APC pro 1200 not working

[ben_camb]

Hi all, new to the forum but thought this would be a good place to ask!

 

I've just bought a new, but second hand, APC pro 1200 UPS with a new battery. I flipped the battery over the right way (green side out), I plugged it in, turned it on by pressing the power button for 2 seconds (util the first beep) and the battery showed as empty and flashing. I then left it on charge over night, but unfortunately no change. I tested the battery voltage, looks decently charged at ~25 volts. I tested the battery terminal inside the UPS while it was connected, looks good, ~27v.

 

If I turn off the power to the UPS I can hear the coil whine of the transformer as it tries to switch over to the battery, but it just turns off. I've tried cold starting it too. Now you may say that its just broken, but the seller I bought it off tested another used (but basically new) UPS and sent me pictures that it was working and sent me the replacement. Again, the battery reads as dead. 

Whats could be going on here? either both units got damaged in the same way in shipping, or the seller is lying (but i doubt it cause hes been very reasonable and has sent me a second unit at no cost to me), or the battery is dead (even though it clearly has some charge...), or something else completely.

 

Anyone had similar experience or know where to start about finding out whats going on here? 

[Boomwebsearch]

18 minutes ago, ben_camb said:

Hi all, new to the forum but thought this would be a good place to ask!

 

I've just bought a new, but second hand, APC pro 1200 UPS with a new battery. I flipped the battery over the right way (green side out), I plugged it in, turned it on by pressing the power button for 2 seconds (util the first beep) and the battery showed as empty and flashing. I then left it on charge over night, but unfortunately no change. I tested the battery voltage, looks decently charged at ~25 volts. I tested the battery terminal inside the UPS while it was connected, looks good, ~27v.

 

If I turn off the power to the UPS I can hear the coil whine of the transformer as it tries to switch over to the battery, but it just turns off. I've tried cold starting it too. Now you may say that its just broken, but the seller I bought it off tested another used (but basically new) UPS and sent me pictures that it was working and sent me the replacement. Again, the battery reads as dead. 

Whats could be going on here? either both units got damaged in the same way in shipping, or the seller is lying (but i doubt it cause hes been very reasonable and has sent me a second unit at no cost to me), or the battery is dead (even though it clearly has some charge...), or something else completely.

 

Anyone had similar experience or know where to start about finding out whats going on here? 

 

I wouldn't recommend buying a used or refurbished UPS since generally you are going to have better reliability with a new unit and have warranty in the case something goes wrong with your unit and/or connected devices. Do you have spare batteries that you could use to test the UPS (to rule out bad batteries), if you can then I would try to get a refund from the seller and get a proper new unit since older ones are more likely to fail when you need them? If it is not showing charge on the batteries then it could be that the batteries were not designed for the unit (some contain chips that communicate with the UPS to show their charge) and/or the UPS has a bad curcuit/s which means that you are looking at a replacement unless you are/know an electrician that can perform the needed repair.

[Jinu]

You need to reset the UPS. Try this

 

1: Disconnect any attached load.

2: Unplug the UPS from the wall socket.

3: Disconnect the UPS' internal battery.

4: Push and hold the "On" button on the UPS for 5 seconds

5: Reconnect internal battery.

6: Plug UPS in to known good power source.

7: Turn UPS on.

[ben_camb]

22 minutes ago, Boomwebsearch said:

 

I wouldn't recommend buying a used or refurbished UPS since generally you are going to have better reliability with a new unit and have warranty in the case something goes wrong with your unit and/or connected devices. Do you have spare batteries that you could use to test the UPS (to rule out bad batteries), if you can then I would try to get a refund from the seller and get a proper new unit since older ones are more likely to fail when you need them? If it is not showing charge on the batteries then it could be that the batteries were not designed for the unit (some contain chips that communicate with the UPS to show their charge) and/or the UPS has a bad curcuit/s which means that you are looking at a replacement unless you are/know an electrician that can perform the needed repair.

Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes I'm fully aware of the risks of buying used equipment. its not the end of the world if it doesn't work, I'll just try and get a refund and look at getting a new one. 

 

No I don't have new batteries, the seller is in the process of sending new ones. I dont think the batteries are particularly smart, there are just a pair of terminals for power, no data lines. they are original APC batteries too. 

[ben_camb]

@Jinu Thanks for the suggestion, I've just tried that now and unfortunately no change. I have read though the user manual and cant seem to find any way of resetting the device beyond what I've already tried

 

[Jinu]

From your original post i gather that you disassembled the UPS to check the Battery Charging Voltage. And you verified that when you push the battery into the unit you are getting good contact with the battery connector in the UPS.

 

I above all is good. Then it could be a software issue. So hopefully you got the UPS communication cable (its a cable with USB at one end and RJ45 at the other). Connect that to your PC and UPS and install an application called Powechute 3.1 from APC. In that there is a Self test option, within that option there is a Replace Battery Date option . Click this option and change it to today. Then switch off the UPS and disconnect the mains and then connect back and see if it resolves the issue

[ben_camb]

1 hour ago, Jinu said:

From your original post i gather that you disassembled the UPS to check the Battery Charging Voltage. And you verified that when you push the battery into the unit you are getting good contact with the battery connector in the UPS.

 

I above all is good. Then it could be a software issue. So hopefully you got the UPS communication cable (its a cable with USB at one end and RJ45 at the other). Connect that to your PC and UPS and install an application called Powechute 3.1 from APC. In that there is a Self test option, within that option there is a Replace Battery Date option . Click this option and change it to today. Then switch off the UPS and disconnect the mains and then connect back and see if it resolves the issue

I didnt have to fully disassemble the unit to check the voltage, the battery is user removable. I did probe the PCB to check that no fuses had blown and that I could see the battery voltage from the PCB (which I can) so I can be fairly certain that the battery is making good contact.

 

Ive looked at the data cable, firstly shame on APC for making a proprietary cable for a UPS, thats just theft... anyway Looks like the pinout is simply USB (no FTDI needed) from an RJ50 jack so ill hack together a cable this evening and see where i get to. Odd that two units have exactly the same issue having been tested by the seller, but would make sense if it is a software issue with the battery replacement date as you say. Ill update if I find anything. 

 

Thanks again for the good troubleshooting suggestions!