, roughly around the 3-5 year average service life of the batteries.  Pulled the batteries out and they're beginning to show signs of a very little amount of swelling which is common in older sealed lead acid batteries.

I can't tell if the batteries are bad tonight since I only have a volt meter and they are reading proper voltages.  I'll have to stop into work tomorrow to do a load test on them so see what kind of amperage i can get.  Hopefully they're just bad, but I'm confused with the unit just shut off when there was no power interruption.  The one thing I didn't try was once it was shut off, trying to start the computer again.  This would rule out a bad unit if it booted and it was battery related.

Or maybe the UPS was doing its monthly (or whatever) self test and the batteries couldn't hold anything.  Who knows, I'll keep the post updated.

[edog1977]

At the small business I work at we had to replace the batteries in all five of our UPS's in the last six months.  Yep all purchased at the same time, around five or six years ago.  When they failed there was a loud and continuous beep from the UPS, but none of the computers shut down. 

Don't know if that helps much, but it sound like more than a bad battery to me.

[Fulmar]

Thats what I'm guessing.  I'm not out anything since I got it second hand and we have a stack of old ones at work I'm sure I can replace.

[TilDeath]

Agreed most likely battery going to battery heaven.

[gyrene81]

Replace the UPS. Most likely one or both batteries are dead. Easiest way to test is to unplug the ups from the wall with a lamp connected.

Those 1400 APC units are usually very solid, but when they go, it's unnerving. I don't know how old your house is but, I wouldn't have 2 UPS's plugged into the same socket or even the same breaker leg (unless it's unavoidable). If your house wasn't built within the last 10 or 15 years you could lose both UPS's and the things connected to them if you have a significant electrical event. The internal circuitry is supposed to stop such things but that doesn't always happen, especially with older household wiring...I've even seen it in older commercial buildings.

I hope you don't have a laser printer connected to your UPS's either...worse than a space heater.

[Chalenge]

Its cheaper to replace the batteries. 

I would bet the battery store (I use Battery Source) can find a better battery at a cheaper price for you.

[Fulmar]

Its cheaper to replace the batteries. 

I would bet the battery store (I use Battery Source) can find a better battery at a cheaper price for you.

I work for Batteries Plus so I get everything at cost, which will beat anything out there.

[Fulmar]

Replace the UPS. Most likely one or both batteries are dead. Easiest way to test is to unplug the ups from the wall with a lamp connected.

Those 1400 APC units are usually very solid, but when they go, it's unnerving. I don't know how old your house is but, I wouldn't have 2 UPS's plugged into the same socket or even the same breaker leg (unless it's unavoidable). If your house wasn't built within the last 10 or 15 years you could lose both UPS's and the things connected to them if you have a significant electrical event. The internal circuitry is supposed to stop such things but that doesn't always happen, especially with older household wiring...I've even seen it in older commercial buildings.

I hope you don't have a laser printer connected to your UPS's either...worse than a space heater.

I'm not sure how old they are either, it's pre-USB plug on them and so its still the RS-232 comm port.  When I got them they were in mint condition yet, worked flawlessly for 4 years.  And no, no laser printer attached for them.  I remember rearranging my room and somehow I got the plug for my laser printer into the UPS and boy did that load meter sky rocket

[ImADot]

I believe many UPS manufacturers recommend replacing the batteries every 3-5 years whether they've kicked in or not.  I'm gonna keep tempting fate and wait a while longer...going on 5 years with my Back-UPS ES 725 and it's only kicked in 3 times for a total of maybe 30 minutes.

[Fulmar]

I believe many UPS manufacturers recommend replacing the batteries every 3-5 years whether they've kicked in or not.  I'm gonna keep tempting fate and wait a while longer...going on 5 years with my Back-UPS ES 725 and it's only kicked in 3 times for a total of maybe 30 minutes.

That's the general service life in a float application for Sealed Lead Acid batteries.  Just make sure you physically check them every so often.  When they get old they're swell up like having tumors on the side and sometimes they swell so much they're impossible to remove from the unit. 

Ways to test them are obviously load testers (an automotive one can work, a 12V 7AH battery generally gives out 100CCA when new, a 12V 18AH generally does 200-400CCA), unplug the unit from the wall and see how long they last, or give it the old shake test.  If the battery rattles, its 100% bad.

[Fulmar]

Follow-up:  Batteries were quite bad.  One battery failed a load test completely producing no amps and the other one was at most 5-10%.  Bought a new set for about $45 and the unit works just fine again.  Just caught me off guard that when the unit would do its weekly/monthly battery test that it would shut everything off when the batteries were bad and not stay on the line voltage during the test.

[gyrene81]

Nice price on those batteries...rayovacs or something else?

[Fulmar]

Nice price on those batteries...rayovacs or something else?

It our house label, but thats employee cost.

[eagl]

Every time I figure I'll replace the batteries in my UPS, it turns out that with shipping costs added in it's just not worth it.  I can usually get a brand new UPS, often with higher capacity, for less than $20 more if I wait until holiday or post-holiday sales.  When circuit city closed out, I got 3 new back-ups XS 900 units for under $100 each...  They're not exactly top of the line but they haven't failed me yet.

[Fulmar]

Shipping on Sealed Lead Acid batteries is a big kicker.  Lead isn't light.  The majority of the cost of a UPS is in the batteries and the transformers/capacitors.  The circuit boards are pretty cheap to make.  Thus why so many people just drop off old UPS's are our retail stores (the whole unit) thinking it will get recycled, but only the batteries will.  The UPS's don't get recycled, stores either stock pile them for themselves or some franchinse/store owners will craigslist/ebay the units for some extra cash.  I've probably obtained 10 or so 1000+ VA units for myself and friends/family.  And there's still about 20+ units at one of our local stores.