APC SmartUPS 1400 Battery Upgrade

[Michael Kennedy]

I recently got a SmartUPS 1400 and it had 2 12v 18ah batteries in series.
One had ruptured and the other still works but is not to full capicity. I
replaced them with 2 12v lawnmower batteries to see how long it would run.
It only has a runtime of 10 mins at 30% load.. ???!! I believe it is
oveheating or is shutting down on a timer, because when you plug it back in
it says the batteies are 95% charged. Has anybody ran into this before? It's
not draining the batteries much at all..

- Mike

 

[Michael Kennedy]

Found my answer at

http://home.tekies.net/HowTo/UPS Upgrade.htm

Here is the article off APC's Web site.

Smart-UPS XL models are not designed with communication modules to the
external
battery packs. It is important to follow these instructions. The number of
batteries effects the runtime calculations which a Smart-UPS performs when
it
is running on battery power.

There are three ways program the Smart-UPS XL to recognize the appropriate
number of external batteries.

1. Using Hyperterminal or Terminal Program to change the number of
external battery packs

Hyperterminal:
HyperTerminal is used for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows
2000, Windows XP, and Windows 2003

To adjust the number of battery packs via a Hyperterminal session:
1. First, EXIT out of the PowerChute plus Server. In the case of Windows NT,
the UPS service must be stopped.
2. From the Desktop, go to: Start |Programs | Accessories | HyperTerminal.
Double-click on the HyperTerminal icon.
3. You will next be asked to choose a name and select an icon. Give it any
name and then click OK. If a message appears which reads "...must install a
modem," disregard it and continue.
4. The port settings are 2400 baud, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity, flow
control is Xon/Xoff.
5. Click on Advanced and ensure the box labeled FIFO buffer is NOT checked.
6. Click OK twice.

**Please note that if you have the scroll lock on, Hyper-Terminal may not
communicate properly with an APC UPS or
accessory.

Once the terminal/hyperterminal window is open, follow these steps:
a. Type "Shift-Y"which should produce an 'SM'
b. Type ">" To see the number of external packs. (A new unit will display
'000.')
c. Type "+" Adds a battery pack
d. Type ">" To see the change in number of external battery packs
e. Type "-" Subtracts a battery pack
f. Type ">" To see the change in number of external battery packs

 

[Mike Berger]

Either you didn't give us most of the information or this isn't your
answer. The standard SmartUPS 1400 uses 4 12 v 7 AH batteries in
a series-parallel combination. I have not had any real success
using higher capacity batteries in these -- they don't charge
properly and seem to have a shorter lifetime.

You didn't mention that you have an XL model and that does use
the 12v 18 AH batteries, and has a different charger.

 

[Clint Sharp]

Found my answer at

http://home.tekies.net/HowTo/UPS Upgrade.htm

Ooh, lovely, hope you've got a good fire extinguisher or didn't follow
those instructions too closely. Please make sure that you use a grommet
in any holes drilled through the metalwork if you're going to run cables
through them, it's asking for trouble especially with the high currents
the UPS and batteries are capable of providing.