APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

[altitude]

This unit warned of no battery life remaining so I replaced the batteries.

Problem is, they discharge but won't recharge. I knew the batteries were good because they came from another APC unit.

Voltage at battery terminals without the batteries connected: 20V so I thought charging circuit problem.

Look what I found rattling around in the UPS when I opened it. The board now looks like a launch pad for a space capacitor

Questions:

1. Could the cause of this mess be the capacitof itself?
2. Would it be safe to just replace the capacitor, see if it charges, and put the unit back into service?
3. What should I replace it with,

Thanks!

[ben7]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

This unit warned of no battery life remaining so I replaced the batteries.

Problem is, they discharge but won't recharge. I knew the batteries were good because they came from another APC unit.

Voltage at battery terminals without the batteries connected: 20V so I thought charging circuit problem.

Look what I found rattling around in the UPS when I opened it. The board now looks like a launch pad for a space capacitor

Questions:

1. Could the cause of this mess be the capacitof itself?
2. Would it be safe to just replace the capacitor, see if it charges, and put the unit back into service?
3. What should I replace it with,

Thanks!

WOOHOO!

Epic man!

There is one other picture on the web of a capxon capactor blown out just like that

Oh yeah, the capacitor is the problem, I am CERTAIN! :P

Also, check the fuses on the PCB. The capacitor fireball might have caused a short (and a blown fuse). The PCB has char marks, and balling. This will have to be cleaned off. Any melted tracks will have to be replaced with a strand of wire.

Replacement suggestion will come in a few min!

-Ben

EDIT: DO us a favor, and get us a little wider shot of the problem area (your second pic)

[Pentium4]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

CapXon never ceases to suck they never last long especially next to hot resistors. We use a lot of those APC units at work, I'll keep an eye on them. How long has that one been in service?

[ben7]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

Here is a replacement you can order from Mouser.
http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...DGjjIl6aGC4%3d
It's a 400v, 22uF, 105C, ~8000 hour lifespan (long life) capacitor.
It's also 20mm in height, it should be a good fit in there. Is there any chance you can measure the diameter and height of the original (burnt) capacitor?

Here is the area that I was talking about getting a close-up shot of.
I want to be able to see the chips too, not just right where the capacitor was. I also will show you where/how to check the fuse, and also check the bridge rectifier diodes. I suggest you wait until we make sure no other parts are bad, THEN order the replacement(s).

[altitude]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

This UPS was in service since 2008. I cannot really tell you if it made noises or smelled of anything as it was used in the server room.. I didn't notice anything odd with it until it wouldn't charge anymore

I took 3 more shots of that area

and 1 more shot of the capacitor area after I cleaned it up

The 3 fuses are not blown unless the continuity comes from somewhere else

Thanks alot

[ben7]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

This UPS was in service since 2008. I cannot really tell you if it made noises or smelled of anything as it was used in the server room.. I didn't notice anything odd with it until it wouldn't charge anymore

I took 3 more shots of that area

and 1 more shot of the capacitor area after I cleaned it up

The 3 fuses are not blown unless the continuity comes from somewhere else

Thanks alot

Check the resistance of R27. Also check the diodes D43, D44, D45, and 47 with the diode test setting. Test each diode in forward bias (should read about 0.6-0.7), and in reverse bias (should read OL, or something like that). If any diode measures less than 0.5 in BOTH directions, then it must be faulty.

I am not sure yet what the value of R27 is. We might need some schematics for that!

-Ben

[smason]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

This UPS was in service since 2008. I cannot really tell you if it made noises or smelled of anything as it was used in the server room.. I didn't notice anything odd with it until it wouldn't charge anymore

I took 3 more shots of that area

Is that cap shrapnel on IC3? Also IC11 looks odd.

[ben7]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

Is that cap shrapnel on IC3? Also IC11 looks odd.

That stuff you see might be from a sharpie or marker.

[altitude]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

R27: reads 20 ohm

Diodes D43-D47: I put the multimeter on diode check (->|-) and by default it reads 1. When I test with the negative lead on the diode close to the 'D', they all read between 550 and 556. When I test the other way around, they all real between 1250 and 1275. I have no idea what that means!

IC3: yeah that looks more like black ink

IC11: take a look at it in 06.jpg it looks much better there than in 07.jpg

A collegue of mine has this exact same UPS at home so I thought might as well replace this capacitor on his as well.

If that's the case I could use his board to compare the readings

[ben7]

Re: APC Back-UPS RS 1500 LCD

R27: reads 20 ohm

Diodes D43-D47: I put the multimeter on diode check (->|-) and by default it reads 1. When I test with the negative lead on the diode close to the 'D', they all read between 550 and 556. When I test the other way around, they all real between 1250 and 1275. I have no idea what that means!

IC3: yeah that looks more like black ink

IC11: take a look at it in 06.jpg it looks much better there than in 07.jpg

A collegue of mine has this exact same UPS at home so I thought might as well replace this capacitor on his as well.

If that's the case I could use his board to compare the readings

Looks like the diodes are good, but you should take pics of your friends UPS, and replace the capacitor in that one. Also, check to see if you will have to add any traces that were melted and burned off on yours, under the capacitor. I suggest that you compare the diode readings too, just to be sure.