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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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UPS gives funny voltages - why?
I have a Conext (by APC) model CNB-325 battery backup power supply (not
a real UPS) that shows funny voltages when the power cord is disconnected. Backup supply plugged into AC outlet; hot-neutral: 120 VAC hot-ground: 120 VAC neutral-ground: 0.7 VAC Backup supply unplugged from AC outlet, computer used as load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 58 VAC neutral-ground: 58 VAC Backup supply unplugged form AC outlet, no load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 19 VAC neutral-ground: 60 VAC A different model Conext, model CNB-300, behaved similarly, only the no-load voltage on battery power was 90 VAC neutral-ground and 40 VAC hot-ground. I didn't get such wierd voltages on battery operation with a much older APC BK-300 (much larger battery, all-metal case); hot-neutral and hot-ground both measured 118 VAC, neutral-ground was slightly under 1 VAC. I measured with both a Fluke 73 digital meter (true RMP) and an analog meter with 10K/volt sensitivity. The analog meter gave very different voltages with each backup supply running off battery, but I assume it was caused by the AC not being a real sine wave. |
#2
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larry moe 'n curly wrote:
I have a Conext (by APC) model CNB-325 battery backup power supply (not a real UPS) that shows funny voltages when the power cord is disconnected. Backup supply plugged into AC outlet; hot-neutral: 120 VAC hot-ground: 120 VAC neutral-ground: 0.7 VAC Suggests the output is connected directly to the mains. Backup supply unplugged from AC outlet, computer used as load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 58 VAC neutral-ground: 58 VAC This is not unusual; the output is symmetrical about earth for safety (as the biggest shock you can get is 58 volts). Most isolation transformers are wired this way. Backup supply unplugged form AC outlet, no load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 19 VAC neutral-ground: 60 VAC A different model Conext, model CNB-300, behaved similarly, only the no-load voltage on battery power was 90 VAC neutral-ground and 40 VAC hot-ground. It sounds like the lack of load is doing strange things to the regulation, and probably the waveform. Many supplies that are derived electronically exhibit this effect - and remember that uneven waveforms will play havoc with a meter because it won't know which bit it's supposed to be measuring. Look at it on a scope and see what's actually coming out. -- rgds LAurence ...."Dial only the last eight digits for calls within the London area" |
#3
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"larry moe 'n curly" wrote in message
ups.com... I have a Conext (by APC) model CNB-325 battery backup power supply (not a real UPS) that shows funny voltages when the power cord is disconnected. Backup supply plugged into AC outlet; hot-neutral: 120 VAC hot-ground: 120 VAC neutral-ground: 0.7 VAC Backup supply unplugged from AC outlet, computer used as load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 58 VAC neutral-ground: 58 VAC Backup supply unplugged form AC outlet, no load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 19 VAC neutral-ground: 60 VAC A different model Conext, model CNB-300, behaved similarly, only the no-load voltage on battery power was 90 VAC neutral-ground and 40 VAC hot-ground. I didn't get such wierd voltages on battery operation with a much older APC BK-300 (much larger battery, all-metal case); hot-neutral and hot-ground both measured 118 VAC, neutral-ground was slightly under 1 VAC. I measured with both a Fluke 73 digital meter (true RMP) and an analog meter with 10K/volt sensitivity. The analog meter gave very different voltages with each backup supply running off battery, but I assume it was caused by the AC not being a real sine wave. the chances are when its not conected to an ac suply the output is floating with respect to ground, so any voltages relative to gnd are due to leakage, with a load conected there is more balanced leakage. Colin =^.^= |
#4
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On 27 May 2005 01:18:10 -0700 "larry moe 'n curly"
wrote: Backup supply plugged into AC outlet; hot-neutral: 120 VAC hot-ground: 120 VAC neutral-ground: 0.7 VAC Backup is line powered and is just passing thru the relationship that your AC line has. Backup supply unplugged from AC outlet, computer used as load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 58 VAC neutral-ground: 58 VAC As someone else said, ground is floating and the load leakages are pretty nicely balanced, and lower impedance than your Fluke. Backup supply unplugged form AC outlet, no load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 19 VAC neutral-ground: 60 VAC Here the output is completely floating, but you can see that the leakages in the backup are not particularly balanced. The 10 MOhm impedance of the Fluke is significant here; it has pulled each one down a bit so that the last 2 numbers no longer add up to the first. If you had a second Fluke so that you could actually make those 2 measurements simultaneously, you would get numbers that add up right. - ----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney Madison, WI 53711 USA ----------------------------------------------- |
#5
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On 27 May 2005 01:18:10 -0700, "larry moe 'n curly"
put finger to keyboard and composed: I have a Conext (by APC) model CNB-325 battery backup power supply (not a real UPS) that shows funny voltages when the power cord is disconnected. Backup supply unplugged from AC outlet, computer used as load: hot-neutral: 115 VAC hot-ground: 58 VAC neutral-ground: 58 VAC The PC PSU has RF suppression (?) capacitors between A-E and N-E. If the earth pin is disconnected, then its potential floats to a point midway between A and N. - Franc Zabkar -- Please remove one 's' from my address when replying by email. |
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