Nut upsuser - Sep 2013 - Smart-UPS staying in OB after power return

Hi list,

UPS is a Smart-UPS 3000 RM (SU3000RM3U, ups.firmware 92.11.D,
ups.mfr.date 12/14/99) with brand-new batteries.  NUT is 2.6.5 running
on SL6 (RHEL6 clone) from EPEL packages.  'upsc' output pasted at
bottom.

I'm not very familiar with UPSs in general or this model in particular,
and it's doing things I don't expect.  I have done my homework, and read
UPS user manual, googled much, read most NUT manuals, read up to
'queequeg', asked on APC forums, etc.

The most distressing problem is the UPS stays OB after removing and
reapplying utility power.  When power is removed, the UPS goes OB and
upsmon detects the power failure no problem, reporting
's0-ups0 at localhost is on battery'.  But when power is restored, there
is
no clicking of contactors, no switch back to OL, and no detection by
upsmon that power is restored.  The UPS can be manually put back OL with
'upscmd load.on'.  I would expect the UPS go back OL automatically,
though; am I wrong about this?  (APC forums folk are thus-far silent on
this question.)

There are other things I also think odd:

- The on-line LED flashes continually; other LEDs look normal; I think I
read the on-line LED flashes during a self-test initiated through the
'on/test' button.

- The 'on/test' button does not initiate a self-test, or otherwise
change the pattern of front-panel LEDs.

- While on utility power, the 'off' button acts as a momentary switch,
and the loads are powered down only as long as the button is being
pressed; also, 'upscmd -u admin -p $passwd s0-ups0 load.off' (twice, 5
secs apart) does not shut down the loads.  While on battery power,
'upscmd [...] load.off' works as expected.

These things make me think the problem is in the UPS and not NUT, but I
hope someone here can tell me for sure, and especially tell me whether a
UPS in general, and this one in particular, ought to automatically
return to OL status after power is restored (and if not, why?).

Thanks-

	John



battery.alarm.threshold: 0
battery.charge: 100.0
battery.charge.restart: 50
battery.date: 09/20/13
battery.packs: 000
battery.runtime: 19740
battery.runtime.low: 600
battery.voltage: 55.05
battery.voltage.nominal: 048
device.mfr: APC
device.model: SMART-UPS 3000 RM
device.serial: WS9951003031
device.type: ups
driver.name: apcsmart
driver.parameter.cable: 940-0095C
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 2
driver.parameter.port: /var/lib/ups/tty-s0-ups0
driver.parameter.sdtype: 0
driver.version: 2.6.5
driver.version.internal: 3.04
input.frequency: 60.00
input.quality: FF
input.sensitivity: H
input.transfer.high: 132
input.transfer.low: 103
input.transfer.reason: no transfers yet since turnon
input.voltage: 121.5
input.voltage.maximum: 121.5
input.voltage.minimum: 121.5
output.voltage: 121.5
output.voltage.nominal: 115
ups.delay.shutdown: 020
ups.delay.start: 000
ups.firmware: 92.11.D
ups.id: s0-ups0
ups.load: 000.0
ups.mfr: APC
ups.mfr.date: 12/14/99
ups.model: SMART-UPS 3000 RM
ups.serial: WS9951003031
ups.status: OL
ups.temperature: 046.8
ups.test.interval: 1209600
ups.test.result: NO

John Morris wrote, On 9/21/2013 11:28 AM:
> Hi list,
>
> UPS is a Smart-UPS 3000 RM (SU3000RM3U, ups.firmware 92.11.D,
> ups.mfr.date 12/14/99) with brand-new batteries.  NUT is 2.6.5 running
> on SL6 (RHEL6 clone) from EPEL packages.  'upsc' output pasted at
bottom.
>
> I'm not very familiar with UPSs in general or this model in particular,
> and it's doing things I don't expect.  I have done my homework, and
read
> UPS user manual, googled much, read most NUT manuals, read up to
> 'queequeg', asked on APC forums, etc.
>
> The most distressing problem is the UPS stays OB after removing and
> reapplying utility power.  When power is removed, the UPS goes OB and
> upsmon detects the power failure no problem, reporting
> 's0-ups0 at localhost is on battery'.  But when power is restored,
there is
> no clicking of contactors, no switch back to OL, and no detection by
> upsmon that power is restored.  The UPS can be manually put back OL with
> 'upscmd load.on'.  I would expect the UPS go back OL automatically,
> though; am I wrong about this?  (APC forums folk are thus-far silent on
> this question.)
Pull the batteries and unplug the UPS and press the buttons to fully 
discharge the UPS. Disconnect the serial/computer interface connection. 
Re-connect the batteries, plug into utility. Do not re-connect the 
computer interface. Now that we have rebooted the UPS, see that it works 
like it should.
> There are other things I also think odd:
>
> - The on-line LED flashes continually; other LEDs look normal; I think I
> read the on-line LED flashes during a self-test initiated through the
> 'on/test' button.
>
> - The 'on/test' button does not initiate a self-test, or otherwise
> change the pattern of front-panel LEDs.
Normally you would press and hold until it beeps, then it will do a 
manual self-test. That's if it was already turned on. Otherwise a quick 
press should turn it on and do a self-test. The on-line LED does flash 
during the self-test.
>
> - While on utility power, the 'off' button acts as a momentary
switch,
> and the loads are powered down only as long as the button is being
> pressed; also, 'upscmd -u admin -p $passwd s0-ups0 load.off'
(twice, 5
> secs apart) does not shut down the loads.  While on battery power,
> 'upscmd [...] load.off' works as expected.
I think a quick press is all that's needed for it to turn off.

In your upsc output, I see 0 load. When the issues where happening, was 
there a load present?

Hi Kris,

On 09/21/2013 05:11 PM, Kris Jordan wrote:
> John Morris wrote, On 9/21/2013 11:28 AM:
>> The most distressing problem is the UPS stays OB after removing and
>> reapplying utility power.  When power is removed, the UPS goes OB and
>> upsmon detects the power failure no problem, reporting
>> 's0-ups0 at localhost is on battery'.  But when power is
restored, there is
>> no clicking of contactors, no switch back to OL, and no detection by
>> upsmon that power is restored.  The UPS can be manually put back OL
with
>> 'upscmd load.on'.  I would expect the UPS go back OL
automatically,
>> though; am I wrong about this?  (APC forums folk are thus-far silent on
>> this question.)
> 
> Pull the batteries and unplug the UPS and press the buttons to fully 
> discharge the UPS. Disconnect the serial/computer interface connection. 
> Re-connect the batteries, plug into utility. Do not re-connect the 
> computer interface. Now that we have rebooted the UPS, see that it works 
> like it should.
I've done this a few times already after reading a 'braindeading'
procedure.  With cable installed or not, removing utility power switches
to battery; restoring power remains on battery.

Is that how it should work, or not?
>> - The on-line LED flashes continually; other LEDs look normal; I think
I
>> read the on-line LED flashes during a self-test initiated through the
>> 'on/test' button.
>>
>> - The 'on/test' button does not initiate a self-test, or
otherwise
>> change the pattern of front-panel LEDs.
> 
> Normally you would press and hold until it beeps, then it will do a 
> manual self-test. That's if it was already turned on. Otherwise a quick
> press should turn it on and do a self-test. The on-line LED does flash 
> during the self-test.
When the UPS is on, the on-line LED is always flashing.  Pushing the
on/test button has no apparent effect.  Does that mean it's stuck in
self-test mode?
>> - While on utility power, the 'off' button acts as a momentary
switch,
>> and the loads are powered down only as long as the button is being
>> pressed; also, 'upscmd -u admin -p $passwd s0-ups0 load.off'
(twice, 5
>> secs apart) does not shut down the loads.  While on battery power,
>> 'upscmd [...] load.off' works as expected.
> 
> I think a quick press is all that's needed for it to turn off.
A quick press of the 'off' button would turn it off and back on very
quickly.  :)
> In your upsc output, I see 0 load. When the issues where happening, was 
> there a load present?
Since we got the UPS, it has only been under testing without any load (I
just plugged a 200W lamp in for fun).  These issues have been persistent
since the first time the new batteries were installed and the unit was
powered up two days ago.

My question remains:  The on-line LED should not flash incessantly, and
removing and restoring mains power should cause the UPS to switch to OB
and then back to OL without intervention, correct?

Thanks-

	John