In this article, I will share with you a method to diagnose and troubleshoot the source uninterruptible power supply(UPS). So and why the uninterruptible power supply may not turn on or not work from the network? one of the first reasons, a fuse has blown, a transformer or a control board may have failed, but in our case it is a little different, but at the same time a very elementary problem ...
Let's understand in more detail ...
Do-it-yourself uninterruptible power supply repair
At the very beginning, before disassembling, we need to check if the fuse is working, usually it is located on the back of the UPS.
We remove it and check it with a multimeter in the dial mode.
In this case, the fuse is good.
We proceed to disassembling the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) itself
I want to note that the method of disassembly may be different from your UPS model, but should not cause you any special difficulties in disassembly.
Unscrew 4 screws and remove the lower part of the IPB case.
After disassembling, carefully inspect the board for external damage to components. In our case, no damage was found.
The first step is to check the storage battery (AKB). Let's measure its voltage with a multimeter.
In our case, the battery is discharged to 2 volts, which is naturally not good and is a deep enough discharge.
Let's check the battery for charge-discharge by connecting it to the laboratory power supply unit for recharging in order to exclude the possibility of its breakdown.
As it turned out, the battery refused to take charge from laboratory unit power supply, this means that there is a break somewhere and, accordingly, our rechargeable battery is not working properly.
Let's take another battery for testing. In my case, it has a slightly higher capacity. Accordingly, the uninterruptible power supply should keep the charge longer and fits perfectly into the case from the UPS!
We connect the terminals - we will start for the test without assembling the case. Launched.
We measure its voltage: - 12.4 volts.
To make sure that the battery is charging, within a few seconds measure the voltage at the battery terminals when the UPS is connected to the network. The voltage should rise gradually.
12.9 volts tells us that the battery is charging, the uninterruptible power supply is operational, it can be assembled and put into operation.
Failure of a battery or a loss of its energy capacity is one of the most common failures among all types of UPS. So do not rush to throw them away.
And, so your uninterruptible power supply sounded. What to do in this situation? Someone begins to hang himself, someone digs a grave. But, we will try to calm down and understand the reason for what is happening. Why is the UPS beeping? Probably because he is trying to draw your attention to himself. It is logical to assume that any electronic device publishing sound signals, is trying to tell us that he "does not feel good." The main thing is to understand one thing, if the uninterruptible power supply beeps, it means that it is alive, but requires attention. And in how he squeaks, we are now and will try to figure it out.
To understand in more detail why the uninterruptible power supply beeps, let's take the APC Back-UPS CS 500 VA UPS for consideration.
And, as the instruction to the APC Back-UPS CS 500 VA uninterruptible power supply says, the UPS can beep in several cases, while it emits different sound signals:
- Four buzzer beeps every 30 seconds: This alarm sounds whenever the UPS switches to battery power. There is no reason for panic here. Just save all the documents you are currently working with and turn off your computer and UPS;
- Continuous buzzer signal: this alarm sounds in case the battery power is very low and the time autonomous work almost running out. It is necessary to quickly save the documents and complete the work;
- A high tone beep for one minute every 5 hours: this alarm is given in case the battery fails the tests automatic check... In this case, it is necessary to replace the battery. You can replace the battery yourself, but we strongly recommend contacting service center, since after replacing the battery in the uninterruptible power supply, the uninterruptible power supply itself needs to be calibrated. In some cases, in particular, it concerns double conversion UPS (SMART-UPS series), calibration is performed either through the control console or using specialized software.
- Continuous tone constant tone: This alarm is generated in case the UPS is overloaded. It is important to remember that any UPS, like power supplies, has a very important parameter called the maximum load power. In a nutshell, this is the maximum (total) power of devices that can be connected to the UPS outputs. If your uninterruptible power supply emits a continuous tone, it means that you need to disconnect any devices from it.
!! WHEN OPERATING UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLIES IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER !!
1. The useful life of rechargeable batteries in an uninterruptible power supply is 2-3 years. Of course, this parameter is valid if the UPS was used in normal conditions and the average ambient temperature is 20-23 degrees Celsius. Any rechargeable batteries are very afraid of high (above 30 degrees Celsius) temperatures. Therefore, even if the uninterruptible power supply does not beep, and more than 2-3 years have passed since the start of operation, the battery in the uninterruptible power supply must be replaced.
2. In addition to sound signals, uninterruptible power supplies also provide visual signals. This will be discussed a little later. I will tell you what these visual cues mean. Visual cues may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer of uninterruptible power supplies, but not significantly.
3. An uninterruptible power supply, like any device, over time becomes overgrown with dust and dirt, which ultimately greatly affects the health of the battery, and the health of the uninterruptible power supply itself. Therefore, at least once every 1-1.5 years, do not be too lazy to take the UPS to the service center for preventive maintenance. This will save your nerves in the future and increase the service life of the uninterruptible power supply;
4. If a bad battery is installed in the uninterruptible power supply, then there are situations when it can beep, beep and give out visual signals, as well as there are cases when your uninterruptible power supply will not turn on;
APC Back-UPS CS 500VA VISUAL SIGNALS
And so, the picture above shows the front panel of the APC Back-UPS CS 500 VA uninterruptible power supply. Let's take a look at what all these bulbs mean.
Green indicator. This indicator is on in all cases when external voltage is supplied to the uninterruptible power supply;
The indicator is yellow. This indicator lights up when the external power supply to the uninterruptible power supply is cut off and it switches to battery power;
Red indicator. This indicator comes on when the power consumption of devices connected to the outlets of the uninterruptible power supply exceeds the maximum allowable power of the UPS itself.
Red indicator. This indicator comes on when the battery is about to expire or the battery is not connected to an uninterruptible power supply. A battery that has expired or has already expired does not provide sufficient battery life for the UPS and must be replaced;
First of all, let us pay attention to the fact that this source The uninterruptible power supply has an LCD display that displays the status of the UPS in real time. According to the instructions for the IPPON Back Power Pro LCD Euro uninterruptible power supply, the values on the LCD display can be as follows:
Having figured out what may be the indication on the display of the IPPON Back Power Pro LCD Euro UPS, let's move on to the explanations different types indication and sound signals.
Indication on the LCD display of the UPS IPPON Back Power Pro LCD Euro and sound signals for different modes work
At the same time, let's take a look at the varieties of the battery charge indicator of the IPPON Back Power Pro LCD Euro UPS and the sound signals that the uninterruptible power supply can emit at different battery charge levels.
UPS IPPON Back Power Pro LCD Euro signals visually and by means of a sound signal not only in cases of breakdown or battery discharge, but also in cases of overload
And so, we looked at the visual and audible signals of the APC and IPPON UPS. In the following, the article will be supplemented with documentation and descriptions of signals from uninterruptible power supplies and other manufacturers.
The specialists of our company are ready to advise you on any issue related to the use, maintenance, and repair of uninterruptible power supplies. You can find prices for repairing uninterruptible power supplies, replacing batteries in uninterruptible power supplies in the corresponding section.
Uninterruptible Power Supply Failures
An uninterruptible power supply (Fig. 1.14) is a device that is highly desirable for creating normal conditions for a computer. Not only the stability of the computer depends on it, but also the frequency of occurrence of hardware faults.
Uninterruptible power supplies, sadly, can also fail. Although, as practice shows, the only thing that needs to be done to prevent damage to this device is to change the batteries in time.
As for the repair of an uninterruptible power supply at home, then, having a little understanding of the basics of electrical engineering and having a multimeter, you can independently determine and eliminate the causes of many malfunctions.
Rice. 1.14. Uninterrupted power supply unit
Load connectors
If the indication of the uninterruptible power supply does not show any deviations in its operation, and there is no voltage at the outputs, then first of all it is necessary to check the output sockets on the back of the device.
Disassemble the uninterruptible power supply and remove the back panel from it. Pay attention to the wires coming from the AC input connector and regulators. To one output (usually marked white), the wires should go directly from the input, and to the outputs connected in parallel using plates, two wires from the stabilizers should go - red and yellow (Fig.1.15).
Rice. 1.15. Outlets on the back wall of the unit
If you see some kind of violation, such as a sealed wire or plate, arm yourself with a soldering iron and fix the problem. If all the wires are in place, then the cause of the malfunction should be looked for elsewhere.
Circuit breakers
Like any other AC-powered device, the UPS is fused. Fuses allow you to quickly disconnect all electronic circuit control when short circuit or other serious malfunction.
Usually, an uninterruptible power supply is equipped with a pair of fuses enclosed in a plastic sheath, that is, made in the form of a key that closes the circuit. They have different powers, and, as a rule, the fuse with weaker characteristics blows out.
After pulling each one out, make sure that the connecting thread between the fuse contacts is not broken. Otherwise, they must be replaced. For an easy search for a blown fuse, you can use a multimeter to check for resistance. If the fuse is good, the multimeter will show a resistance of several ohms, otherwise there will be no readings.
Transformer
The uninterruptible power supply contains a power transformer that is designed to step down or step up voltage by exploiting the magnetic properties of the transformer. Usage power transformer allows you to achieve higher output power than switching power supplies. On the other hand, it makes the device heavier.
Be that as it may, quite often a short circuit occurs in the transformer winding and the winding partially burns out. This can be facilitated by enough difficult conditions using an uninterruptible power supply (input voltage instability, constant voltage surges and powerful impulse noise, for example from laser printer or copier, high humidity in the room, etc.). In this case, the transformer gets very hot, and its further use is possible only after the short circuit is eliminated.
If the transformer gets very hot, check all windings in pairs with a multimeter. If damage is found, the transformer must be replaced, since at home it is quite difficult to make a new winding with the desired characteristics.
High voltage transistors
As in any other electronic device, an uninterruptible power supply circuit must contain components that are subjected to serious loads, passing a high current through them. At the same time, heat generation increases, and if the cooling system does not cope with its functions, then these components simply burn out.
It is quite simple to verify this: take a close look at their appearance... As a rule, such components are cracked, and sometimes they are so destroyed that only their conclusions remain in their place.
As a rule, such elements are powerful transistors or microcircuits mounted on aluminum radiators (Fig. 1.16). The minimum number of transistors is two. High-quality uninterruptible power supplies usually contain more than four transistors.
Rice. 1.16. Powerful field-effect transistors
To check the transistors, use a multimeter, having previously specified the location of the semiconductor junctions in the transistors in a special reference book or on the Internet, using the markings on the transistor case. As a rule, transistors fail in pairs, therefore, having detected one defective item, keep checking further.
Accumulator battery
The storage battery (Fig. 1.17) is one of the main components of an uninterruptible power supply. Depending on the capacity, an uninterruptible power supply can contain multiple batteries. The power of the unit and the battery life of the devices connected to it depend on the state of the battery and their capacity.
Rice. 1.17. Accumulator battery
Battery life is three to four years. However, in conditions of frequent power outages or when the power supply is operating in an overloaded mode, the battery life is halved and is usually less than two years.
Checking the battery status is easy enough. If the battery life of the computer is less than five minutes, the battery should be replaced. If the uninterruptible power supply turns off immediately after a power outage from the mains, then the battery must be replaced as soon as possible, otherwise it will let you down at the most inopportune moment.
The battery should also be replaced if you notice external swelling or strong oxidation of the terminals. In addition, the battery case may be cracked or electrolyte may leak.
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Sources have long taken the place of a necessary component in modern computer systems and sets of other devices used both in enterprises and at home. Many consumers are familiar with the features of operation and types of UPS. For them, the usual for a computer or, for example, specialized uninterruptible power supplies for boilers are not something new and unfamiliar. Especially on the territory of our country, where the power grids, to say nothing, are not characterized by the stability of the indicators issued to end users. And the supply of electricity, it's no secret to anyone, can be unexpectedly cut off, albeit for a short time, but at any moment.
Such a useful and necessary UPS
Before proceeding to consider the possibilities of repairing the UPS with your own hands, and this will be discussed below, the importance of these devices should be noted once again. Uninterruptible devices are a kind of barrier between devices - consumers of electricity and those troubles that instability of the supplied to the equipment can bring electrical supply... Developers are constantly improving their products and making them more versatile.
Thus, the UPS device allows in most cases to organize fairly reliable protection not only of valuable user information in the case of a PC in the event of an unexpected turn off of the light, but also the hardware components of other devices that are sensitive to voltage surges or its disappearance. But even a device designed to protect other devices from damage can sometimes fail itself. Consider the main components that make up an uninterruptible power supply, as well as relatively easily removable UPS malfunctions.
UPS device
At their core, sources are rather complex electronic devices, consisting of many components. If you look at the UPS circuit, and almost any, you can find that the device consists of the components presented:
- converters;
- switches;
- electrical energy storage devices (in most cases - a rechargeable battery).
Why do breakdowns occur
It is known that the more complex a system is, the more likely it is to fail due to the failure of one or more individual components. In general, the complexity of the UPS device is due to a rather wide range of functions that the device must perform. This includes not only the possibility of supplying energy to electrical devices at the time of loss of voltage in the network, but also stabilizing, protective functions. There are devices for which even broader requirements are imposed. For example, uninterruptible boilers for boilers must, in addition to the above, have a correct sinusoid at their output. This complexity of the system gives rise to the possibility of some malfunctions, although this does not happen often. What to do in this case? How to repair a UPS with your own hands?
Precautionary measures
Before proceeding with the manipulation of the device, it should be borne in mind that the UPS is a complex electronic device and precautions must be taken when carrying out repair work. All operations with an uninterruptible power supply can be carried out only after making sure that the device is de-energized. No tips and secrets of UPS repair, heard from friends or found on the Internet, will not save you from electric shock in case of rash actions and careless handling of live components!
Where to begin?
Of course, a UPS, like any other electronic device, requires certain elementary rules to be followed during its operation. Very often, the cause of a malfunction that appears to the user is incorrectly connected wires, weakening or oxidation of their connection terminals over time, etc. powering the UPS, finally make sure that the power is available at the outlet.
Health support
In most cases, the device in question serves its owner for many years and without any particular problems. At the same time, to achieve this state of affairs, regular UPS maintenance is required, which consists in replacing the battery (approximately every two years) and general monitoring of the health of electronic components. If, to control the properties of capacitors, resistors and other electronic elements, you need a fairly deep knowledge in electronics and circuitry or a trip to a service center, then replace UPS battery that is out of order or has lost its properties over time, almost everyone can. Such a do-it-yourself UPS repair has to be carried out by almost every device owner at least once during the life cycle of an uninterruptible power supply.
Fuse
If the uninterruptible power supply does not turn on after a voltage drop or as a result of a short circuit in the supply network, it is likely that even disassembling it will not be required to restore the device's functionality. The first thing to do when repairing the UPS with your own hands is to check the integrity of the fuse and replace it if necessary. Since this component fails quite often, UPS manufacturers design their devices in such a way that the user can carry out the procedure himself. The spare fuses themselves are often included with the UPS. If they are not there, a protective element similar to the one removed from the device can be purchased at any store where radio components are sold. To replace the fuse, you need to find a special tray containing it on the case and remove / unscrew - depending on the design - the contents. Replace the tray after replacement. The procedure is described in more detail in the instructions for the UPS, but in general, any home master will figure it out without it.
Battery Replacement
It takes very little time to replace the battery and the only tool is a Phillips screwdriver. Initially, it is required to unscrew several screws securing the parts of the case and located at the bottom of the UPS, in special holes. This will remove the top cover and access the battery. The battery in most cases is not fixed in any special way inside the case and can be easily removed. You just need to disconnect the two wires that are connected to the battery using the terminals. After removing the energy storage source from the UPS enclosure, it is necessary to identify its label and purchase a similar battery from a specialized store. The UPS is assembled in the reverse order:
- Installing the battery.
- Connect the wires, observing the polarity.
- Installation and connection of parts of the device body.
Difficult repair
If the above tips are followed, that is, the UPS is connected correctly, the fuse in the device is intact and the battery is working, and the UPS still does not work properly, probably the most correct solution would be to contact a service center for repair. The fact is that the UPS circuit is quite complicated for an ordinary user, diagnostics and replacement, if necessary, of individual electronic components without special tools and skills of a master at home are often simply not feasible. Thus, trying to fix a non-working device without certain knowledge and skills, as well as without the availability of appropriate equipment, a home craftsman can only aggravate the situation.
In general, having decided to fix a faulty UPS on your own, you first need to weigh your strengths and capabilities. From an ordinary user, most often it is required to carry out the simplest manipulations, which would be more correctly attributed to the maintenance of the device, and not its repair. It is better to entrust the elimination of complex breakdowns to professionals.
Uninterruptible power supplies, like any other equipment, need timely maintenance, the absence of which can lead to the fact that the UPS will not start. This is possible for a variety of reasons. There is a set typical malfunctions, which can lead to the fact that the UPS does not turn on, however, it is worth remembering that the device of each UPS may have its own characteristics, which can make its own adjustments to the process of diagnosing and repairing the UPS.
Since the UPS is the most important part of the power system, failure of the UPS exposes the equipment to some degree of risk. The most in a simple way troubleshooting is to study the instructions. With a high degree of probability, there you will find a description of the problems that may appear during operation. specific model uninterruptible power supply. Most of the instructions contain at least a little information on how to troubleshoot a minor problem.
To avoid problems, it is advisable to use software which is paired with a UPS. With its help, you can monitor the state of the system and take the necessary measures in a timely manner.
Functional check
How to check the UPS for performance? To do this, you need to turn off the electricity and monitor the operating time of the load. If the operating time is short, then the malfunction is more likely to be caused by high battery wear... In this case, repairing an uninterruptible power supply for a computer will be a banal replacement. It is important to remember that old batteries should not be thrown away due to their high environmental impact - old batteries must be taken for recycling.
If the UPS beeps at startup, then this may be a signal that a overload... It can also signal that the battery failed the test, which is provided by the system. You can understand the reason for the unpleasant squeak using the indicators on the front panel or using the software.
Eaton 9PX UPS Control Panel
Why is the UPS not running on battery? This problem can be caused by malfunction charger
, as a result of which the battery is not able to provide the declared battery life. You can check the charging by measuring the voltage at the terminals without disconnecting from the network. It should be 13-14V for a UPS with one battery and 26-28V for a series connected battery.
If the uninterruptible power supply for the computer does not work, then first you need to check the condition of the battery. In general, their service life is 4-5 years maximum. If your UPS is more than 5 years old, then most likely the whole problem is in the battery. The battery condition can be determined by the voltage level. If it is higher than 12.4 V, then everything is in order, and if it is less than 12 V, then it's time to say goodbye to it.
You can also check the battery using an ordinary 100 W light bulb. To do this, you need to connect the light bulb to the battery and see how long the battery charge will last. Typical batteries used in uninterruptible power supplies are lead-acid with a capacity of 7 Ah. A new battery of this type provides about 20 minutes of operation for a 100 W bulb. As a result, if the battery shows a time that is less than 70% of the normal, then it must be replaced.
If the battery is working properly, then the reasons for the malfunction may lie in wrong connection Battery... Also, the reason may be incorrect execution of the UPS program, this indicates that the device needs to be calibrated. Otherwise, the reasons may lie in UPS component malfunctions, which you cannot install on your own.
UPS does not turn on
Situations are not uncommon when an uninterruptible power supply simply does not turn on. What to do in this case? In low-power uninterruptible power supplies, as a rule, the control board is powered from the battery, in view of this, the uninterruptible power supply does not turn on due to low charge... In such a situation, you should try to charge the battery. Some devices can charge under these conditions, so simply plug the UPS into the mains and wait a while. Alternatively, you can remove the battery and charge it using a suitable charger.
If you have just purchased the device, but it does not turn on, then you need to check if the battery is connected. According to the transportation rules, such devices must be transported with the battery disconnected. Another reason that the UPS does not start may be NSdepressed power button... Possible cable breaks caused by a short circuit.
Also, the reason that the uninterruptible power supply does not work can be overload... It is quite simple to check this - you need to turn off the entire load. If at the same time the UPS will operate, then it is necessary to identify the equipment that is causing the overload. This can be done by connecting the load in series to the UPS. After that, such a load must be excluded. If the UPS does not turn on even without load, then it is necessary to submit the device for diagnostics to c. Replacing the battery yourself may not solve the problem, so it just makes no sense to buy a second battery.
Maintaining powerful UPSs can be dangerous. It is caused by the presence of high currents and voltages, which, when short-circuited, can damage the equipment and cause burns. For this reason, it is worth observing all precautions, and even better, contact a specialized center.
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