Having an issue with my Cyberpower 1000PFCLCD

[TemjinGold]

So I recently replaced my dying APC with a Cyberpower 1000PFCLCD and all seems fine except whenever I print to my laser printer, the Cyberpower flips off and back on (computer stays online but my monitor goes off and comes back on). The printer is not plugged into the UPS of course. I originally had it plugged into the other AC outlet on the same plate but I just moved it to a different AC outlet altogether (different wall in the same room) and still have the same issue. This NEVER happened with the APC. Short of getting an extension cord and plugging the printer into another room, is there anything I can do to fix this?

 

[Phaetos]

Sounds like the printer is drawing more amperage than the circuit can handle, and it causes a temporary brownout. To test, try moving the printer to a different room, theoretically those outlets should be on a separate circuit. You may need to go look at the breaker box and see what outlets are on what circuit. If you move to another circuit and the problem stops, congrats you solved it. If it still continues, you may have other electrical issues.

P.S. I am no electrical engineer, but I have the same issue in my house. I can't have the window a/c unit and the vacuum cleaner plugged into the same circuit. The breaker trips and it kills half of the living room.

 

[TemjinGold]

Thanks. Do you know why this never happened with my old APC UPS though? It only happens on this new Cyberpower...

 

[aigomorla]

edit i misread your statement...

Sounds like your flash tripping your breaker...
Maybe a GPC fault?

Sounds like the printer is drawing more amperage than the circuit can handle, and it causes a temporary brownout. To test, try moving the printer to a different room, theoretically those outlets should be on a separate circuit. You may need to go look at the breaker box and see what outlets are on what circuit. If you move to another circuit and the problem stops, congrats you solved it. If it still continues, you may have other electrical issues.

P.S. I am no electrical engineer, but I have the same issue in my house. I can't have the window a/c unit and the vacuum cleaner plugged into the same circuit. The breaker trips and it kills half of the living room.

His advice sounds solid.. i would go with what he's stating..
See if the problem is being reproduced on another outlet which is outside the one in your room drawing power.

And the Cyberpower could be pulling more current because its a larger VA in charging the battery?
I have no clue... but this is just my guess...

 

[TemjinGold]

Hrmm... I'll definitely try. The Cyberpower is 1000VA just like the old APC was.

 

[Phaetos]

Thanks. Do you know why this never happened with my old APC UPS though? It only happens on this new Cyberpower...

It could just be hyper-sensitive to fluctuations in the current. I have an old UPS from Best Buy of all places, that connected to the PC via USB. There was a management software with it, that allowed changing when alerts happened, if I recall correctly.

Thinking back, I have seen regular "surge protection" power strips exhibit the same blip.

 

[Blain]

So the laser printer has never been connected to the UPS at any time?

 

[TemjinGold]

Nope, never connected to old or new UPS.

 

[aigomorla]

Nope, never connected to old or new UPS.

which is why were thinking something is wrong with the breaker switch more so then the ups.

Is the breaker a GFCI or Arc Fault breaker?
It should have a tiny red button on it like this:

 

[TemjinGold]

No red button. Saw some markings that said AFCI.

 

[Phaetos]

Did you try putting the printer on a different circuit and try printing to it?

My thought at this point is that the breaker may be the beginning stages of failing. It can be replaced if you have even a small bit of electrical know how and can match colors If you aren't comfortable dealing with electricity, I would recommend finding a good electrician to do it. Unless you are renting, then inform the landlord and they should take care of it.

 

[aigomorla]

No red button. Saw some markings that said AFCI.

ARC FAULT SWITCH!

OK one last test... can u plug in the laser printer into the ups on the side which is NOT the battery backup side...

and see if ur tripping your arc fault.


From my experience Arc Fault switchs are a PITFA when it comes to PC eq...
Here's an old thread with a simular Arc Fault issue.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2080345

This is from ruby which can describe whats going on..

AFCI listens for the signature of a faulty device such as an arcing switch (contacts) or device plugged into a worn socket with loose fitting contacts. Such sparking produces heat and can cause a fire. Problem is with this you can have nuisance tripping by unplugging an appliance that is running (common example is yanking the cord of a vacuum, floor sweeper, etc. without turning its switch off first!) Other switch mode power supplies can generate RF chirps that trigger this device, again causing nuisance trips. Think of it as a steamy shower or too much aerosol spray setting off a smoke detector! GFCI is NOT to protect against shock! You WILL still get shocked however the circuit will be interrupted before (you hope anyway!) your heart is stopped. This is why they are required around sinks/tubs and swimming pools. Any outdoor receptacle should have one. Too much leakage due to moisture can (again) cause nuisance tripping. Removing/disabling either does not necessarily produce an immediate hazard (like replacing a fuse with a larger one or (worse) putting a penny under a screw down fuse!). If you find that you have nuisance trips replace AFCI breakers with regular circuit breakers.

 

[TemjinGold]

Hrmm... plugging into surge side of UPS does it too. I hope the breaker isn't failing... I only had this house built a year ago!

 

[TemjinGold]

I'm still curious why this never happened with my old APC BR1000G. Was that unit simply eating it (hence getting to the point where it couldn't handle my PC and I had to replace it) or is this an inherent difference between the Cyberpower and it?

 

[TemjinGold]

So it gets more mysterious: Apparently, the UPS tripping only happens when I print a particular Olive Garden coupon that they emailed me (this was all I was printing the last few weeks). I just tried to print normal word docs, other stuff with pics and colors, etc. with no problem. But when I try to print that coupon again, it trips.

 

[aigomorla]

WTF!

Temjin... normally i dont say this... but u got some nasty gremlins...
Im calling them gremlins because i have never seen a power switch fault due to you printing a specific item vs printing at all.
Its like saying my car wont start if i put in shell gasoline... but will when i put in chevron at the same octane grade!

can u try plugging the UPS to a different outlet socket?
Maybe the outlet the ups is plugged into is bad?

 

[TemjinGold]

Haha I'm on the 3rd different outlet now. It's only that one file apparently. Olive Garden is not to be trifled with apparently!

 

[Rubycon]

The voltage trip point is higher than the APC.

Entry level UPS products fail to provide no break transfer and do not regulate, i.e. if the incoming voltage drops from 120 to 110 the output will as well. Once the transfer voltage is reached (typically around 96VAC) it will transfer to inverter/batteries.

Laser printer fuser heaters are similar to incandescent lamps in such their input impedance is very low when cold. This creates a sharp inrush current which will cause a dip in voltage very briefly. A UPS that's overly sensitive to this gets "fooled" into a real power failure and will transfer to inverter.

Not sure about Cyberpower but APC units do have the ability to adjust power line quality. Frequency drift and input voltage are the two parameters monitored. The former is the reason why these units won't work with "out of the box" settings with simple emergency generator sets.

To remedy this issue you need to set your UPS to a lower quality power setting if possible or use on a branch circuit that's closer to the service entrance/circuit breaker, etc. If you're lucky enough to have more than one branch circuit feeding your room that's another solution.