APC 1000VA UPS with Automatic Voltage Regulation (BX1000)

by APC

Product Details

Supplementary Guide [386kb PDF]

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Product Manual [386kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 20 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008XY4D
• Item model number: BX1000
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 24, 2003

Product Description

Ensure your office and computer gear a healthy diet of stable current, even amidst power interruptions up to 90 minutes in duration, with the AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION ( APC ) Back-UPS XS 1000 Battery Backup Unit. Free protection trial offers $150,000 Equipment Protection Policy and Data Recovery Warranty Two Year Product Warranty

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Design Problem, July 16, 2006

By 

Electronic Engineer (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: APC 1000VA UPS with Automatic Voltage Regulation (BX1000) (Electronics)

I own two XS-1000 and one XS-1500 Back-UPS units (also use BX1000 designation). Each is in service, with the XS-1000 units loaded to about 250 watts and less than 300 VA and the XS-1500 loaded to 500W/600VA. Each of these units has failed with symptoms like those described by other writers (overload light suddenly comes on and cannot be reset normally). Unlike the other writers, I repaired my units myself. So far, none have failed again.

It is significant that I live in a region experiencing frequent power fluctuations and outages, hence need for a backup UPS. It is also noteworthy that circuit boards and circuit designs are essentially identical for the 1000 and 1500 models, with extra battery connections and a fan being prominent additions for the 1500 model.

In all instances, one or more of the six simulated sine wave switching FET transistors (34N20 or similar 20NQ20) failed shorted. This, incidentally, correctly causes the overload indicator to come on, since the on-battery circuit is then definitely overloaded! This protectective action in fact saves major parts of the unit from further damage, including battery overheating and possible explosion.

Qualitatively, the APC units are very well constructed and seemingly well designed. Additionally, the 34N20 FET transistors are a good choice for this application, and thus the failures are surprising. Several possibilities are suggested: (1) There is a latent quality defect in the transistors. Once one of the six fails, others will fail quickly until the DC/DC inverter stored energy is dissipated; (2) A momentary under or over voltage condition causes the AVR autotransformer circuit to switch in at about the same time the unit attempts to go on battery, possibly resulting in energy stored in the transformer being dumped into the 34N20 switching bank and exceeding a transistor's surge capacity; (3) One of the relays sticks or AVR/backup relay combinations "make before break" during a momentary utility outage or glitch.

Whatever the cause, it seems evident based on my three unit failures and those similar ones reported by other writers, that this defect, though perhaps infrequent for most customers, is nevertheless an issue for potential buyers who most need backup protection.

APC telephone representatives, though friendly, are not very helpful; the company is unwilling to provide a circuit diagram or even a block diagram of their products. Shipping costs are high even if the unit is still in warranty. Until this defect is acknowledged and corrected, these otherwise attractive units may not be suitable for use under the very conditions for which they were designed.

39 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another great APC product (typo fixed), November 18, 2003

By 

Mark Guzowski (Idaho Falls, Idaho USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: APC 1000VA UPS with Automatic Voltage Regulation (BX1000) (Electronics)

I own many APC UPSes, from the relatively high end to the relatively 'normal' levels (i.e., like this one). All, including the BX1000, seem incredibly well built. Before buying a UPS understand why APC has these various offerings, and try to understand which you might need. I wouldn't want my more critical servers ideally on anything below the Smart UPS series (they tend to have a pure sine wave output, along with a much more tightly regulated output). The Backup Pro series is a minor step down from the Smart UPS, in that it sacrifices pure sine wave output. The Backup series (non-pro) still has a very nicely regulated output, but is not quite as tightly controlled as the Pro series (nor of course does it have pure sine wave output).

APC sells serious stuff, at all levels, for very real reasons.

The BX1000 supports hot-swapping of batteries, along with the powerchute software suite, is extremely well made, etc. Look at it from this perspective: Need UPS power on lights, printers, less critical PCs, etc.? This is an awesome choice. It may even be fine for servers, if you want to play the probability game (I'll still stick with the Smart UPS series for those toys myself).

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars APC failes the quality test, January 29, 2007

By 

Nicolette Hurley "dhurley" (Auburn,Ca) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: APC 1000VA UPS with Automatic Voltage Regulation (BX1000) (Electronics)

I experienced the same problem with my APC XS-1000 as noted by several others here.

It worked great then the red OVERLOAD light and alarm went off and it is now completely useless. This is an expensive piece of equipment with a single purpose and it failed to perform past 11 months. I have other Battery Backup UPS's from other makers and they are all over 3 years old and not a single one has failed.

This is obviously a faulty part installed at the factory and it seems they are still pumping them out. I guess they will finally correct the problem when their customer base falls off the page. This will definitely be the last APC product I purchase and I will warn my customers about it as well.