APC and overcharge system

>>>What may be happening is that the Overcharge device cuts off the flow of electricity to the UPS and thus the UPS kicks in to run on batteries
you may not understand spanish, but you hit the nail right on the head!

heze54
the product on the link you provided is a simple overVOLTAGE breaker.
the moment the voltage exceeds a preset threshold, the the breaker trips discontinuing supply to downstream busses.

i think a constant voltage transformer (also called a super saturated core transformer) will be a better alternative to the device you have.

Servo Stabilisers and CVTs are better for surges while MOV (Metal Oxide Variastor) is better for spikes.

over voltage breakers are obsolete technology.

it would be prudent to upgrade the protection systems.

multiple MOV Surge Surpressors along with a CVT or a CVT array is more than enough to tackle the worst kind of power line fluctuations.
as it is, the UPSs are providing the first line of defence.
these MOVs and CVTs will help to protect and prolong the life of the UPSs

what is your nominal load?
uni-phase or 3-phase?

hathehariken.



ps: thanks Alan, i'll mail you shortly.

APC has panel mount systems that you can install local to your server equipment.  For instance, if you electrical room is across the other side of the building.

Some models have RFI filtering to reduce noise from factory equipment that may set off your battery backup units.

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=175&tab=features#anchor1

Perhaps you are seeing noise from the electrical circuit, which is not necessarily filtered well by a device designed to protect against overvoltage.

@hathehariken

Just curious, why are your over-voltage breakers better than the OP's?  You said the OP's UPS was the first line of defense, but I'm not seeing how.

>as it is, the UPSs are providing the first line of defence.
>these MOVs and CVTs will help to protect and prolong the life of the UPSs

He already has installed zinc-oxide varistor versus your proposal for silicon oxide varistor.  His are rated for lightning and have outputs for audio alarms.   How does this not qualify as a first line of defense?

I understand using a CVT for larger loads.  It will take care of a lot of the sags that might otherwise shorten the lifespan of the UPS.

But, with a surge arrestor for the overvoltage and transformer for the undervoltage, and a UPS for power interruption, why do you need an additional overvoltage breaker and an MOV?

Typically, an power strip with a cheap MOV the last line of defense when you have no other means of conditioning or protection in front of your equipment.  No way to predict if/when they fail.  Most are only single MOV, not protecting all three wire combinations.

@aleghart

>>Just curious, why are your over-voltage breakers better than the OP's?
my OV protectors (LA301)a re better in the sense, that they are pass throughs and do not require a manual reset.
when there is a surge (lightning or otherwise) the surge will be damped and normal downstream mains service will not be interrupted

>>He already has installed zinc-oxide varistor
the current devices require a manual reset.
the LA301 do not.

regarding ZnO vs SiO, either is acceptable, as long the rating and the response time is below the 10 nanosecond threshold.

>>>But, with a surge arrestor for the overvoltage and transformer for the undervoltage, and a UPS for power interruption
>>>why do you need an additional overvoltage breaker and an MOV?
MOVs will basically act as smoothers and i did not suggest an OV breaker - i suggested an RCCB (residual current breaker)
RCCBs will help eliminate the nasty live body phenomenon prevalent in countries like Spain, India, Mexico, etc.
the RCCB will only interrupt the circuit when SMPSs and other PSUs fail dangerously - a fail safe that should be built into all electrical systems in my opinion.

>>>Typically, an power strip with a cheap MOV the last line of defense
you are right.
but MOVs, albeit being cheap, displays great flexibily in conditioning power.
in hindsight, my link to google product search may not have been very relevant.

a better product would  be either of these two:
http://cableorganizer.com/zero-surge/15amp-power-surge/?src=froogle&CAWELAID=334433872
http://www.sjmediasystem.com/sx-1115.html

of course, if these are used, they should be installed between the LA301 and the CVT

so the final layout should be like this:
Mains Bus -> LA301 -> MOV -> CVT -> UPS -> Computer Devices.

i hope i have been able to address your queries, but if you have more questions, please feel free to ask.
after all, in EE we are all here to learn.

hathehariken.