AP9630 in SMT750RMI2U mounting not possible

[BillP]

This question was originally posted by Till on APC forums on 7/11/2014

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Hello everyone,

I've a "UPS Network Management Card 2" (AP9630) which worked recently flawless in an older Smart-UPS. Now I've bought a new "APC Smart-UPS 750VA LCD RM 2U 230V" (SMT750RMI2U) and wanted to install my present UPS Network Management Card in the UPS Smart Slot. The Options Tab in the product specification page says that the Network Management Card 2 with the Part number AP9630 is compatible with this model (SMT750RMI2U).

As sliding-in the card I noticed, that there is a new and bigger flap on the right hand side of the smart slot which prevents my (old) card from sliding-in to his end position. I did some research an noticed that the network management cards changed a bit their form-factor (see difference in attachement) without any change of the product name or the part number. - Sorry, but this is ridiculous.

Is there any solution to this? - Is there any chance that I get a swap of my Network Management Card free of charge?

TIA.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 7/15/2014

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Hello,

We can send you a new faceplate. The wrong faceplates were used in error in a small batch of cards and we provide users with faceplates, if required, for a newer UPS. You don't have to tell me it is ridiculous because I agree and I apologize for the trouble.

If it's OK with you, I'll have someone in your region contact you offline regarding a replacement faceplate. We'll just need the serial number of the AP9630 management card and a shipping address, assuming you did not already contact technical support for this issue.

[roger_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 7/17/2014

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I think it is more than just the "wrong" faceplate.  I think the different slots and tabs were used to ensure firmware compatibility.  If your new UPS is the same as several of mine, the tabs are plastic, and easily broken off.  Just push them towards the center of the smart slot and they break off.

BUT, when you install the card and connect to it, it will not be able to communicate with your UPS.  That is, until you update the firmware on the management card.  I had about 6 or 7 older cards that I needed to install in newer UPS units, and this worked fine in all cases.

Comments Angela?

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 7/17/2014

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Any age Network Management Card 2 supports SMX/SMT with firmware application v5.0.3 or higher. So yes, if you had lower than v5.0.3, which would've made sense for the serial number range with the incorrect faceplate, this would've made sense.

We don't advise breaking the tabs off because now you won't know what is compatible and not compatible for the future. And we don't advise taking off the NMC faceplate either and leaving it without because dust and debris can get in and you could potentially have a grounding issue too.

So, you're situation is that you had older firmware and older faceplate. If you had an older UPS (SU, SUA, SUM model Smart-UPS), the firmware would've worked after just breaking the tabs or new faceplate.