[BC] UPS hell

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

I only have one UPS story. We had two Best Power Systems UPS units supplied
by Computer Concepts when we bought a Maestro system. They worked well and
easily handled the numerous momentary power blips at the studios. I replaced
the batteries in one unit when the warning light came on.

One Saturday the other unit kept cycling working wonders on the workstations
it was powering. I replaced the batteries and that made it happy for a week
or so. Then it failed. I learned Best was bought by APC. I spent $150
FedExing it to APC for analysis. They said it couldn't be repaired. A local
computer shop which was an APC dealer supplied an APC brand replacement. I
installed it, tested it by pulling the plug and it switched over
satisfactorily. Momentary power blips passed right over it, rendering the
unit worthless. If I hooked up a 100W light bulb as a load I could barely
make contact on the AC plug and the light would flicker off and on. Not
good!

I built an adapter for a standard wall plug and from a different outlet the
APC worked flawlessly. I always believed 120VAC was 120VAC regardless of
source. At any rate, APC tech support told what I was saying made no sense.
Sometimes (OK, maybe a little more than sometimes) I do that. They insisted
I run 12AWG ground wires from the frame of each piece of gear to the ground
lug on the APC. The dealer rep came and checked for himself. No difference.
We returned the unit.

I purchased a 10 kVA Eaton Power System TVSS/UPS which has worked flawlessly
over 5 years. I tried a Tripp-Lite which also did not respond well to blips
despite the fact it was supposed to be online fulltime. Never could figure
out what was going on with the APC unit. Ground, neutral, etc. were all good
and properly wired. This was the same connection the Best used.

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE

>100 other UPS problems and stories will be saved for another day.