AP9620 in older Smart UPS systems

[chefash_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 2/5/2014

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We have both SUA3000RMXL3Us and SU3000RMXL3U.

The locations are not on the network, so we are using standard PCs to have basic communication with the UPS.

Obviously the SUA upses are able to use simple USB communication, but the SU types only have serial communication.  We prefer the USB protocol.

I found the AP9620 card which has USB features.  While it was designed for the newer machines wanting to use the older protocol, I wanted to use these on our older SU models.

I just called APC tech support and he said they would work on the SU series, but some of the features would be limited.

Now I read the FAQs and bulletin board and it sounds like this card wont work on older units?

Has anyone put a AP9620 card in a SU3000RMXL3U?  What happens?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 2/6/2014

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Hello,

The person you spoke with is incorrect unfortunately. (Do you have a case or reference number I could use to follow up and correct the person who told you?)

The purpose of the AP9620 Legacy Communications Card is to provide our newer Microlink communications based UPS units (like those with model prefix SURTD, SMT, or SMX) with an interface that will emulate the older SU and SUA UPS-Link communication output. It also outputs the same USB information an SUA UPS used to since it is slightly different than what a newer, Microlink based UPS outputs via USB. AP9620 also provides a DB-9 port for the ability to use the pins to read information or control the UPS like a dry contact if users on SUA or SU model UPSs were doing that and then find that their newer Microlink based UPS now has an RJ-45 serial port.

It does not give USB functionality to older UPSs that did not previously have it. And in a nut shell, the card is designed as a bandaid for those who built custom applications based on our historic UPS-Link protocol and/or those customers that require a DB-9 interface on the UPS. For a typical customer who uses PowerChute, apcupsd, or Native OS support, it is not required.

If you insert this card to an unsupported UPS, it will likely power up but you'll see a flashing red status LED because it will not be able to communicate to the UPS because it is unsupported.

There is no way to get USB functionality for an older SU UPS beyond upgrading the hardware or choosing to boycott that to utilize the serial communication. A UPS Network Management Card is also an option for monitoring and graceful shutdown with PowerChute Network Shutdown.

Let me know if you have any other questions.