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clarified question a bit
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Brian Rogers
Brian Rogers
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I have a 1440VA (980W) Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) which I bought a while back to protect my computers from power fluctuations and possible outages. Recently the battery failed and so I acquired a replacement. The replacement battery came with instructions saying that after installing the battery I need to recalibrate the UPS so that it learns the total discharge time of the new battery. The procedure for doing this involves:

  1. allowing the battery to charge for 24 hours,
  2. applying a 30% load to the UPS,
  3. unplugging the UPS from the wall, and
  4. allowing the battery to completely discharge while powering the load.

Performing this procedure is apparently a condition of the warranty on the battery. I'd like to perform the procedure, but the problem is I do not know what to use as the test load. I obviously do not want to have my computers plugged in because when the battery runs out at the end of the test, they will crash hard, the same as if there were no UPS and the power failed. So I guess I need something that will consume about 300 watts of power that will not harm the UPS electronics and is not itself harmed by a power failure scenario.

What would be suitable to use for a test load?

My first thought was maybe a small heater of some sort, but I think most heaters draw too much current and I think that might be bad for the UPS. However, I think I might have a couple of halogen construction lamps in my basement, wouldbasement; is that worksafe to use as a load? Anything else I should consider?

I have a 1440VA (980W) Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) which I bought a while back to protect my computers from power fluctuations and possible outages. Recently the battery failed and so I acquired a replacement. The replacement battery came with instructions saying that after installing the battery I need to recalibrate the UPS so that it learns the total discharge time of the new battery. The procedure for doing this involves:

  1. allowing the battery to charge for 24 hours,
  2. applying a 30% load to the UPS,
  3. unplugging the UPS from the wall, and
  4. allowing the battery to completely discharge while powering the load.

Performing this procedure is apparently a condition of the warranty on the battery. I'd like to perform the procedure, but the problem is I do not know what to use as the test load. I obviously do not want to have my computers plugged in because when the battery runs out at the end of the test, they will crash hard, the same as if there were no UPS and the power failed. So I guess I need something that will consume about 300 watts of power that will not harm the UPS electronics and is not itself harmed by a power failure scenario.

What would be suitable to use for a test load?

My first thought was maybe a small heater of some sort, but I think most heaters draw too much current and I think that might be bad for the UPS. However, I think I might have a couple of halogen construction lamps in my basement, would that work? Anything else I should consider?

I have a 1440VA (980W) Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) which I bought a while back to protect my computers from power fluctuations and possible outages. Recently the battery failed and so I acquired a replacement. The replacement battery came with instructions saying that after installing the battery I need to recalibrate the UPS so that it learns the total discharge time of the new battery. The procedure for doing this involves:

  1. allowing the battery to charge for 24 hours,
  2. applying a 30% load to the UPS,
  3. unplugging the UPS from the wall, and
  4. allowing the battery to completely discharge while powering the load.

Performing this procedure is apparently a condition of the warranty on the battery. I'd like to perform the procedure, but the problem is I do not know what to use as the test load. I obviously do not want to have my computers plugged in because when the battery runs out at the end of the test, they will crash hard, the same as if there were no UPS and the power failed. So I guess I need something that will consume about 300 watts of power that will not harm the UPS electronics and is not itself harmed by a power failure scenario.

What would be suitable to use for a test load?

My first thought was maybe a small heater of some sort, but I think most heaters draw too much current and I think that might be bad for the UPS. However, I think I might have a couple of halogen construction lamps in my basement; is that safe to use as a load? Anything else I should consider?

Source Link
Brian Rogers
Brian Rogers
  • 119
  • 6

What should I use as a test load to calibrate a UPS?

I have a 1440VA (980W) Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) which I bought a while back to protect my computers from power fluctuations and possible outages. Recently the battery failed and so I acquired a replacement. The replacement battery came with instructions saying that after installing the battery I need to recalibrate the UPS so that it learns the total discharge time of the new battery. The procedure for doing this involves:

  1. allowing the battery to charge for 24 hours,
  2. applying a 30% load to the UPS,
  3. unplugging the UPS from the wall, and
  4. allowing the battery to completely discharge while powering the load.

Performing this procedure is apparently a condition of the warranty on the battery. I'd like to perform the procedure, but the problem is I do not know what to use as the test load. I obviously do not want to have my computers plugged in because when the battery runs out at the end of the test, they will crash hard, the same as if there were no UPS and the power failed. So I guess I need something that will consume about 300 watts of power that will not harm the UPS electronics and is not itself harmed by a power failure scenario.

What would be suitable to use for a test load?

My first thought was maybe a small heater of some sort, but I think most heaters draw too much current and I think that might be bad for the UPS. However, I think I might have a couple of halogen construction lamps in my basement, would that work? Anything else I should consider?