Why does my PC shut down even though it's connected to a UPS?

[Jism]

A UPS can only be tested with a actual load it's rated for vs a button to internally test it or measuring it's battery voltage.

I've seen so many false reporting - it's about what the battery's can sustain in current. When they age the maximum amount of current is depleting over time. That causes those shutdown's when a load is applied. The battery's cannot provide it thus the UPS shuts down, cutting the power.

 

[Franz]

strange right??

Not so strange, I've been using UPS for more than 20 years and 99,5% of the time never used USB monitoring. Its a pain in ass those monitoring apps, bugger and useless most of the time.

My last UPS have logs and graphs about a bunch of readigns but I still prefer leave USB free of bullshit and options like auto- power off I ALWAYS disable it.

I use since 2008 a 60A bank with my UPS and have more than 6 hours with no power here, never changed a single internal battery since then and always when I want to know how batteries are I run a discharging test

both my ups apc is never used 24/7 since sept 2021....

I recomend 24/7 if your power line is stable, batteries on floating charge last a wayyyy longer!

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Wall outlet issues ?

 

[Bill_Bright]

A UPS can only be tested with a actual load it's rated for vs a button to internally test it or measuring it's battery voltage.

Yes. No. Kinda sorta.

A UPS can indeed be properly and conclusively with a realistic load. But it does NOT have to be a load that matches the capacity of the UPS. That would be very unrealistic, especially for those, like me, who have 1500VA (865W) UPS on our systems.

In fact, EVERY UPS should be sized bigger than any load it is expected to support.

A decent UPS that has a self testing feature is more than adequate - MOST of the time. This is because the test does not really rely on the actual voltage itself (IF within specs at the initial start of the test). Nor does it rely on a full load. What is important to note is the voltage output of a battery that is weak or failing will quickly decay when a load, even a small load, is applied. The self-test function measures the rate of decay in this drop and if too quick, the test fails. Pretty simple - and effective.

The test will also fail if the voltage at the initial start of the test is below some pre-determined threshold. So again, very effective.

The problem is, it is NEVER good to just kill power to our computers. Unlike computers of yesteryear, a sudden loss of power will NOT damage the electronics. But it can cause file/disk corruption which may result in the computer failing to boot once power is restored.

So, if you want to ensure your UPS can hold a load, instead of testing with your computer connected, use a different load - like a 100W lightbulb as I noted in post #23 above. That is plenty big, even for a big UPS. If one or more of the cells is bad, the lamp will not stay lit for more than a minute or two - and more likely only a few seconds.

And yes, when measuring a battery directly with a meter, it must be in parallel with a decent load (as I noted in post #20 above)

 

[Methodical]

Change battery's of the UPS. 3 years is over-due and those battery's lose their capacity.

They might report as being full but the current they can provide is far less now compared to when new.

I had venting battery's one day in my closed office. Got burning eyes because of it. Later i realised in what kind of danger you are as a human being when in a closed space with battery's. Since then i never put a UPS near where i'm sitting anymore.

This^^^^. I had similar problem and a new battery solved the problem.

Can you see when the unit was built? Just because you had it since 2021 doesn't mean it was built in 2021. It could've sat for years before you bought it. Contact the APC company about the battery. If you still have the receipt you can prove you had the unit less than 3 years and they should replace the battery, however, if you don't have the receipt they will base warranty off of build day, which could be over 3 years.

 

[arni-gx]

This^^^^. I had similar problem and a new battery solved the problem.

Can you see when the unit was built? Just because you had it since 2021 doesn't mean it was built in 2021. It could've sat for years before you bought it. Contact the APC company about the battery. If you still have the receipt you can prove you had the unit less than 3 years and they should replace the battery, however, if you don't have the receipt they will base warranty off of build day, which could be over 3 years.

so, the battery on my ups apc bx 2200 mi ms, has been degraded and must be replaced ??

 

[Chrispy_]

Clearly its a problem caused by the apc app, if your ups can hold your pc without wall outlet just disable the shut down option on app and be happy. This option most of the time can bring headaches....

I used to use APC rackmount UPS and their software was just bad.
I don't know if other UPS software is better or worse, I can only comment on it in isolation.

Now I tend not to put a UPS in each rack, but put a larger 3-phase UPS in server rooms, typically Borri units. Their software is also pretty bad, but at least alerts and status can be sent over SNMP so you don't need to use their software.

 

[arni-gx]

For some reason, in the last few days, every time I turned on the UPS APC BX 2200 MI MS, an alarm sound would appear on the UPS APC, so I was forced to turn off the UPS APC, then turn it on again for the umpteenth time, then the alarm sound would disappeared.

 

[mechtech]

I used to use APC rackmount UPS and their software was just bad.
I don't know if other UPS software is better or worse, I can only comment on it in isolation.

Now I tend not to put a UPS in each rack, but put a larger 3-phase UPS in server rooms, typically Borri units. Their software is also pretty bad, but at least alerts and status can be sent over SNMP so you don't need to use their software.

Nice.
In industrial, I have seen of a bunch of those 2V lead acid batteries (~60lbs?) tied up to 120VDC and inverters to run PLCs, etc.

 

[Bill_Bright]

so, the battery on my ups apc bx 2200 mi ms, has been degraded and must be replaced ??

Nobody from here can conclusively say but UPS batteries do normally last just 2 - 5 years and just as a matter of routine, do need to be replaced and replacing them every 3 years is the typical average.

 

[ThrashZone]

so, the battery on my ups apc bx 2200 mi ms, has been degraded and must be replaced ??

Hi,
Didn't you say everything is fine if you don't have the device connected to you computer ?
I'll say it again I've never connected a usb from a backup battery to my computer and used their shit software I only plug the 120v plug to it.
There is no reason to use a ups software especially if you don't run a system 24/7/365 on mission critical stuff.

Also asked before if you unplug the ups from the wall outlet what does the ups display = how many minutes ?
Also was said to plug just a lamp/ fan/... into the ups and unplug from the wallout and what does the ups display say in minutes is left.

Sorry if I missed responses to these very easy to use tests.

But yes if these test fail you need a new ups or batteries for the existing.
Get a new ups and add the 2-3 year warranty addon.

 

[Bill_Bright]

There is no reason to use a ups software especially if you don't run a system 24/7/365 on mission critical stuff.

Sorry but that is totally not true at all!

First, I use APC's PowerChute and CyberPowers' PowerPanel software on multiple UPS systems here - and have for many years. They are NOT "shit" software. They are not fancy but don't have to be. More importantly, they work - perfectly.

Without the inter-communications cable and associated software, if you have an extended power outage and the UPS batteries run out, your computer will come crashing down. That is NEVER good as it can result in a corrupt boot drive, or worse.

But with the inter-communications cable and associated software monitoring the UPS, the software will trigger Windows to "gracefully" shutdown and properly power off the computer BEFORE the batteries run down. That is a HUGE advantage that alone makes using the inter-communications cable and associated software more than worthwhile.

There are other advantages and nice features too. For example, with the software, I can see,

1. Current load the connected devices are placing on the UPS,​

2. Estimated battery runtime left,​

3. Current battery charge percentage,​

4. Initiate a self-test,​

5. Read logs, to include the reason for past transfers to battery power,​

6. Actual line input voltage (very handy).​

I can also,

7. Set UPS sensitivity,​

8. Set times to keep the alarm silent,​

9. Set high and low voltages for battery intervention.​

Those are just some of the things you can do with the software - but only if the inter-communications cable is used.

I've never connected a usb from a backup battery to my computer and used their shit software

If you have never connected the cable or used the software then (1) you've missed out on their huge advantages and (2) you are not qualified to comment on the software.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
lol
If you can't hear your apc alarm just switched to battery then buy a hearing aid
Hell if you can't see the apc display also turn on then buy glasses hehe.

You do not need pc software to tell you these things the firmware can also show you what's going on or in this case OFF

 

[arni-gx]

Hi,
Didn't you say everything is fine if you don't have the device connected to you computer ?
I'll say it again I've never connected a usb from a backup battery to my computer and used their shit software I only plug the 120v plug to it.
There is no reason to use a ups software especially if you don't run a system 24/7/365 on mission critical stuff.

Also asked before if you unplug the ups from the wall outlet what does the ups display = how many minutes ?
Also was said to plug just a lamp/ fan/... into the ups and unplug from the wallout and what does the ups display say in minutes is left.

Sorry if I missed responses to these very easy to use tests.

But yes if these test fail you need a new ups or batteries for the existing.
Get a new ups and add the 2-3 year warranty addon.

this......

For some reason, in the last few days, every time I turned on the UPS APC BX 2200 MI MS, an alarm sound would appear on that UPS APC, so I was forced to turn off that UPS APC, then turn it on again for the umpteenth time, then the alarm sound would disappeared.

 

[ThrashZone]

this......

For some reason, in the last few days, every time I turned on the UPS APC BX 2200 MI MS, an alarm sound would appear on that UPS APC, so I was forced to turn off that UPS APC, then turn it on again for the umpteenth time, then the alarm sound would disappeared.

Hi,
I've used the software years ago and it is indeed hot steaming shit.
Remove the software and disconnect the usb cable.

Live without it for a while
Your best friend is the apc display not the crappy software.

I also turn off the alarm because i can clearly see the display.

 

[Bill_Bright]

If you can't hear your apc alarm just switched to battery then buy a hearing aid

Gee whiz. I said you can use the software to turn "off" the alarm at specific times. For example, I don't need the alarm beeping every 5 minutes at 3am when I'm sleeping and my computers are already off.

You do not need pc software

LOL

It is funny watching people trying to rationalize previous silly comments, twist words around and dig themselves even deeper rather than just admit their silliness.

I never said you "need" the software. I said you are simply wrong to say it is shit. And you are. I also pointed out the useful features.

Yes, you can get most of the information from the LCD display panel - IF your UPS has one. Not all do. But you cannot get all the information. For example, you cannot see why it last kicked over to battery, or how many times in the last 4 months it went intervened.

And MOST IMPORTANTLY, what you cannot do without the cable or software is configure the software to gracefully shutdown your computer BEFORE the batteries run out.

I've used the software years ago

Un huh.

This after you said "I've never ... used the software". LOL

And course everyone knows software from years ago never ever changes and once bad, is still bad, and always will be bad - because developers never update their software.

Wow.

Don't use it! I sure don't care if your computer crashes hard and you lose your document, or corrupt your boot drive. But just because, in your opinion, there's no value to it, don't assume you represent everyone else (you don't) or that it is shitty or crappy when it does exactly what it is designed to do, and does it very well.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
This duckhead is insane bored and trolling are you

Yeah I can push a button to turn off the alarm to and it stays off so again the software is not needed

 

[Bill_Bright]

Is your self-esteem so non-existent you must stoop so low with puerile personal insults when another poses a different or opposing position instead of maturely, simply, and intelligently debating the technical facts?

I am glad you know how to push a button. Good for you. At 3am, you can do that.

And no where did I say the software was needed. I am not the who changes my story. But you can keep making that point if you think it validates your claim that the software is crappy.

Have a good day.

 

[3x0]

Sorry but that is totally not true at all!

First, I use APC's PowerChute and CyberPowers' PowerPanel software on multiple UPS systems here - and have for many years. They are NOT "shit" software. They are not fancy but don't have to be. More importantly, they work - perfectly.

Without the inter-communications cable and associated software, if you have an extended power outage and the UPS batteries run out, your computer will come crashing down. That is NEVER good as it can result in a corrupt boot drive, or worse.

But with the inter-communications cable and associated software monitoring the UPS, the software will trigger Windows to "gracefully" shutdown and properly power off the computer BEFORE the batteries run down. That is a HUGE advantage that alone makes using the inter-communications cable and associated software more than worthwhile.

There are other advantages and nice features too. For example, with the software, I can see,

1. Current load the connected devices are placing on the UPS,​

2. Estimated battery runtime left,​

3. Current battery charge percentage,​

4. Initiate a self-test,​

5. Read logs, to include the reason for past transfers to battery power,​

6. Actual line input voltage (very handy).​

I can also,

7. Set UPS sensitivity,​

8. Set times to keep the alarm silent,​

9. Set high and low voltages for battery intervention.​

Those are just some of the things you can do with the software - but only if the inter-communications cable is used.

Half of these functions can be had with the default windows battery driver and HWInfo (I have bolded them). If one doesn't need those other features there's absolutely no need to install additional UPS software. Windows will gracefully go to sleep based on the set Power schedule settings, as it was a laptop PC.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Yeah if the apc/ ups comes with software disk I just use it for a wobbly table shim hehe

 

[Bill_Bright]

Half of these functions can be had with the default windows battery driver and HWInfo (I have bolded them). If one doesn't need those other features there's absolutely no need to install additional UPS software. Windows will gracefully go to sleep based on the set Power schedule settings, as it was a laptop PC.

That is NOT true unless the user has connected the inter-communications cable. Without the cable, the computer is essentially plugged into a dumb power source. If the power goes out, Windows has no way of knowing it is on battery. So when the battery runs down, the computer WILL simply crash. Nothing graceful about it.

And once again, I never said we "need" the software.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Just once it would be nice if you just addressed the op and not other members

 

[Bill_Bright]

He says while addressing me and not the OP.

Time to move on.

 

[3x0]

That is NOT true unless the user has connected the inter-communications cable. Without the cable, the computer is essentially plugged into a dumb power source. If the power goes out, Windows has no way of knowing it is on battery. So when the battery runs down, the computer WILL simply crash. Nothing graceful about it.

Of course, USB cable is mandatory

 

[Chrispy_]

Nice.
In industrial, I have seen of a bunch of those 2V lead acid batteries (~60lbs?) tied up to 120VDC and inverters to run PLCs, etc.

That's pretty much how the larger-scale UPS units seems to work. Just keep adding shelves of lead-acid car batteries.
The biggest consideration actually becomes the strength of the floor since that many car batteries can weigh several tons.