Eaton UPS FAN doesn't stop.

[PeerRad]

Bought yesterday EATON 1.5KVA "5E ESSENTIAL UPS".

I've trawled other similar posts on this forum and other places where similar problems and suggestions have been posted, but it is new and I'm not going to attempt repairs.

Brought unit home, plugged in with unit switched off, no load connected and alarm beeped and noisy fan kicked in - 45DB as per spec sheet.

Had it switched off and charging from the power for over 12 hrs and fan doesn't stop. It has slowed down for a few seconds and then resumed full speed - the top of the unit was hot then - right now it's still on charge, switched off and no load with fan running full speed. I've switched it off for a while and then back on and whenever I connect it to mains, the fan kicks in. At one point it stopped for about an hour and when I moved it, the fan kicked in again.

I put a 7W load on it (energy saver bulb on bedside lamp), and switched off the power on. The alarm beeped every 9 seconds, and continued to do so when 7W load removed. - this frequency of beeps would suggest battery fault to me, but I'm not sure.

I've had many different UPS unit over the years, but never owned a unit where the fan is on continuously - normally the fan would only kick in when the power fails and the battery back up kicks in.

Seems like a Dud unit and I'm also not sure about the manufacturer although it seems to be sold by many major retailers.

Because I bought it yesterday, I'd like to return it immediately - not sure if a swap out or refund is the best route.

 

[X-Gamer]

Yeah, those units run the fan while it is charging and running from battery. You can connect via USB to see what it says its doing.

It's also quite slow at charging, so leave it another 12 hours on mains and see what happens?

 

[Zuner]

They usually have 2 9ah batteries in series for the 24 units. with 1amp chargers. so from dead it should take 9hours to charge.
I would turn the unit on even if there is no load while its charging. I have a mecer unit and if the switch is off and power supplied to the ups it will kick the fan even if the batteries are full. but turn it on and the fans turn off after a few seconds when it sees the batteries are full.

As for the beeping that seems right. With no wall power and running off batteries it should beep slowly, and increase speed when batteries are low, and make a racket when there's a fault.

 

[PeerRad]

Thanks for replies X-Gamer and Zuner.

Interesting Update:

I had it on for about 4 hrs yesterday with fan going and again from 20h00 last night until this morning and at 09h30, after switching unit on and off and mains power on and off (all the permutations). I wasn't a warm evening either. I phoned salesman at supplier who said I could return it.


I took it back and according to the workshop manager, this is a standard feature, and even a new one will do that. Salesman said that they've had complaints about the 850s before. Unfortunately, their 'accounts' people are away and they only pass credits on the 15th and end of the month so I have to wait for a refund.

I have a Sendon 2KVA that only kicks fan in under load, had 'Black Knight' brand before and today looked at a friends place running Cyber-Power UPS in 2 different offices, and they were 600Va and silent.

I'm waiting for the money and then I'll buy another Sendon - this is for a friend of friend and it's too noisy to have near a desk or in a room. Sounds like a $%^#$^ aircon

 

[supersunbird]

Bought yesterday EATON 1.5KVA "5E ESSENTIAL UPS".

I've trawled other similar posts on this forum and other places where similar problems and suggestions have been posted, but it is new and I'm not going to attempt repairs.

Brought unit home, plugged in with unit switched off, no load connected and alarm beeped and noisy fan kicked in - 45DB as per spec sheet.

Had it switched off and charging from the power for over 12 hrs and fan doesn't stop. It has slowed down for a few seconds and then resumed full speed - the top of the unit was hot then - right now it's still on charge, switched off and no load with fan running full speed. I've switched it off for a while and then back on and whenever I connect it to mains, the fan kicks in. At one point it stopped for about an hour and when I moved it, the fan kicked in again.

I put a 7W load on it (energy saver bulb on bedside lamp), and switched off the power on. The alarm beeped every 9 seconds, and continued to do so when 7W load removed. - this frequency of beeps would suggest battery fault to me, but I'm not sure.

I've had many different UPS unit over the years, but never owned a unit where the fan is on continuously - normally the fan would only kick in when the power fails and the battery back up kicks in.

Seems like a Dud unit and I'm also not sure about the manufacturer although it seems to be sold by many major retailers.

Because I bought it yesterday, I'd like to return it immediately - not sure if a swap out or refund is the best route.

My 3 (same units) buzzed for a whole day and night before the fans turned off the first time...

 

[Zuner]

These are line interactive UPS's so they should be relatively cool under normal conditions only kicking in the charger/inverter when power trips. the trickle charge may keep the ups slightly warm but not hot.

The new Mecer 2kva ups's actually only power the fan when in inverter mode. under charging the fan goes off, unit gets quite hot. i had to wire a separate switch for the fan so i could manually turn it on for when it charges the 70ah battery pack I've installed on it.

 

[PeerRad]

My 3 (same units) buzzed for a whole day and night before the fans turned off the first time...

Spec sheet was 12 hours to full recharge. So then the workshop technician didn't know his product

 

[PeerRad]

These are line interactive UPS's so they should be relatively cool under normal conditions only kicking in the charger/inverter when power trips. the trickle charge may keep the ups slightly warm but not hot.

The new Mecer 2kva ups's actually only power the fan when in inverter mode. under charging the fan goes off, unit gets quite hot. i had to wire a separate switch for the fan so i could manually turn it on for when it charges the 70ah battery pack I've installed on it.

Most UPS I've had worked exactly like that Mecer.
Taking into account supersunbird's reply vs the supplier, I'm confused. What was important to return the potentially faulty unit in 24hrs/ ASAP in order not to lose (hopefully) as there is no way I could have installed that noisy thing in the lounge.

 

[sajunky]

Most UPS I've had worked exactly like that Mecer.
Taking into account supersunbird's reply vs the supplier, I'm confused. What was important to return the potentially faulty unit in 24hrs/ ASAP in order not to lose (hopefully) as there is no way I could have installed that noisy thing in the lounge.

Mecer is charging very slow (only one stage 'floating' - 13.65V per 12V battery), it can afford not activating fans. The same for most of cheap Chineese brands. If your UPS is charging 1A (as pointed above), it may activate fan or not, depends on the ambient temperature. It should charge in 9 hours. If charging with 1A takes longer, then batteries are suspect (dry and resist accepting more current).

 

[PeerRad]

Mecer is charging very slow (only one stage 'floating' - 13.65V per 12V battery), it can afford not activating fans. The same for most of cheap Chineese brands. If your UPS is charging 1A (as pointed above), it may activate fan or not, depends on the ambient tempterature. It should charge in 9 hours. If charging with 1A takes longer, then batteries a suspect (dry and resist accepting more current).

Thanks sajunky.

I think the batteries in the unit were shot (supported by the 9 second interval between beeps on a 7W load).

No point in arguing with the workshop manager/technician who claims that all Eaton UPSs do that though.

Probably old stock that had been lying around forever, and that's why they all do that

Waiting for a refund...

 

[Zuner]

I think the batteries in the unit were shot (supported by the 9 second interval between beeps on a 7W load).

I'm not refuting your statement, i just want to know why. in my knowledge the beep interval is unchanged on small ups like these. ie it would be 9sec interval regardless of load as long as its running on battery/inverter mode, and would have a different interval for low battery (normally very fast beeping) or fault (continuous beep).

 

[supersunbird]

I got mine for R799 each, Makro old stock sale. Their batteries are a bit knackered, only keep my CCTVs alive for an hour. I'll buy new batteries for them sometime.

 

[PeerRad]

I'm not refuting your statement, i just want to know why. in my knowledge the beep interval is unchanged on small ups like these. ie it would be 9sec interval regardless of load as long as its running on battery/inverter mode, and would have a different interval for low battery (normally very fast beeping) or fault (continuous beep).

My experience was that the frequency of beep interval increased as battery percentage decreased. Initially every minute or 30 secs and closer to shutdown more frequent. Different products probably have different parameters. Right now my Sendon Batteries are shot so it's a surge suppressor

 

[PeerRad]

I got mine for R799 each, Makro old stock sale. Their batteries are a bit knackered, only keep my CCTVs alive for an hour. I'll buy new batteries for them sometime.

That's a magic price. Quick search shows about R1500 as cheapest.

 

[X-Gamer]

Thanks sajunky.

I think the batteries in the unit were shot (supported by the 9 second interval between beeps on a 7W load).

No point in arguing with the workshop manager/technician who claims that all Eaton UPSs do that though.

Probably old stock that had been lying around forever, and that's why they all do that

Waiting for a refund...

This might actually be true, the units I saw at Makro had labels that stated "Check battery: {future date}". But the date had already passed....

That's a magic price. Quick search shows about R1500 as cheapest.

The ones I got from Esquire (the first batch they received), were also around R950 for the 1500VA. Which IIRC, has 2x9A batteries. It also took a long time for the fans to switch off, which is when I emailed Eaton SA about it.

Can't remember the details, suffice to say, these units just charge really slowly.

 

[PeerRad]

Notwithstanding whether the batteries were shot or not (Spec gives max 12hrs to fully charge and I gave it more), and whether or not the fan stays on all the time (which I don't believe), it was too noisy for a UPS fan

 

[PeerRad]

Got a 2KVA RCT UPS for about the same Price.
Silent - fan only kicks in when on and input power switched off - beeps every 3- secs or so.
Reckon that EATON had been lying somewhere for too long.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

Thread resurrections.

I get this on my EATON 2KVA, but I had the batteries replaced and it still beeps every 3 seconds even after it had fully charged and the power is removed. The only way the beeping stops is when I disconnect the batteries. I guess the UPS is ****ed.

My experience was that the frequency of beep interval increased as battery percentage decreased. Initially every minute or 30 secs and closer to shutdown more frequent. Different products probably have different parameters. Right now my Sendon Batteries are shot so it's a surge suppressor

Got a 2KVA RCT UPS for about the same Price.
Silent - fan only kicks in when on and input power switched off - beeps every 3- secs or so.
Reckon that EATON had been lying somewhere for too long.

 

[Willie Trombone]

I had a 5kva true online unit with extended battery that made fan noise until it was charged then was mostly silent. Never beeped unless mains was out and there were settings to turn that off anyhow.

 

[Herr der Verboten]

I had a 5kva true online unit with extended battery that made fan noise until it was charged then was mostly silent. Never beeped unless mains was out and there were settings to turn that off anyhow.

Sure, that is fine but what I am saying is that my eaton simply doesn't swith off. I understand that the beeping is to alert you to either issues or there is no power and it is on batter, but I used to able to press the power button a gain and it switched off without any noises. Nowadays it can't be switched off and continues its beeping diarrhoea even with new batteries installed and fully charged.