I recently encountered an issue with an APC Smart-UPS X 3000 (model SMX3000RMLV2U) at one of our remote sites. It unexpectedly shut down over the weekend and stayed offline until someone pressed the power button to restart it. Since then, it seems to be working fine, but I'm worried about what caused the shutdown. My questions are: Is this kind of behavior normal for a UPS experiencing faults like what I observed? Should it be developing an 'internal fault' due to occasional 'distorted input' and shutting down sporadically? Also, is the response from APC support accurate regarding this situation? A little background: the UPS shut down around 12:50 AM on August 10, and initially, it seems the problem was labeled as an 'inverter fault,' although that error only showed up later. The unit was installed in early April 2025 and alarmed for a battery replacement shortly after, which we did. However, we've seen repeated battery issues since. I'd appreciate any insights or troubleshooting advice based on the event logs and experiences with similar setups.
4 Answers
Make sure the battery connections are secure and clean. Going through multiple batteries in a short time could point to issues with the battery management system or charging circuit. If the self-test freaks out the unit during low battery conditions, that could lead it to prematurely shut down. Raising the battery replacement concerns with APC seems wise; they really need to understand why this is happening.
This UPS seems to be line-interactive, which isn't as reliable as an online UPS. Many server setups require an online UPS, as a line-interactive one can experience gaps in power during outages. If your server rack causes a sudden power surge, it can overload this UPS and shut it off. You might want to consider investing in a real online UPS for better reliability.
I'm primarily looking for a root cause analysis right now, not recommendations for other models. We do have a lot of power fluctuations at our sites, so I'm familiar with how different UPS models perform.
Have you tried connecting it with a serial cable? Using a non-APC cable can sometimes cause the UPS to reboot unexpectedly.
That happened to me once too.
Nope, this UPS is secured in a dedicated room with restricted access.
Honestly, that support agent's explanation seems off. A brief switch to battery power shouldn’t doom your UPS. It sounds like you might just have a faulty unit, especially with how many issues you’ve been experiencing. I'd push for a replacement unit, this one sounds like a lemon.
Thanks, I've already initiated an RMA for a replacement. Thinking of adding another UPS from a different brand to balance the load.
I did reach out; they confirmed they're sending me a new unit. I installed it myself, and I believe I did it right, but the replacement battery was put in by a trained technician, so fingers crossed it was correctly done. Since we have numerous APC units and only this one has had multiple failures, it’s tough to say it’s a user error.