1 After connecting devices to a UPS and powering them on, the UPS alarms and powers off immediately.
| Problem: | The power draw of connected equipment is exceeding the UPS load capacity. |
| Solution: | The power rating of the equipment that is plugged into the battery-supported outlets on the UPS must not exceed the UPS capacity. To make sure it doesn't, add together the power rating for each piece of equipment and compare the total requirements to the capacity of the unit, which is listed (a) on the bottom of the UPS or (b) on the specification tab on our website product page. If the total power draw of the connected equipment exceeds the capacity of the UPS, the load must be reduced for the UPS to perform properly. |
| Next Steps: | Figure out how much capacity you need using our UPS load calculator. |
2 The UPS was stored for an extended period of time and now will not power on.
| Problem: | Improper storage of the UPS unit when not in use. |
| Solution: | Plug the UPS into a working AC outlet and attempt to power on. If the UPS powers on, allow the unit to charge for at least 24 hours before returning to storage. If the unit does not power on consider replacing the battery. |
| Next Steps: | Fully charge the battery every 3 months. Find a replacement UPS battery using our UPS battery finder. |
3 When the UPS system is in battery mode, equipment shuts down immediately.
| Problem: | When the UPS switches to battery mode operation, all devices connected to the UPS power off. |
| Solution: | Conduct a self-test (when applicable) and verify the power draw of the attached load doesn't exceed the capacity of the UPS. If the battery is bad, it will drop the load entirely. |
| Next Steps: | Check that the load does not exceed the UPS system's capacity. Find a replacement UPS battery using our UPS battery finder. |
4 When the UPS switches to battery mode operation, some devices connected to the UPS power off, but some remain on.
| Problem: | Incorrect equipment setup |
| Solution: | Some UPS systems have two sets of outlets: battery- and surge-protected outlets that do provide battery backup power, and surge-only outlets that do not provide battery backup power. Reconnecting the equipment that requires battery backup power and that is within the output capacity of the UPS directly into the battery-supported outlets is recommended. Equipment that does not require battery protection or that exceeds the capacity of the UPS can be plugged into the surge-only outlets. When the UPS system operates in battery mode, power is not available from the surge-only outlets. |
| Next Steps: | Check that essential equipment is plugged into battery-supported outlets. Find a UPS system with all battery-supported outlets using our UPS finder. |
5 UPS will not power on and the power button is unresponsive.
| Problem: | Insufficient charge or tripped circuit breaker |
| Solution: | Plug the UPS into a working AC outlet and attempt to power on. If the UPS powers on, allow the unit to charge for at least 24 hours before returning to storage. If the unit does not power on consider replacing the battery. |
| Next Steps: | If there is no circuit breaker, continue to the next step. If there is a circuit breaker, press the button inward. If there is no resistance and the button stays recessed, then the circuit breaker is already reset. Confirm that the AC outlet has power by connecting a lamp or other non-battery-operated device to the outlet. Turn on the UPS by pressing the power button until you hear a beep and then release the button. Find a replacement UPS battery using our UPS battery finder. |
6 Running a self-test causes the UPS to shut down
| Problem: | After several years in service, running the self-test on select UPS models causes the unit to shut down. |
| Solution: | Certain units are dependent on the battery in order to power on. When running a self-test, the UPS briefly switches to battery. If battery voltage drops below what is required to maintain power, the UPS has a chance of shutting down. |
| Next Steps: |
To avoid unwanted interruptions, Eaton recommends running the self-test feature at least once a month. This will allow you to detect a bad battery early and take required steps to replace the battery. In general, it is best to run the self-test and other tests during a maintenance window. |
