Maker Pro
Maker Pro

APC hums (buzzes) when hair dryer is run in another room

W

William R. Walsh

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi!
My stepdaughter runs a blow dryer in her room and when she does, my APC unit
makes a humming buzz sound for as long as the dryer is on.

It's probably nothing to worry about. I had a PS/2 Model 80 whose power
supply made a noticeable buzzing noise every time the power floor cleaner
attachment was used on a household vacuum.

What you are probably hearing is the vibration of a transformer. I don't
know specifically about the Back-UPS Pro models, but the Smart UPS and Back
UPS RS models have voltage correction circuits built into them. These can
adjust high or low line voltage without going to battery. Your unit could be
doing this. If it is, you won't hear any beeping. The only sign of it is an
entry in the PowerChute software--if you are using that and have a version
that keeps an event log. (PowerChute Plus and the APC network management
cards (only for the Smart-UPS) do have an event log. I don't know about
PowerChute Personal or Business editions.)

I don't think you'll find that any damage is happening to the UPS or your
computer. However, you really should try to ground the UPS somehow. For its
internal surge protection to be effective, you may have to do so.

William
 
D

Dr. Anton T. Squeegee

Jan 1, 1970
0
I would love to be able to ground it properly, but this is not possible. I
figure it is better than running the computers themselves ungrounded and
subject to this house's "dirty" electricity. Since I lost a computer 7-8
years ago to the abuse this house's electricity inflicted upon its power
supply, I have made it a policy to have a UPS for everything I care about:

<snippety-two>

You really, REALLY need to run new wiring if you expect to be able
to safely run modern equipment. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't
run anything more modern than a desk lamp until I'd brought everything
up to current code.

No UPS was ever designed to run ungrounded. I won't be at all
surprised if the APC's 'Site Wiring Fault' warning light is on
continuously. At the very least, you need to run a proper ground for the
thing, and that will also have the effect of properly grounding
everything you attach to it.

With an eventual upgrade in mind: Many states allow homeowners to
do their own electrical work IF it is inspected after said work is done.
Honestly, it's not that hard. I replaced our entire breaker panel
(upgraded from 125-amp main to 200), and it passed inspection on the
first try.

Your biggest issues are to use approved wire (non-metallic sheath
cable, recommend #12 all around so you can do 20-amp outlets by
default), and to make sure whatever breaker panel replaces the fuse box
has enough spots for everything you want to do.

Do yourself a favor: Ground that APC now, and make upgrading the
house wiring a major priority.

Happy tweaking.
 
M

Meat Plow

Jan 1, 1970
0
Meat Plow wrote:

<snip>

Try to convince me that was a good idea. My first reaction is to think
it would potentially (no pun intended) create a colossal ground loop.

It didn't and that was 15 years ago.
 
B

BE

Jan 1, 1970
0
<snippety-two>

You really, REALLY need to run new wiring if you expect to be able
to safely run modern equipment. If I were in your situation, I wouldn't
run anything more modern than a desk lamp until I'd brought everything
up to current code.

Like I said earlier, it is not possible. I am a renter in this house; the
house is located in a very desirable location of my city (among the best
schools in the nation) and its unimproved condition allows us to pay very
low rent. The landlord is sitting on a huge windfall if he sells because
he's owned this property since 1969 and we don't want to push him to sell by
making such a request (not that it would). We hope to stay at least 2 more
years in this house. In the sense that it might make it harder to sell, the
recent real estate downturn (and glut of unsold properties) is a good thing
for us (but at the same time not good because my wife is a realtor).

Hence, an upgrade to the wiring is _impossible_.
No UPS was ever designed to run ungrounded. I won't be at all
surprised if the APC's 'Site Wiring Fault' warning light is on
continuously. At the very least, you need to run a proper ground for the
thing, and that will also have the effect of properly grounding
everything you attach to it.

Yes, that light is continuously on.

I will search Google for instructions of how to prepare a ground.
With an eventual upgrade in mind: Many states allow homeowners to
do their own electrical work IF it is inspected after said work is done.
Honestly, it's not that hard. I replaced our entire breaker panel
(upgraded from 125-amp main to 200), and it passed inspection on the
first try.

Your biggest issues are to use approved wire (non-metallic sheath
cable, recommend #12 all around so you can do 20-amp outlets by
default), and to make sure whatever breaker panel replaces the fuse box
has enough spots for everything you want to do.

Do yourself a favor: Ground that APC now, and make upgrading the
house wiring a major priority.

I think after using my equipment this way for nearly 10 years I can make the
assumption that if something bad was going to happen it would have by now.

The unit does keep our equipment running when the power goes out or dips -
it has never failed (except when the UPS's batteries need to be replaced).
Happy tweaking.

Thanks for your considerate advice!

Be
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Try to convince me that was a good idea. My first reaction is to think
it would potentially (no pun intended) create a colossal ground loop.

It is rare indeed that no ground beats a good solid one.
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Yes, that light is continuously on.

I will search Google for instructions of how to prepare a ground.

DON'T ground to a gas pipe! Your library will have a code book - well worth
reading on grounding.
 
C

CJT

Jan 1, 1970
0
Homer said:
It is rare indeed that no ground beats a good solid one.
While true, I'm not sure that "good solid" applies to the ground system
described (i.e. rods driven into the earth on opposite ends of a house,
each grounding a portion of the outlets in said house).
 
M

Meat Plow

Jan 1, 1970
0
While true, I'm not sure that "good solid" applies to the ground system
described (i.e. rods driven into the earth on opposite ends of a house,
each grounding a portion of the outlets in said house).

I don't recall saying that and if I did, I didn't mean it. I only did it
to one circuit where my elctronics are located.
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
While true, I'm not sure that "good solid" applies to the ground system
described (i.e. rods driven into the earth on opposite ends of a house,
each grounding a portion of the outlets in said house).

A ground rod is often a good ground unless the soil is very poor and dry.
 
M

Michael Kennedy

Jan 1, 1970
0
i am surprised the APC even works without a proper ground circuit! most
will fail to start when ungrounded.

Sorry but you are incorrect. I have used various APC UPS models from a
smart-ups 300 to a 1500, an old APC power cell model, and also APC Back-UPS
1200 and a Back-ups pro 500 without a ground. All of these models will
function without a ground.
 
G

Guest

Jan 1, 1970
0
mine has light that indicates "Grounded". when it is initially plugged in
and the light is out, the thing doesnt run.

even with full battery charge.
 
M

Michael Kennedy

Jan 1, 1970
0
Oh and by the way on all of mine the wiring fault light lights up when
ungrounded, but they still function. Maybe your model is newer than all of
mine and they have changed how they work.

Thats intresting that they changed that, but it also makes good sense.

- Mike
 
J

jakdedert

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael said:
Oh and by the way on all of mine the wiring fault light lights up when
ungrounded, but they still function. Maybe your model is newer than all of
mine and they have changed how they work.

Thats intresting that they changed that, but it also makes good sense.

I think he said the ground light comes on while the unit is POSTing,
then goes out. During that period of time, there is no output.

He didn't say it wouldn't operate without a ground, and doesn't indicate
that he's ever tried it that way. He's attributing the ground light
issue with an actual *grounding* issue.

jak
 
Top