APC UPS Batter replacement!!

[TheNinja]

On a APC, UPS 1400 model...why do they make the damn metal casing the EXACT size of a nice new battery. It's really frickin great when the old battery goes bad and expands to near BURSTING levels! That way when you try to go the old batter out, it doesn't slide out b/c the toxic chemicals have expanded the battery to where they can't fit out of the damn hole. Now you've got me turning a box of acid upside down trying to get the battery to slide out....you've got me jamming a screwdriver into a metal case filled with circuit boards and capacitors trying to pry the nearly exploding batter out!!!

Not to mention my now cut up hand and finger probably filled with ACID!!!

APC...WTF!!!!???

 

[shilala]

Your hippo's hat is on crooked.

 

[radioouman]

your batttery is expanding? Uhhhhh

 

[Nitemare]

Hmmm Captain Hook doesn't have any problem removing them. Maybe it's just ninjas....

 

[loup garou]

I've never had a battery expand like that before.

What I hate even more is when PowerChute reports a failed battery, you replace it, and still reports a failed battery. There's this arcane process of rebooting the UPS you have to follow with an incredibly specific load on it in order to fix the problem...PITA...I've had to do it several times. :|

 

[OutHouse]

I had several do that to me, one was so bad i had to take it out in the parking lot. I stopped by facilities and borrowed a big hammer and long screwdriver. I got the battery out, made a big mess but i got it out.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: werk
I've never had a battery expand like that before.

What I hate even more is when PowerChute reports a failed battery, you replace it, and still reports a failed battery. There's this arcane process of rebooting the UPS you have to follow with an incredibly specific load on it in order to fix the problem...PITA...I've had to do it several times. :|

Oh noooo, don't tell me this. I haven't had to replace a UPS battery yet.

Could you elaborate on the process?

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: Citrix
I had several do that to me, one was so bad i had to take it out in the parking lot and got a big hammer and long screwdriver from facilites and i got it out, made a big mess but i got it out.

See it happens a lot. I'm going to invent something that would remedy this and make a fortune. Anyone who's every had to swap out a bad battery would pay me hundreds, if not tens of dollars for it.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: werk
I've never had a battery expand like that before.

What I hate even more is when PowerChute reports a failed battery, you replace it, and still reports a failed battery. There's this arcane process of rebooting the UPS you have to follow with an incredibly specific load on it in order to fix the problem...PITA...I've had to do it several times. :|

Oh noooo, don't tell me this. I haven't had to replace a UPS battery yet.

Could you elaborate on the process?

Straight from APC:

You will need to perform a runtime calibration. This is a manual procedure and should not be confused with the runtime calibration performed through PowerChute software. The batteries inside of the Smart-UPS are controlled by a microprocessor within the UPS. Sometimes it is necessary to reset this microprocessor, especially after the installation of new batteries. Stop the PowerChute software from running and disconnect the serial cable. There must be at least a 30% load attached to the UPS during this procedure, and this load cannot fluctuate more than +/- 5%.. This process will cause the UPS to shut off and cut power to its outlets, therefore, attach a non-critical load to the UPS and then force the UPS on battery by disconnecting it from utility power. Allow the unit to run on battery until it turns off completely. Make sure a 30% load is present! Plug the UPS back into the wall outlet and allow it to recharge (it will recharge more quickly turned off and with no load present). Once the unit has recharged, the "runtime remaining" calculation should be more accurate.

 

[MWink]

Luckly I've never had that problem. My biggest complaint is trying to replace the batteries in a UPS that doesn't have "user replaceable batteries." You have to open the whole UPS up and the batteries are secured in a metal cage that comes extremely close to touching the terminals on the batteries. You have to be extremely careful removing/installing them or something could short out. I've managed to kill 2 UPS's by not being careful enough working with the batteries. The Smart-UPS 600 put on quite a show as a row of voltage regulators literally exploded.

BTW when replacing the batteries on some UPS's you do have to recalibrate it by doing the steps werk mentioned. For the load I recommend using some incandescent light bulbs.

 

[EyeMWing]

Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

 

[hx009]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: werk
I've never had a battery expand like that before.

What I hate even more is when PowerChute reports a failed battery, you replace it, and still reports a failed battery. There's this arcane process of rebooting the UPS you have to follow with an incredibly specific load on it in order to fix the problem...PITA...I've had to do it several times. :|

Oh noooo, don't tell me this. I haven't had to replace a UPS battery yet.

Could you elaborate on the process?

Straight from APC:

You will need to perform a runtime calibration. This is a manual procedure and should not be confused with the runtime calibration performed through PowerChute software. The batteries inside of the Smart-UPS are controlled by a microprocessor within the UPS. Sometimes it is necessary to reset this microprocessor, especially after the installation of new batteries. Stop the PowerChute software from running and disconnect the serial cable. There must be at least a 30% load attached to the UPS during this procedure, and this load cannot fluctuate more than +/- 5%.. This process will cause the UPS to shut off and cut power to its outlets, therefore, attach a non-critical load to the UPS and then force the UPS on battery by disconnecting it from utility power. Allow the unit to run on battery until it turns off completely. Make sure a 30% load is present! Plug the UPS back into the wall outlet and allow it to recharge (it will recharge more quickly turned off and with no load present). Once the unit has recharged, the "runtime remaining" calculation should be more accurate.

Sometimes that procedure doesn't work. APC tech support will then have you telnet into the unit (via Hyperterminal) and run a series of commands to manually set the calibration levels. If it STILL won't calibrate properly, they actually send you this little hardware "calibration key". It's a serial port nub that forces the new settings via hardware.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: hx009

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: werk
I've never had a battery expand like that before.

What I hate even more is when PowerChute reports a failed battery, you replace it, and still reports a failed battery. There's this arcane process of rebooting the UPS you have to follow with an incredibly specific load on it in order to fix the problem...PITA...I've had to do it several times. :|

Oh noooo, don't tell me this. I haven't had to replace a UPS battery yet.

Could you elaborate on the process?

Straight from APC:

You will need to perform a runtime calibration. This is a manual procedure and should not be confused with the runtime calibration performed through PowerChute software. The batteries inside of the Smart-UPS are controlled by a microprocessor within the UPS. Sometimes it is necessary to reset this microprocessor, especially after the installation of new batteries. Stop the PowerChute software from running and disconnect the serial cable. There must be at least a 30% load attached to the UPS during this procedure, and this load cannot fluctuate more than +/- 5%.. This process will cause the UPS to shut off and cut power to its outlets, therefore, attach a non-critical load to the UPS and then force the UPS on battery by disconnecting it from utility power. Allow the unit to run on battery until it turns off completely. Make sure a 30% load is present! Plug the UPS back into the wall outlet and allow it to recharge (it will recharge more quickly turned off and with no load present). Once the unit has recharged, the "runtime remaining" calculation should be more accurate.

Sometimes that procedure doesn't work. APC tech support will then have you telnet into the unit (via Hyperterminal) and run a series of commands to manually set the calibration levels. If it STILL won't calibrate properly, they actually send you this little hardware "calibration key". It's a serial port nub that forces the new settings via hardware.

Oh dear lord.
I really hope I don't have to ever replace a battery on a UPS.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

Anybody who knows anything knows this.

 

[kingpinxB]

it's funnier when they go up in a poof of smoke when they're brand new.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

Anybody who knows anything knows this.

Yeah, EyeMWing is a tool who, for some reason, thinks he knows stuff about real enterprise IT work, but in reality is some kid who works in a college computer lab and builds computers in his parents' basement.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: werk

Originally posted by: Phil

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

Anybody who knows anything knows this.

Yeah, EyeMWing is a tool who, for some reason, thinks he knows stuff about real enterprise IT work, but in reality is some kid who works in a college computer lab and builds computers in his parents' basement.

Not quite. I've also picked up large-scale computer demolition. And I no longer build systems in my parents' basement - I ran out of time to do that sh!t and have sold off every asset that ever generated me except for my own computer and a few others. Keep up, man. At least when MacBaine did it, he was CORRECT.

Oh, and when you have some astounding truth about enterprise IT that doesn't apply to the lower levels, let me know. The only real differences that I can see is how self-important you are, how expensive the hardware is, and how joined-at-the-hip you are to incompetant outside companies.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

why? just because it makes you touch yourself?

I support 30+ servers, we don't use rackmount UPS's. As a matter of fact I would not want to waste rack space with a battery anyway.

Liebert nFinity > your $100 APC RM bought off ebay and more than likely sitting outside a rack.

Let's not talk about generators.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
have sold off every asset that ever generated me except for my own computer and a few others. Keep up, man. At least when MacBaine did it, he was CORRECT.

what assets would that be? Your futon and a couple P133's?

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Oh, and when you have some astounding truth about enterprise IT that doesn't apply to the lower levels, let me know. The only real differences that I can see is how self-important you are, how expensive the hardware is, and how joined-at-the-hip you are to incompetant outside companies.

Well I for one do not need 5 nines uptime for my home rig, I am not paying for redundant PSU's, BIOS, full hardware backups to sit on the shelf (and depreciate), 24/7 next day support of hardware, etc that I do in a real enterprise.

What is your definition of enterprise? A rack of servers in a department at school?

We have 30 local that support about 250 users, attached to a nationwide farm supporting 5000 users. We are a fortune 500. I don't know of any of IT staff that use rackmount anything at home, other than testing for bringing stuff back into the office for deployment (like IP telephony).

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

why? just because it makes you touch yourself?

I support 30+ servers, we don't use rackmount UPS's. As a matter of fact I would not want to waste rack space with a battery anyway.

Liebert nFinity > your $100 APC RM bought off ebay and more than likely sitting outside a rack.

Let's not talk about generators.

UPS was free via salvage. Batteries were salvaged from other units. And it's sitting in a rack - with a non-rackmount server sitting on top of it.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Heh. I replaced the batteries in a rackmount APC unit today. Was easy.

Step 1) Unscrew top cover (like 8 phillips screws)
Step 2) Remove top cover
Step 3) Lift batteries out, unplugging them as you do so
Step 4) Insert new batteries, plugging them in as you do so
Step 5) Place top cover back in position
Step 6) Screw top cover back down

Rackmount > Your pansy little bullsh!t consumer toys.

why? just because it makes you touch yourself?

I support 30+ servers, we don't use rackmount UPS's. As a matter of fact I would not want to waste rack space with a battery anyway.

Why? I'll confess that there's not a huge amount of point to them apart from the inherant cable management however.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
have sold off every asset that ever generated me except for my own computer and a few others. Keep up, man. At least when MacBaine did it, he was CORRECT.

what assets would that be? Your futon and a couple P133's?

Originally posted by: EyeMWing
Oh, and when you have some astounding truth about enterprise IT that doesn't apply to the lower levels, let me know. The only real differences that I can see is how self-important you are, how expensive the hardware is, and how joined-at-the-hip you are to incompetant outside companies.

Well I for one do not need 5 nines uptime for my home rig, I am not paying for redundant PSU's, BIOS, full hardware backups to sit on the shelf (and depreciate), 24/7 next day support of hardware, etc that I do in a real enterprise.

What is your definition of enterprise? A rack of servers in a department at school?

We have 30 local that support about 250 users, attached to a nationwide farm supporting 5000 users. We are a fortune 500. I don't know of any of IT staff that use rackmount anything at home, other than testing for bringing stuff back into the office for deployment (like IP telephony).

So you essentially covered the "how expensive the toys are" part, and the "self important" part.

Enterprise starts at 200 seats and scales up from there. There really isn't much fundamental difference between how you operate with 500 users and 5000.

If you want to go by user counting... Overall, my organization has 100,000 users. My domain controller has 5000 all by itself. On site, we have... Like 6000 or something. I'm not aware of EVERY little nuance of the network yet, but I've picked up on a lot of things (a lot because I have to, and a lot more because I'm just interested in how the hell it works). To be honest, virtually NOTHING is different from the way we did it back in High School. It's a little more streamlined, things are much more uniform, there's a little bit of custom software thrown into the mix, more than one domain, subnets, there are some more checks and balances before something gets deployed, but by and large, everything is the same. But the scale is a LOT bigger.

As far as using rackmount equipment at home - every once in awhile, it's cheaper, and even more rarely, it's free. Why in the hell would I pay more for the same damn thing because it's wrapped in a cheesy plastic shell?

 

[alkemyst]

I am not talking call centers...or college campuses.

There is a huge difference when down time is measured in hundreds to millions of dollars, than a few kids without internet access.

Speaking of cheap stuff at home, there are several things a lot cheaper, but people then to avoid them so their homes don't look like a lab or barn.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
I am not talking call centers...or college campuses.

There is a huge difference when down time is measured in hundreds to millions of dollars, than a few kids without internet access.

Not sure exactly what college campus you're talking about - downtime on most systems here is COMPLETELY intolerable because it causes lost class time - and class time is money, and the university doesn't like wasting money ("Dammit, I could've bought a new Ferrari!"). Now when the general access wireless breaks, nobody really cares. It goes on the bottom of the priority list and will be fixed when someone feels like it. Amusingly, it's never the unimportant stuff that breaks.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: EyeMWing

Not sure exactly what college campus you're talking about - downtime on most systems here is COMPLETELY intolerable because it causes lost class time - and class time is money, and the university doesn't like wasting money ("Dammit, I could've bought a new Ferrari!"). Now when the general access wireless breaks, nobody really cares. It goes on the bottom of the priority list and will be fixed when someone feels like it. Amusingly, it's never the unimportant stuff that breaks.

I agree that class time is a concern, but you are not understanding the logistics. They already have been paid. It's a captive audience, chances are such a downtime will be unheard in the ears of the next year class coming in.

Even then the class time cost is really pennies. No one is sweating a Ferrari purchase over it, trust me.

I work for a true enterprise, Fortune 500, you just are not getting that part of it. If we were down more than a couple days the parent company would probably just create a new one of us somewhere else. If we go down we kill a major part of the pipeline.