Need assistance. DIY Ground Kit

usslindstrom · November 15th, 2007, 12:54 PM

Lemme' get right to the point:

I'm living in Japan - and the outlets over here (even though they're 110 volts), they don't have the third prong for the ground.

Normally, this isn't an issue - as you can just use an adapter or cut off the rounded plug on any electrical cord and your appliances work fine (the more preferable way is to use an adapter obviously.

)

BUT - There's always a but - I'm using an APC battery that supplies power to my two servers in case of power failure. The thing works great - but since it doesn't detect there's a ground in place, every half day or so the thing beeps constantly for about 2 minutes - AND IT'S LOUD.

My question is, how can I make a quick little grounding system for the unit in order to shut it up (I'm thinking some kind of grounding matt or similar) - but I'm pretty 'beginner' when it comes to electricity, so I'm not sure of all my options here.

It's an apartment (Small one at that) - so modifying the pluggs aren't an option. And yes, I need the battery for the servers.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Steve R Jones · November 15th, 2007, 04:39 PM

It might not be a grounding issue...I can't my Belkin UPS's in the new office building we're in...The power flucates just enought to set off the loss of power alarm. I could go days without issue and other days the darn alarm would go off/on all day long...

If your UPS is fancier, it might allow you to adjust the sensitivity...

usslindstrom · November 17th, 2007, 10:03 AM

Yeah - I was thinking along those same lines as well, since I've seen some picky batteries before as well....

But am leaning towards it not being grounded - since the little display led on the front is indicating no ground.

Steve R Jones · November 17th, 2007, 05:14 PM

But...why doesn't it beep all day?

Nude_Lewd_Man · November 17th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usslindstrom

I'm using an APC battery that supplies power to my two servers in case of power failure..

Hi, I work for a 3rd party support company, and dozens of our customers use APC UPSs. One of the things I've noticed is that there is an option in one of the menus that you can tell it not to have an audible alert. Unfortunately I can't remember of the top of my head where this is, but I'll have a check on this when I'm back in the office on Weds...

I seem to remember that once you go to the "APC Powerchute" bit, it is in...

<connected to work computer>

View --> Device Properties --> General --> Power Parameters... Then on the right side, select "Never" from the Audible Warning selection. (I ended up connecting to my work computer, then my work's server to get that - and it is a Saturday night..!!)

Nude_Lewd_Man · November 17th, 2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve R Jones

But...why doesn't it beep all day?

I'm not 100%, but I think that there is a setting somewhere that tells it to stop alerting after about two or three minutes...

usslindstrom · November 20th, 2007, 10:28 AM

Sorry it took so long to get back on this one...

The extremely loud beeping ended up going off at 4 AM the other day, and I kinda' went to town on it. Unfortunately, I don't have any com cables for the thing at present - so I decided to jump in and see if there was a better way.

Don't tell my land-lord - but off came the outlet cover, and sure enough there was a wire marked "earth." Silly apartment makers in Japan. hehe. Ran a splice-wire and just connected it to the ground - then put the cover back on the wall.

All the lights on the front of the UPS look like they're normal, and I haven't heard a peep out of the thing yet... (of course it might happen again in the middle of the night, who knows.)

Here's to hoping. Thanks for all the suggestions.... If this doesn't work, I gotta' locate me a cable to connect it to a PC and see if I can get it to not play any audible warnings.