UPS switching to battery frequently... Should I be concerned?

[tommoose13]

Hey all,

 

So I've been running my PC and my Server on a CyberPower UPS for quite some time now, and recently I installed a portable A/C unit in my apartment in anticipation of the Canadian hot season in the coming months.  I've started running it a bit to get a feel for how it will perform, and I've noticed that every time the A/C kicks on, the UPS clicks onto battery for a couple of seconds.  Unfortunately, there's not much I can do to avoid this, as 90% of my two-bedroom apartment is wired on one 15A circuit, but it's made me wonder; if the UPS is going to be constantly switching onto battery for a few seconds every hour for the coming months, should I be concerned about reduced life expectancy?  Or is this exactly what a UPS is designed for?

[cmndr]

This looks somewhat relevant:

 

https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/44789/how-can-i-fix-flickering-and-continuous-clicking-with-a-ups-on-an-inverter-suppl

 

Generally speaking... your UPS isn't doing a ton to clean the power going to it. You might be able to adjust a setting or two. It'll vary.

[mariushm]

If you own the apartment, spend a few hundred dollars (or whatever they charge for a few hours of work) on an electrician to add a separate circuit for the air conditioning.

The UPS probably kicks in because the line voltage drops some amount due to the air conditioning pulling a lot of current when the fans and pump -0or whatever the air conditioning unit uses- starts up.

 

 

[An0maly_76]

You fail to mention specifics on your UPS manufacturer / model. If it's an APC, their PowerChute software has the ability to fine-tune the voltage sensitivity. Other manufacturers likely offer similar setups.

[Guest]

56 minutes ago, tommoose13 said:

Hey all,

 

So I've been running my PC and my Server on a CyberPower UPS for quite some time now, and recently I installed a portable A/C unit in my apartment in anticipation of the Canadian hot season in the coming months.  I've started running it a bit to get a feel for how it will perform, and I've noticed that every time the A/C kicks on, the UPS clicks onto battery for a couple of seconds.  Unfortunately, there's not much I can do to avoid this, as 90% of my two-bedroom apartment is wired on one 15A circuit, but it's made me wonder; if the UPS is going to be constantly switching onto battery for a few seconds every hour for the coming months, should I be concerned about reduced life expectancy?  Or is this exactly what a UPS is designed for?

The UPS probably isn't clicking to battery.  It's probably the AVR boosting the voltage from drops in mains voltage from the AC powering on.  

This IS what a line interactive PSU is designed for.  Battery kicks in at LACK OF POWER.  AVR boost during DROPS IN POWER.

 

I live in California so I have the lovely experience of dealing with PG&E which is the worst power company in the world.  So I have a UPS that sometimes goes on battery when they do their random roaming black outs, and an AVR that boosts the voltage to 120V when PG&E decides to only deliver 40V to the house.  That's the point of getting a line interactive UPS.

 

[tommoose13]

@cmndr That's like an extreme version and far more of a red flag, though I wasn't aware that things could be tweaked on the UPS itself!

 

@mariushm It's when the compressor kicks in, the fan is always running in my A/C unit.  We are currently renting, and the placement of the outlet for the A/C unit is directly on the other side of the wall from the outlet that runs my computers, so I'm not sure it would be an easy fix, if I could convince the landlord to let me make such modifications.  

 

@An0maly_76 It's a CyberPower 950VA, the SX950U I believe.  Thanks for mentioning software, I did briefly set up the software for this UPS on a different computer, then after failing to get it working with TrueNAS, never took a second look at it.  I'll search for/reinstall the CyberPower software and see what options I have to work with. 

@jonnyGURU I'm not sure if my particular model has the AVR function, the SX950U product page doesn't mention AVR.  If the SX950U doesn't have AVR, and the unit dies early from "overuse", I'm thinking AVR is something I'll want to look for in my next UPS.

Thanks all for the input, I'll update if I can tweak anything in software, or if my UPS suddenly dies this summer!

[cmndr]

16 minutes ago, jonnyGURU said:

The UPS probably isn't clicking to battery.  It's probably the AVR boosting the voltage from drops in mains voltage from the AC powering on.  

This IS what a line interactive PSU is designed for.  Battery kicks in at LACK OF POWER.  AVR boost during DROPS IN POWER.

 

I live in California so I have the lovely experience of dealing with PG&E which is the worst power company in the world.  So I have a UPS that sometimes goes on battery when they do their random roaming black outs, and an AVR that boosts the voltage to 120V when PG&E decides to only deliver 40V to the house.  That's the point of getting a line interactive UPS.

 

I don't think he has an AVR (audio video receiver).

Going off of anecdotes, my SO lives in a place with older wiring that's likely near its limits. There are times, especially when the AC is running that her UPS units click on and off in sync. Her AVR is NOT clicking at all. She's actually had TWO AVRs (I took the good one, she got the "good enough" one since she's running a 5 channel set up  and will never go to 11 and I wanted to try 11).

 

I've also seen this happen at my place.

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, cmndr said:

I don't think he has an AVR (audio video receiver).

HOLY SHIT!  WHAT?!

 

AVR is "Automatic Voltage Regulation".

 

[Guest]

16 minutes ago, tommoose13 said:

 I'm not sure if my particular model has the AVR function, the SX950U product page doesn't mention AVR.  If the SX950U doesn't have AVR, and the unit dies early from "overuse", I'm thinking AVR is something I'll want to look for in my next UPS.
 

Mm... Yeah.  You're right. That's a particularly crappy standby UPS. It should only be used for coffee makers, fax machines and televisions.  It's not meant to power a PC.  Take it back and get a real UPS.

[Ralphred]

1 hour ago, tommoose13 said:

Or is this exactly what a UPS is designed for?

That's exactly what your model is designed for, plus if it causes "issues" with the battery it's only an NP712 which should be replaced when the warranty on the unit expires anyway (they don't live long, they're only cheap).

[SavageNeo]

1 hour ago, jonnyGURU said:

(audio video receiver).

[cmndr]

2 hours ago, jonnyGURU said:

HOLY SHIT!  WHAT?!

AVR is "Automatic Voltage Regulation".

I have an issue of jumping between hobbies and interests.
Audio Video Receivers have their own voltage regulation equipment and also make VERY audible clicks when powering on and off or switching from eco-mode to full-power.