APC Back-UPS is clicking

[Chadder007]

I have an APC Back-UPS here that is making a clicking noise every few minutes. It is working ok and provides battery backup when there is no power. I was just wondering if the clicking noise is ok for it to be doing every once in a while.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yes, those are power glitches that it is reacting to. It is quite sensitive and will react before you notice the power fluctuations.

 

[CraKaJaX]

It should be fine, if you still have the papers that came with it... it should tell you what all the lights do and what all the clicking nosies do. I just bought a 900va UPS and remember seeing what the clicks meant, if you want to know what it says you can leave me a pm.... I'm in class right now though.

 

[Chadder007]

Yeah it clicks every 5 to 10 minutes here. So its my power fluctuating from the wall a tad?...none of the lights change when it does it.

 

[MWink]

What model UPS is it? If it's a model with AVR it could be the UPS changing taps (between normal, trim, and boost). It could also be the UPS switching to battery but then the On Battery indicator should light up (if it has one). If you have PowerChute installed it could probably tell you what's going on.

 

[Rubycon]

It's the transfer relay. You may have voltage fluctuations due to a heavy appliance starting, etc. Also laser printer heaters can do this.

 

[myrcgarage]

Originally posted by: C6FT7
It's the transfer relay. You may have voltage fluctuations due to a heavy appliance starting, etc. Also laser printer heaters can do this.

Everytime I start my laser printer, the thing clicks. Is it not good for the UPS? I have ES500 and ES750. Sorry to hijack this thread.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: myrcgarage

Everytime I start my laser printer, the thing clicks. Is it not good for the UPS? I have ES500 and ES750. Sorry to hijack this thread.

This is normal and will not hurt the UPS at all.

 

[Zepper]

I hope you don't have your laser printer plugged into the UPS backed up outlets. Plug laser printers into a separate surge protector - not into a UPS. Too much of a startup load.

. Clicking means it is doing its job (it has one or more steps of voltage compensation before tha battery power kicks in) but it shouldn't have to do it that much.

.bh.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I hope you don't have your laser printer plugged into the UPS backed up outlets. Plug laser printers into a separate surge protector - not into a UPS. Too much of a startup load.

. Clicking means it is doing its job (it has one or more steps of voltage compensation before tha battery power kicks in) but it shouldn't have to do it that much.

.bh.

He would know immediately as soon as he printed a page if it was plugged into the UPS. Been there, done that.

The orange outlets that are connected to the Liebert system here will run a laser printer/copier - full 20A per socket.

We generate our own power but people still trip over cords. :roll:

 

[myrcgarage]

Originally posted by: C6FT7

Originally posted by: Zepper
I hope you don't have your laser printer plugged into the UPS backed up outlets. Plug laser printers into a separate surge protector - not into a UPS. Too much of a startup load.

. Clicking means it is doing its job (it has one or more steps of voltage compensation before tha battery power kicks in) but it shouldn't have to do it that much.

.bh.

He would know immediately as soon as he printed a page if it was plugged into the UPS. Been there, done that.

The orange outlets that are connected to the Liebert system here will run a laser printer/copier - full 20A per socket.

We generate our own power but people still trip over cords. :roll:

I plugged it into the surge protection side and not the UPS backup side. Is that OK?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: myrcgarage


I plugged it into the surge protection side and not the UPS backup side. Is that OK?

As long as the printer's power draw doesn't exceed the maximum allowable draw of the surge protected only outlets - typically 15 amperes - 1,875 watts. Of course one must remember that the PROTECTED load is INCLUDED in the 15 A rating.

It should be fine. Electrically, the voltage drop to the printer and UPS is about the same as it would be if the printer was plugged into the same branch circuit the UPS is on. Laser printers use power in bursts which can wreak havoc on sensitive equipment so keep this in mind too.

 

[Zepper]

I would plug the laser printer into a separate surge protector and into a wall outlet not on the same run (circuit breaker) as the outlet the rest of the system is on. If it is causing your UPS to click then it should be on a separate loop. Left plugged into the UPS it may cause early aging of the surge protection and voltage compensation elements of the UPS.

.bh.

 

[myrcgarage]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I would plug the laser printer into a separate surge protector and into a wall outlet not on the same run (circuit breaker) as the outlet the rest of the system is on. If it is causing your UPS to click then it should be on a separate loop. Left plugged into the UPS it may cause early aging of the surge protection and voltage compensation elements of the UPS.

.bh.

That is my problem. I believe my whole upstairs in in the same loop. Therefore, whenever I power up my printer, my UPS clicks! I don't know what I can do. Any suggestion? I don't like my computers are on the same circuit as the printer, however, I have no choice? Any other ways to get around this?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: myrcgarage

That is my problem. I believe my whole upstairs in in the same loop. Therefore, whenever I power up my printer, my UPS clicks! I don't know what I can do. Any suggestion? I don't like my computers are on the same circuit as the printer, however, I have no choice? Any other ways to get around this?

Short of having an electrician run a dedicated home run for your printer OR using a line interactive UPS, ferroresonant based system, etc., no there isn't.

 

[myrcgarage]

Does it hurt my computer systems if there is no solution to this?

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: myrcgarage
Does it hurt my computer systems if there is no solution to this?

No. The transfer time specification of the UPS is well within the allowable range (ANSI) of a pc switching power supply. The compact relays used have cycle ratings in the hundreds of thousands of cycles before failure. You will be fine.

 

[myrcgarage]

Thanks for the answer. Now, I feel better.

 

[Chadder007]

At the hospital here, the UPS's start clicking when someone starts to print to a Laser Printer.....IN THE OTHER ROOM.

 

[myrcgarage]

On the same circuit?

 

[Zepper]

For a while, I had an extension cord running from the cellar to my computer upstairs as the circuits up there aren't even grounded... And I run an inkjet printer - hardly a power sucker. the 2004-2005 model Canon Pixmas can even compete with laser on cost per page using 3rd party tanks. And the iP5000 can even give lasers a good contest on print quality ($129. striaght up at my local Staples on Clearance).

.bh.