1 Maintaining Your UPS Batteries
2 ==============================
7 Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries, otherwise known as Valve Regulated Lead Acid
8 (VRLA) batteries, were originally known as "dry batteries". When first
9 introduced in the 1950s, they used a gel electrolyte. The otherwise free acid
10 was immobilised with a fine silica powder and formed a gel substance.
12 In the 1970s the technology moved to Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) where the
13 separators between the lead plates are made of highly porous micro-fine glass
14 fibres which absorb and immobilise the acid and prevent it from spilling. A
15 crack or hole in the casing of a VRLA battery using AGM technology will not
16 result in a measurable electrolyte spill. Spill containment with VRLA batteries
17 is therefore not meaningful or appropriate.
19 AGM has became the preferred VRLA technology for use in standby or float
20 applications and is used in UPSes in the telecommunications, power, and many
21 other mission critical industries where the power supply must not be
22 interrupted. APC UPSes use VRLA batteries. VRLA batteries are designed to
23 recombine hydrogen and oxygen and emit only extremely small amounts of
24 hydrogen under normal operating conditions. Normal room ventilation is
25 sufficient to remove any hydrogen, so special ventilation is not required.
30 Most brand name UPS batteries should last 3-5 years. Some APC Back-UPS models
31 may have a shorter battery life expectancy. Refer to the user's manual of your
32 APC Back-UPS to determine the exact battery life expectancy or contact APC
35 Below are some APC guidelines for ensuring optimum battery life expectancy:
37 1. Make sure that you keep your APC UPS in a cool, dry location with plenty of ventilation. Ideally, the temperature where your UPS is kept should not exceed 75 Deg F (24 Deg C). Also, for ventilation purposes, leave roughly one to two inches on each side for proper airflow.
39 2. The optimum operating temperature for a lead acid battery is 25 Deg C (77 Deg F). Elevated temperature reduces longevity. As a guideline, every 8 Deg C (15 Deg F) rise in temperature will cut the battery life in half. A battery which would last for 6 years at 25 Deg C (77 Deg F), will only be good for 3 years if operated at 33 Deg C (95 Deg F). Keep in mind that the battery temperature inside your UPS will always be warmer than the ambient temperature of the location where the UPS is installed.
41 3. Only perform runtime calibrations on your UPS one or two times a year, if necessary. Some of our customers want to check their systems to verify that their runtime is sufficient. However, consistently performing these calibrations can significantly decrease the life expectancy of your battery.
43 4. Do not store batteries for extended periods of time. New batteries can be stored for 6 to 12 months from date of purchase. After this period, the battery should be used or it will lose a great deal of its charge. It is not advisable to store batteries that have already been in use.
45 5. Do not exceed 80 percent of a UPS unit's rated capacity due to the reduction in run time. When you increase your load, your runtime decreases. In the event of a utility power failure, a UPS loaded to full capacity will drain and discharge it's battery quickly and will decrease the life expectancy.
47 The Smart-UPS detects line voltage distortions such as spikes, notches, dips,
48 and swells, as well as distortions caused by operation with inexpensive
49 fuel-powered generators. By default, the UPS reacts to distortions by
50 transferring to on-battery operation to protect the equipment that you are
51 plugging into the UPS. Where power quality is poor, the UPS may frequently
52 transfer to on-battery operation. Battery longevity and service life of the
53 UPS may be conserved by reducing the sensitivity of the UPS, as long as your
54 equipment can operate normally under the conditions detailed below. Any type
55 of voltage disturbance includes; High/Low/No RMS Voltage, Total Harmonic
56 Distortion(THD), Change in Voltage over Time(dv/dt), Frequency (Hz) out of
59 **High Sensitivity Mode**
60 In the event of any type of voltage disturbance, the UPS will transfer to
61 battery power and watch the AC line until it can transfer back to line. The
62 transfer time in this mode depends on how far the line voltage deviates from
63 the sinewave reference.
65 **Medium Sensitivity Mode**
66 In the event of a RMS voltage-out-of-tolerance(High/Low/No) and
67 RMS-rate-of-change disturbances(dv/dt) in the line voltage, the UPS will
68 transfer to battery power and watch the AC line until it can transfer back to
69 line. In this mode the transfer times are longer but still within acceptable
70 limits to insure the continuity of a computer's operation.
72 **Low Sensitivity Mode**
73 In the event of a RMS voltage-out-of-tolerance disturbances(High/Low/No)
74 in the line voltage, the UPS will transfer to battery power and watch the
75 AC line until it can transfer back to line. In this mode the transfer times
76 are longer but still within acceptable limits to insure the continuity of a
79 To change the sensitivity of the UPS, press the small, white "sensitivity"
80 button on the rear of the UPS. Use a pointed object (such as a pen) to do so.
81 The default setting is "high"; press the button once to set the sensitivity to
82 "medium", and press it again to set it to "low"; pressing it a third time will
83 set it back to "high". The sensitivity setting change will take effect
84 immediately. The green LED next to the button is a sensitivity setting
85 indicator - brightly lit is "high" sensitivity, dimly lit is "medium", and
86 off is "low" sensitivity.
88 Flashing Battery Charge Graph LEDs
89 ----------------------------------
91 The battery charge graph LEDs on the front panel of a Smart-UPS will flash
92 in unison when the UPS is operating online and the runtime remaining
93 (calculated by the Smart-UPS microprocessor) is less than two minutes
94 more than the low battery signal warning time (minimum of two minutes).
96 This would usually indicate that you need to either decrease the load
97 or install new batteries. If the batteries are new, then you need to perform
98 a runtime calibration (see below).
100 At a pinch, you could also decrease the low battery warning time. There are
101 four possible settings: 2, 5, 7, or 10 minutes.
106 If you own your UPS for long enough, you will inevitably need to replace
107 the UPS battery or battery cartridge. An APC battery cartridge comprises
108 two batteries physically stuck together with double-sided tape and wired
111 After the decision to replace the batteries, you will face
112 another decision almost immediately: whether to purchase genuine APC
113 replacement batteries or not. There are pros and cons to purchasing
114 genuine replacement APC batteries.
118 - APC batteries are supported by APC
119 - APC batteries come with all the necessary hardware
120 - APC batteries come as pre-made cartridges
121 - APC batteries will physically fit your UPS
125 - APC batteries cost up to 4 times the cost of third party batteries
127 There are also pros and cons to purchasing third party batteries.
129 **Third Party Battery Pros**
131 - A third party battery may cost up to 1/4 the price of APC batteries
132 - A third party battery may have a higher capacity for the same physical size
134 **Third Party Battery Cons**
136 - You will need to recycle your battery hardware (cables, connectors etc)
137 - You will need to create your own battery cartridges (with double-sided tape)
138 - You will need to ensure the third party battery is the right physical size
139 - You will need to ensure the third party battery is the right capacity
140 - Use of a third party battery will void APC's Equipment Protection Policy
141 - Use of a third party battery may void UL, CSA, VDE, and other safety certifications (according to APC)
143 If you do decide to use third party replacement batteries, please do not
144 choose the cheapest available generic SLA batteries. These batteries will,
145 almost without exception, not last as long as brand name
146 batteries and will need replacing within 12-18 months instead of 3-5 years.
147 Even when using brand name replacement batteries, make sure that you choose
148 the UPS version (aka "standby") which may cost slightly more,
149 but which will last significantly longer in typical UPS usage (long periods
150 of standby punctuated with infrequent deep discharges).
152 The brands of battery found in genuine APC battery cartridges have included:
153 Panasonic and B&B Battery (aka Best & Best Battery and BB Battery). Yuasa
154 (aka Genesis) is also a recommended brand, albeit a bit on the pricey side.
156 **Note:** When substituting a third party battery with a higher capacity than
157 the original, make sure that it still physically fits in the UPS casing. If the
158 battery does not fit, do not be tempted to install it "externally". The UPS
159 may not be able to charge it in a timely manner and/or it may damage the UPS
160 charging circuitry without appropriate modifications which are generally
161 beyond an end user's capability.
166 Although you can do a hot swap of your batteries while the computer and
167 any other connected equipment is running, it may not be very satisfactory
168 because the UPS will not always detect that the batteries have been swapped
169 and apcupsd will continue to report "Low Battery".
171 There are several ways to correct this situation:
173 1. If you have a "smart" UPS model, you can force a self-test to make the
174 UPS notice that the battery has been replaced.
176 2. If after a self-test, the UPS does not detect that the battery has been
177 replaced, you can use apctest to do a soft battery runtime calibration.
178 For details of doing this, refer to the "Soft" Runtime Calibration section
181 3. If after the soft battery runtime recalibration, the UPS does not detect
182 that the battery has been replaced, you will need to do a manual battery
183 runtime calibration. For details of doing this, refer to the "Manual" Runtime
184 Calibration section below.
186 "Soft" Runtime Calibration
187 --------------------------
189 A runtime calibration causes the UPS to recalculate its available runtime
190 capacity based on its current load.
192 Caution: a runtime calibration will deeply discharge the UPS batteries, which
193 can leave a UPS temporarily unable to support its equipment if a utility power
194 failure occurs. Frequent calibrations reduce the life of batteries. APC
195 recommends performing a runtime calibration only annually, semiannually, or
196 whenever the load on the UPS is increased.
198 In order to perform a "soft" runtime calibration it is necessary to wait for
199 the UPS to recharge its batteries to 100% capacity. Once this has been done,
200 you can then initiate a runtime calibration through apctest.
202 APC Documentation Notes:
204 1. In order for the calibration to be accurate, the output load has to be more
205 than 40% (some APC documentation recommends at least 30%). Also, it
206 is advisable not to increase or reduce the load when the UPS is calibrating
209 2. Under no circumstances should the UPS be turned off during a run time
210 calibration procedure! Once initiated, the calibration must be allowed to run
213 3. The run time calibration procedure is not necessary nor advisable for a new
214 UPS. Only old UPSes with batteries that are not subject to discharge for long
215 periods of time should be allowed to perform a run time calibration.
217 4. Matrix-UPS and Smart-UPS recalculate the runtime-related parameters every
218 time the UPS goes on battery.
220 When doing a runtime calibration with "older" batteries, APC Technical Support
221 recommend doing a complete discharge and recharge first.
223 If you have "dumb" UPS (aka simple signalling) like a Back-UPS, then your only
224 option is to do a manual runtime calibration.
226 "Manual" Runtime Calibration
227 ----------------------------
229 Most of the information in this section is taken from APC's website.
230 Any non-APC additions have been inserted in square brackets.
232 For a "smart" or "smart signalling" Back-UPS Pro or Smart-UPS:
234 Perform a Runtime Calibration. This is a manual procedure and
235 should not be confused with the runtime calibration performed
236 through PowerChute plus [or apctest]. The batteries inside of the
237 Smart-UPS are controlled by a microprocessor within the UPS.
238 Sometimes it is necessary to reset this microprocessor, especially
239 after the installation of new batteries. Stop the PowerChute plus
240 [or apcupsd] software from running and disconnect the serial cable.
241 There must be at least a 30% load attached to the UPS during this
242 procedure, but the process will cause the UPS to shut off and cut
243 power to its outlets. Therefore, attach a non-critical load to the
244 UPS and then force the UPS on battery by disconnecting it from
245 utility power [suggest not disconnecting, but simply turning off
246 utility power thereby preserving earthing]. Allow the unit to
247 run on battery until it turns off completely. Make sure a 30% load
248 is present! Plug the UPS back into the wall outlet [switch utility
249 power back on] and allow it to recharge (it will recharge more quickly
250 turned off and with no load present). Once the unit has recharged,
251 the "runtime remaining" calculation should be more accurate.
252 Remember that if the unit is an older model, then the runtime will
253 not improve significantly.
257 An APC Smart-UPS has a microprocessor which calculates runtime
258 primarily based on the load attached to the UPS and on its battery
259 capacity. On the right side of the front display panel there is a
260 vertical graph of five LEDs. Each LED is an indication of battery
261 charge in increments of twenty percent: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100%
262 (bottom to top). For example, if the battery charge is 99%, then
263 only four of the five LEDs are illuminated.
265 To ensure that an operating system receives a graceful shutdown
266 when using PowerChute plus or a SmartSlot accessory, an alert is
267 generated by the Smart-UPS indicating that the UPS has reached a
268 low battery condition. The alert is audible (rapid beeping), visual
269 (flashing battery LED or LEDs), and readable through the graphical
270 interface of PowerChute plus software (or a native UPS shutdown
271 program within a particular operating system.) In order to
272 calculate this "low battery condition," all Smart-UPS products have
273 a preconfigured low battery signal warning time of two minutes
274 (this is the factory default setting). There are a total of four
275 user-changeable settings: 2, 5, 7, or 10 minutes. If the low
276 battery signal warning time is set for 2 minutes, then the alerts
277 will activate simultaneously two minutes prior to shutdown.
278 Similarly, if the total runtime for a particular UPS is 30 minutes
279 with a low battery signal warning time set at 10 minutes, then the
280 UPS will run on battery for 20 minutes before the low battery alert
283 Total runtime is primarily based on two factors, battery capacity
284 and UPS load. UPS load and runtime on battery are inversely
285 proportional: as load increases, battery runtime decreases and vice
286 versa. When utility power is lost, the UPS begins discharging the
287 battery in order to support the attached load. Once power returns,
288 the Smart-UPS will automatically begin to recharge its battery.
292 It is unnecessary to subject a battery bank to an excessively long
293 calibration. Remove battery packs or increase the load (space heaters
294 are good dummy loads) to obtain a reasonable time length for the
295 calibration (under an hour if possible).
297 At the start of a calibration, the Matrix microprocessor saves the
298 Estimated Run Time displayed.
300 The unit will then go to battery power until the capacity is 25%. After
301 this run time has been completed, the original Estimated Run Time is compared
302 with the actual run time. It will then increase or decrease this value to
303 correspond to the new run time achieved. If, at any time during the discharge,
304 one of the following rules is violated the calibration will be aborted or
307 1. Battery capacity must be 100% at start of calibration (all packs must indicated as float).
308 2. Initial "Estimated Run Time" must not exceed 128 minutes (remove battery packs if necessary).
309 3. Load must be above 25%.
310 4. Load must not fluctuate more than ± 5%.
311 5. The UPS must be allowed to run down to 25% battery capacity. PowerChute [or apcupsd] and Accessories must be removed since they can abort the calibration prematurely.
313 For a "dumb" or "simple signalling" UPS (eg a Back-UPS):
315 This could be done if you have changed your equipment load or battery.
316 Stop the PowerChute [or apcupsd] software from running; disconnect the
317 serial cable between the computer and UPS. Next unplug the UPS from the
318 wall [suggest not disconnecting but simply turning off the utility power
319 thereby preserving the earthing] and let it run on battery until it
320 reaches low battery. Once it reaches low battery plug it back into
321 the wall outlet [turn the utility power back on] and let it recharge.
322 Recharge time can take up to 4 hours.
324 Resetting the UPS Battery Constant
325 ----------------------------------
327 In some cases none of the battery runtime calibration methods result in
328 the UPS reporting a reasonably correct battery runtime. It has been
329 speculated that this is because the battery constant value has drifted
330 so far from normal that the microprocessor in the UPS cannot correct it.
332 The good news is that if you are located in the USA, all you have to do
333 is contact APC Technical Support and they will send you a serial port
334 *dongle* which plugs into the serial port of your UPS and reprograms the
335 battery constant value for you to the correct value.
337 The bad news is that for many users outside the USA, this service does not
338 appear to be available. It is, however, recommended that you first try
339 contacting APC Technical Support to verify the correct battery constant
340 value. The APC representatives in the Support Forum on the APC website
341 are also very helpful in this regard.
343 *If all else fails*, the information below is for you.
345 **WARNING:** Only the values for the Smart-UPS 700 model SU700 and
346 Smart-UPS 1400 model SU1400, both with international firmware (and
347 therefore international voltage), have been verified. YOU, gentle reader,
348 USE THIS INFORMATION AT YOUR OWN RISK in the full knowledge that you
349 may render your UPS inoperable and perhaps irreparable, and you will
350 have no-one to blame but yourself. *Caveat Utilitor!*
352 The battery constant is the hex number in the column labelled "0",
353 presumably for register 0, in the following table::
355 UPS Model 4 5 6 0 Hex Firmware
362 SU450,700 28 F2 FA 96 07,RM=47 52.11.I
363 SU450XL,700XL 28 EE F8 9F 700XL=27 51.9.I
364 SU1000,INET 35 EF F9 A0 0B 60.11.I
365 SU1000XL 34 EE FC 9A 2B 61.9.I
366 SU1400 35 EE FC 9A 70.11.I
368 SU1400R2IBX135 08 B4 10 A3
369 SU1400RMXLI3U 45 F6 F4 80 73.x.I
370 SU1400RMXLI3U 20 F3 FD 81 73.x.I
371 SU2200I 35 EE FB AF 90.14.I
372 SU2200XL,3000 35 EE FB AF 3000=17 90.14.I
373 SU3000RMXLI3Ublk 35 F3 F4 AF 77 93.14.I
374 SU5000I white 20 F2 FA 91 1F 110.14.I
375 SU1400XL,XLI,RM 45 F6 E4 80
376 SU420I 25 95 09 85 16 21.7.I
378 SU620I 29 99 0B 8A 1A
379 BP420SI 0E 95 0A 8C 06 11.2.I
380 BP650SI 10 97 0C 91 0A 12.3.I
381 Power Stack 250 0C 95 0F B2 26.5.I
382 Power Stack 450 0D 96 10 99 36 26.5.I
383 SC250RMI1U 0C 95 0F B3 32 735.a.1
384 SC420I 0E 95 OA 8C 16 725.1.I
385 SC620I 10 97 OB 99 1A 726.x.I
386 SC1000I 08 95 10 94 8A 737.x.I
387 SC1500I 07 95 14 8F 1E 738.x.I
389 MATRIX 3000,5000 E9 F5 B0
390 SU700RMI2U 07 B1 0D 92 8A 152.4.I
391 SU1000RMI2U 08 B5 0D C7 8E 157.3.I
392 SU1400RMI2U 08 B4 10 A3 92 162.3.I
393 SUA1000I 07 B5 13 BC 0A 652.12.I
394 SUA1000XLI 0B BD 0F 7F 4A 681.13.I
395 SUA750XLI 0A B9 0C 86 46 630.3.I
396 SUA750I 04 B6 14 82 06 651.12.I
397 SUA750RMI2U 07 B1 0D 82 86 619.12.I
398 SUA1500I 09 B9 13 A1 0E 601/653.x.I
399 SUA1500RMI2U 08 B4 10 A1 8E 617.3.I
400 SUA2200I 08 B8 12 B3 26 654.12.I
401 SUA2200RMI2U 09 BC 11 81 A6 665.4.I
402 SUA2200XLI 0A B7 0F 7F 66 690.x.I
403 SUA3000RMI2U 04 B9 0E 70 AA 666.4.I
404 SUA3000RMXLI3U 0A B6 0E 89 xx xxx.x.x
405 SUOL1000I 06 B6 1B A6
406 SUOL2000XL 0D BD 14 75 52 416.5.I
407 SURT1000XLI 0A BB 19 A8 4E 411.x.I
408 SURT3000XLI 06 B6 0F CC 56 450.2.I
409 SURT5000XLI 05 BA 15 86 5A 451.13.W
410 SURT7500XLI 03 BB 20 97 63
411 SURT10000XLI 06 B8 19 AB 476.12.W
412 SUM1500RMXLI2U 03 B7 0D A5 62 716.3.I
413 SUM3000RMXLI2U 03 B7 0D A5 6A 715.3.I
416 The instructions for resetting the battery constant are as follows:
418 1. Shutdown the apcupsd daemon;
420 3. Choose option 6 to enter terminal mode;
421 4. Enter Y (UPS should respond SM);
422 5. Enter 1 (one, not el; wait 4 seconds);
423 6. Enter 1 (one, not el; UPS should respond PROG);
424 7. Enter 0 (zero, not oh; UPS should respond with current constant);
425 8. Write down the existing value so that if something goes wrong, you can at least put it back to that value;
426 9. Enter + (plus) or - (minus) to increment/decrement the value;
427 10. Enter R to reprogram constant value (UPS should respond Bye);
428 11. Enter Y (UPS should respond SM);
429 12. Enter 0 (zero, not oh; UPS should respond with the new constant);
430 13. Enter Esc to exit terminal mode;
431 14. Choose option 7 to exit apctest.