CentOS - Jan 2010 - APC Smart-ups "status codes" (slightly OT)

We got replacement battery "kits" for some of our APC UPS'
(Smart-UPS,
rackmount). I put them into one tray (it's for an RBC 43, which takes 8,
and weighs a ton), and put it in, and let it charge. Idiot "change
battery" led stays on. So I hit the test button, it discharges very
rapidly (a good number of servers on this), and the led stays on.

For some reason, apcupsd's USB test fails, with an HIDDEV i/o error. So I
got rid of the weird APC usb cable, and put in one of their serial cables,
and run the "smart" test (the USB does more), and get results showing
everything's fine.

But the idiot light's still on.

So, looking at all the values that the "apcsmart" choice can give me,
the
first thing is UPS status. I've been googling for a while, and can't
find
a single reference to it. Anyone have a link to somewhere that will give
me the status codes (and their meaning)?

Thanks in advance.

        mark

On 1/29/2010 2:53 PM, m.roth at 5-cent.us wrote:
> Idiot "change battery" led stays on.
By chance, I just did an RBC 23 change the other day.

The docs I got with it said to let it charge for 8 hours, then do the 
self-test.  On my UPS, that means holding the On button for a few 
seconds.  (A single regular press does nothing but make it beep, if it's 
already on.)

You might also want to write the battery change date to the UPS.  I 
don't know if it will affect the light, but it'll help you figure 
battery life when it comes time to change them again years from now:

# upsrw -uadmin -s battery.date=01/29/10 apcrm at localhost

Adjust names as appropriate.

On Fri, 2010-01-29 at 16:53 -0500, m.roth at 5-cent.us
wrote:
> We got replacement battery "kits" for some of our APC UPS'
(Smart-UPS,
> rackmount). I put them into one tray (it's for an RBC 43, which takes
8,
> and weighs a ton), and put it in, and let it charge. Idiot "change
> battery" led stays on. So I hit the test button, it discharges very
> rapidly (a good number of servers on this), and the led stays on.
> 
> For some reason, apcupsd's USB test fails, with an HIDDEV i/o error. So
I
> got rid of the weird APC usb cable, and put in one of their serial cables,
> and run the "smart" test (the USB does more), and get results
showing
> everything's fine.
> 
> But the idiot light's still on.
> 
> So, looking at all the values that the "apcsmart" choice can give
me, the
> first thing is UPS status. I've been googling for a while, and
can't find
> a single reference to it. Anyone have a link to somewhere that will give
> me the status codes (and their meaning)?
> 
The only thing that comes to mind is to check out NUT ( Network UPS
Tools ) at http://www.networkupstools.org and see if their source code
can answer your questions.

I've been using NUT for some time with APC units and had no issues when
changing batteries, but I have a vague memory of some models being fussy
about noticing the new battery.  Google should be able to find those
discussions for you.
> Thanks in advance.
> 
>         mark
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CentOS mailing list
> CentOS at centos.org
> http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
-- 
Ron Loftin                      reloftin at twcny.rr.com

"God, root, what is difference ?"       Piter from UserFriendly

<m.roth at ...> writes:
> 
> We got replacement battery "kits" for some of our APC UPS'
(Smart-UPS,
> rackmount). I put them into one tray (it's for an RBC 43, which takes
8,
> and weighs a ton), and put it in, and let it charge. Idiot "change
> battery" led stays on. So I hit the test button, it discharges very
> rapidly (a good number of servers on this), and the led stays on.
> 
> For some reason, apcupsd's USB test fails, with an HIDDEV i/o error. So
I
> got rid of the weird APC usb cable, and put in one of their serial cables,
> and run the "smart" test (the USB does more), and get results
showing
> everything's fine.
> 
> But the idiot light's still on.
> 
> So, looking at all the values that the "apcsmart" choice can give
me, the
> first thing is UPS status. I've been googling for a while, and
can't find
> a single reference to it. Anyone have a link to somewhere that will give
> me the status codes (and their meaning)?
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
>         mark
> 
Also, check what message is being written into /var/log/messages by apcupsd.  If
it's still saying, "replace battery," then it's probable that
the UPS didn't
"sense" the new battery and you just need to update the battery date
on the UPS.
 No sure why but logwatch doesn't consider any of the apcupsd messages as
reportable so you have to look at the log file to see what the UPS is reporting.

If you're lucky, the above is all that's going on and the easy fix is to
update
the battery date.  I just had my APC UPS blow a battery sensor and decide that
the battery was no longer present only to then immediately decide it was indeed
there and cycle through battery attached/unattached continuously.  APC is
sending a warranty replacement UPS.  Oh, and the UPS blinks the replace battery
light whenever the battery status goes to unattached.  ARGHHHHH!!!!

Cheers,
Dave

m.roth at 5-cent.us wrote, On 01/29/2010 04:53 PM:
> We got replacement battery "kits" for some of our APC UPS'
(Smart-UPS,
> rackmount). I put them into one tray (it's for an RBC 43, which takes
8,
> and weighs a ton), and put it in, and let it charge. Idiot "change
> battery" led stays on. So I hit the test button, it discharges very
> rapidly (a good number of servers on this), and the led stays on.
> 
> For some reason, apcupsd's USB test fails, with an HIDDEV i/o error. So
I
> got rid of the weird APC usb cable, and put in one of their serial cables,
> and run the "smart" test (the USB does more), and get results
showing
> everything's fine.
> 
> But the idiot light's still on.
> 
> So, looking at all the values that the "apcsmart" choice can give
me, the
> first thing is UPS status. I've been googling for a while, and
can't find
> a single reference to it. Anyone have a link to somewhere that will give
> me the status codes (and their meaning)?
> 
no idea on the status codes... but I interpret from the above and what the
apcupsd folks have posted
to seem to indicate that you may be down to either soft or manual runtime
calibration:

http://www.apcupsd.com/manual/manual.html#battery-replacement
http://www.apcupsd.com/manual/manual.html#battery-installation
http://www.apcupsd.com/manual/manual.html#soft-runtime-calibration
http://www.apcupsd.com/manual/manual.html#manual-runtime-calibration

-- 
Todd Denniston
Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane)
Harnessing the Power of Technology for the Warfighter