[SOLVED] UPS battery disconnected

lvm_ · 02-11-2022, 09:02 AM

A venerable APC Smart SUA100i first stopped logging weekly self-tests and then after a restart started logging 'Battery disconnected' messages exactly 8:02 after the apcupsd startup and nothing else after this. Otherwise works fine: no yellows or reds on the panel, can hold power failure and does weekly self-tests, just doesn't log them. Actually it was the power failure which prompted me to investigate - it worked but didn't post any alerts which made me check the log. Batteries are by no means new. So is it batteries or something worse?

Code:

2021-12-10 20:26:16 +0300  apcupsd 3.14.14 (31 May 2016) debian startup succeeded
2021-12-17 20:24:12 +0300  UPS Self Test switch to battery.
2021-12-17 20:24:23 +0300  UPS Self Test completed: Battery OK
2021-12-24 20:23:38 +0300  UPS Self Test switch to battery.
2021-12-24 20:23:45 +0300  UPS Self Test completed: Battery OK
2021-12-27 05:13:03 +0300  Power failure.
2021-12-27 05:13:06 +0300  Power is back. UPS running on mains.
2021-12-31 20:22:57 +0300  UPS Self Test switch to battery.
2021-12-31 20:23:09 +0300  UPS Self Test completed: Battery OK
2022-01-31 09:10:58 +0300  apcupsd exiting, signal 15
2022-01-31 09:11:00 +0300  apcupsd shutdown succeeded
2022-01-31 09:12:03 +0300  apcupsd 3.14.14 (31 May 2016) debian startup succeeded
2022-01-31 09:20:05 +0300  Battery disconnected.
2022-02-08 10:46:30 +0300  apcupsd exiting, signal 15
2022-02-08 10:46:31 +0300  apcupsd shutdown succeeded
2022-02-08 10:47:34 +0300  apcupsd 3.14.14 (31 May 2016) debian startup succeeded
2022-02-08 10:55:36 +0300  Battery disconnected.

computersavvy · 02-11-2022, 01:01 PM

If you know those batteries are old then that would be the first thing to check. If new batteries do not fix it then dig deeper.

Mine (APC Smart UPS 3000) has a screen that shows info about the status including battery charge as well as using apcupsd to monitor it.

Usually when the device says the battery is disconnected it means that it is not showing a voltage on the battery and is not accepting the charge maintenance current.

Fastest test: Remove the battery and do a quick voltage check with a voltmeter. Not definitive, but will quickly show if there is an open circuit within the battery.

Another quick test: Unplug the ups from the wall and if it maintains the PC running then it is working. If not then something in it is dead.

michaelk · 02-11-2022, 01:09 PM

Also check the UPS status

apcaccess status

jefro · 02-11-2022, 04:41 PM

I agree with both above.
We run hundreds of UPS's and they are more of a hassle than a solution for me.
Almost every UPS has a self test and it may be every 24 hours. As the batteries get old they may be in a state of sort of pass but not pass. That can cause the computer to reboot but the ups won't show bad battery.
Then the stupid batteries cost almost as much as a new unit so you ask yourself, buy new unit with new batteries or just get batteries.

computersavvy · 02-11-2022, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefro

Then the stupid batteries cost almost as much as a new unit so you ask yourself, buy new unit with new batteries or just get batteries.

I think the idea is that having a working UPS is necessary to keep critical servers from going down with short term power outages.

The cost of batteries makes a small UPS cost less than replacing the batteries, but when you get up into the 1000 VA and larger UPSes the battery cost is easily less than the UPS. I was able to get my 3000 VA UPS at an auction (new, unused, open box) and it runs my 3 systems at home for close to an hour with a power outage so it was a good investment at about 1/3 the cost of new.

To the OP: @lvm_ How long will the UPS hold power during an outage?
The logs you posted only showed a 3 second outage and that is not nearly long enough for a reasonable test under actual power failure conditions. If it lasts for as long as reasonably planned then it would seem that there is something wrong with the internal monitoring portion. If it fails quickly then it would seem to be batteries. I would suggest that you arrange a fair power failure test to evaluate the reliability of the UPS. You do not want to get caught with an actual power failure and a dead UPS.

lvm_ · 02-12-2022, 11:50 AM

Funny thing, I disconnected the USB cable, reconnected it back, apcupsd said 'battery reattached' and seems to be working now. Bad contact, I guess.