UPS battery thing not WORKING

  • Thread starter Thread starter James Padolsey
  • Start date Start date
J

James Padolsey

I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
 
James said:
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
Click to expand...

Perhaps its battery is gonzo. Same thing happens to car batteries if
they are not used.
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
Click to expand...
 
James Padolsey said:
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
Click to expand...
I don't have any knowledge of that particular UPS but if you are connecting
a serial cable from it to your PC try removing it. Many UPS units use
modified serial cables. Using a standard modem cable between the UPS and
computers may cause problems like you describe can occur.

Other than that it might be time to test the battery(s) to see if they are
holding a proper charge.

Power supplies last various amounts of time depending on the load of the
computer equipment and the UPS size, basically the size of the batteries.
 
The sealed lead acid batteries used in UPSs are much worse than car batteries. They have a much shorter shelf life and will go dead in a few years even when used very little.
James said:
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
Click to expand...

Perhaps its battery is gonzo. Same thing happens to car batteries if
they are not used.
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
James Padolsey said:
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immediately (isn't the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
Click to expand...
I don't have any knowledge of that particular UPS but if you are connecting
a serial cable from it to your PC try removing it. Many UPS units use
modified serial cables. Using a standard modem cable between the UPS and
computers may cause problems like you describe can occur. If this makes
the UPS function correctly you need to track down the proper serial cable.

Other than that it might be time to test the battery(s) to see if they are
holding a proper charge.

Power supplies last various amounts of time depending on the load of the
computer equipment and the UPS size, basically the size of the batteries.
 
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
computer and two monitors.
Click to expand...

What specific monitors?
Generally speaking, you should not plug two monitors into a
300VA UPS, that is too high a load and may exceed the
current potential. That is CRTs though, you might be able
to manage it for awhile with LCDs, but even then, it would
be best to use a far larger UPS or only one monitor if the
UPS is working right (and/or, after you rectify the problem
and it is then working right).
I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge)
Click to expand...

We may need more specifics, not generalizations... like,
what was "Some time" and how long had the UPS been lying
around and how old is the battery? While lying around, was
it plugged in or did the battery drain for that period?

i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.
Click to expand...

.... or something

Generally you do not want to make it last till the battery
is drained, that is what is hardest on batteries. The best
use of an UPS is to allow a graceful, but almost immediate,
shutdown. You didn't imply otherwise though and I realize
what you mean that it should have still ran longer, so it
would tend to be one of the aforementioned factors that you
either have a battery going bad or the total current was too
high and you could retry with fewer parts connected.

If it won't run for at least 5 minutes with the system and
one LCD, or a budget grade system (not a well endowed
workstation, gaming or server system) plus a moderate sized
CRT, I'd replace the battery (though now, you can measure
the battery voltage with a multimeter and observe any
indicator LEDs on the front of the UPS). If your powered
device needs exceed what I just outlined, you might be
better off putting the money into a larger UPS instead of a
new battery for that one- or get the battery anyway and you
can always use it for some other powered equipment or only
some of the stuff you have currently attached.
 
James Padolsey said:
I had a UPS lying around and decided to use it. I plugged it in to my
computer and two monitors. I switched my computer on, and then after
some time (so it could charge) i turned the mains off and the computer
shut down immdeiatly (isn'nt the power supply meant to last 20 minutes
or something.

I can find the make of my power supply in the [control panel-->power
options --> ups -----> select] but it won't let me press finish. The
make is an ACM back-UPS 300 i think.

Does anyone know what the problem is??
Click to expand...

Back-UPS is an APC Trademark. Their batteries usually have to be charged
for at least 8 hours initially. A 300 VA unit probably will run your
computer, but as others pointed out not 2 CRTs for very long, 2 minutes
maybe.

Web site is here; http://www.apcc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=21
 
Mike Walsh said:
The sealed lead acid batteries used in UPSs are much worse than car
Click to expand...
batteries. They have a much shorter shelf life and will go dead in a few
years even when used very little.
And if left in storage *discharged* may become permanently sulfated in just
a few months!
 
The batteries are too old and so will not hold a charge. Either replace the
batteries or get a new unit.
 
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