Smart UPS 1400 - Indicates overload on self-test

perhaps a toasted output transistor, not too hard to check / repace.

NT

On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:54:58 -0700, cdm Has Frothed:

Does this with nothing plugged in?

I've worked on one of these. First off, APC is NO HELP whatsoever, they do not, will not, give out any technical info. The extent of their "technical service" is a trade-in program whereby you donate your slightly damaged unit to them and they sell you a brand new unit for nearly full price. They guise this as "protecting their proprietary technology" even if you're trying to fix a unit that's 20 years old.

Check your output transistors... they are likely 60A N-channel enhancement mode mosfets and they ain't cheap. The unit I worked on smoked 8 out of 16 of them. They are riveted to 4 heatsink plates and soldered to the board. Be REAL careful removing them as the tiny hair-like board traces tend to like to come with them.

Dave

I picked up a new battery last week from Chris Ewert, president of Uninterruptible Solutions.

In my conversation, I asked him what were the 3 most often seen problems with the UPS units he repairs and refurbishes (he has seen thousands of APC and other UPS units)

In order of most seen, failures or other problems:

1. Bad batteries. Lead acid cells are really only good for about 3 years - but that can vary considerably depending on environment (and batch of batteries)

1. Inverter circuit failure. Can be repaired - but have to look for other components that may have also failed OR changed in value (like resistors) -- and then fail a few months later.

2. Battery charger circuit failure