UPS Alert Messages "Pile Up"

Question

Level 1

11 points

UPS Alert Messages "Pile Up"

I am currently using a UPS power Backup system with my Mac to protect from power outages. This device has a USB cable that alerts my Mac when it goes on battery power (as well as controls automatic shutdown). Due to some minor electrical problems in my dorm, this happens very frequently for a few seconds at a time.

Under Leopard the warnings that accompanied these changes would go away a few seconds after line power came back as stable, but under Snow Leopard they pile up five at a time if I'm away from the computer. Furthermore, when I close these five, if more than spikes have come in while I was away, then the computer promptly puts the rest of them up on the display, forcing me to close all of them to continue.

Is there a way to restore Leopard's behavior that is known?

2GHz iMac Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 2GB RAM, 256MB X1600

Posted on Aug 20, 2010 3:52 PM

Reply

Answer 1

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Aug 20, 2010 4:04 PM in response to siriusfox

Which model / make / size?

Maybe - not sure - putting ZeroSurge line conditioner between UPS and wall too.

I have 5 x 1500VA - a mix of APC and CyberPower (and we are under a severe storm this evening right now!) so everything pretty much is on UPS.

One APC RS1500 also has an extra 24V battery pack that adds over an hour run-time to a Mac Pro.

Reply

Answer 2

siriusfox Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 20, 2010 4:10 PM in response to The hatter

It's really not the alerts that bother me, it's just that they pile up. I just want to fix that.

Reply

Answer 3

Aug 21, 2010 3:00 AM in response to siriusfox

The make and model as requested would help. Did you check with the manufacturer of the UPS to see if any updates were available or whether or not it is Snow Leopard compatible?

Reply

Answer 4

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Aug 21, 2010 3:35 AM in response to siriusfox

Sounds like you are using manuf's software. Yes?
Try without if so and using the basic UPS in Energy Saver.
APC PowerChute hasn't been supported for quite a while.

I think some people have Windows in a VM and using PowerChute from there (same would be true for CyberPower which has Windows version only).

I have never had alert messages, so nothing to "pile up" to know what they even look like.

Reply

Answer 5

siriusfox Author

Level 1

11 points

Aug 21, 2010 6:52 AM in response to The hatter

It's an APC Consumer Grade 200W Supply. The USB system works fine with Snow Leopard, and I am NOT nor was I ever using any manufacturers software. The problem is simply how Snow Leopard handles alert messages when there are many of them requesting to be displayed, the hardware is not the problem here.

Reply

Answer 6

The hatter

Level 9

61,031 points

Aug 21, 2010 7:04 AM in response to siriusfox

Okay, well 200W is probably too small.

I come up using APC selector was 330W/900VA. Upgrade to 300W/800VA minimum (most are rated for VA) and look at how much load and devices are attached as well, and run time needed (10 minutes minimum).

We/I just wanted to know what you have and using, that is all, simple question, and posts need to offer some details to troubleshoot, don't you agree? we ain't mind-readers after all.

Reply

Answer 7

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Aug 21, 2010 4:41 PM in response to siriusfox

siriusfox wrote:
It's an APC Consumer Grade 200W Supply. The USB system works fine with Snow Leopard, and I am NOT nor was I ever using any manufacturers software. The problem is simply how Snow Leopard handles alert messages when there are many of them requesting to be displayed, the hardware is not the problem here.

That's correct; OSX just sends a message every time the UPS notifies it that it's switched to battery power. It won't take the message down when the UPS switches back to utility power.

Request a change here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Reply