Back-UPS Pro 1100VA Serial Communication on Windows 7

[Anonymous user]

I am trying to get an old Back-UPS Pro 1100VA (BP1100) to communicate through the serial port to a Windows 7 box. I'm using a 940-0024C cable. I tried PowerChute Personal V3.0.2 but it says it can't find the UPS.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Anonymous user]

I am not able to install the PowerChute Plus software; I keep getting Windows error "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running." I'm running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. Tried all possible compatibility settings for the install file but all are a no-go. I've also tried a Serial-to-USB converter attached to the 940-0024C cable with PowerChute Personal but still no communication between my PC and the Back-UPS Pro.

I'll try the HID way without PowerChute Plus next.

Do I have any other options?

[BillP]

I don't think so unfortunately beyond what you mentioned with Windows 7 Native Support with the serial to USB adapter. I'll defer to Bill P. to make sure I didn't miss anything.

[BillP]

Try APCUPSD www.apcupsd.com. I will run on Windows 7 and is compatible with the Back-UPS Pro 1100.

[Anonymous user]

In my search for a solution I had already downloaded and installed APCUPSD. Am now reading the docs.We'll see how this goes.

[BillP]

Hi,

I forgot to mention, your UPS is simple signaling so you should use cable part number 940-0020 and when installing and configuring the software select simple signaling. Simple signaling is the recognition of whether certain pins of the serial port are high or low, and allows for 3 states only; on battery, low battery and UPS turnoff. I talked with a few people about using the USB converter with simple signaling. The consensus is it should work but none of us have attempted this type of configuration so we are not sure.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I am using a 940-0024C cable since I had one and according to the APC website both the 940-0020 and 940-0024 cables are recommended for the Back-UPS Pro 1100VA (BP1100).

APC BACK-UPS PRO 1100VA 120V Options - Services, Related Products and More | APC

Options

So that information is not correct? Guess I'll make a 940-0020 and see what happens.

[BillP]

I do believe both with all work. We have only used the 940-0024 with a serial to USB adapter though in our testing on some products in tech support. (Bill and I discussed in person.)

Any luck with apcupsd?

[Anonymous user]

I've decided to build both a "Smart-Custom" and a "Simple-Custom" cable per the apcupsd archive and see what happens. Just need to find the correct value resistor from my parts bin for the "Simple-Custom" cable.

Haven't tried apcupsd with the 940-0024 direct to serial or with the 940-0024 + serial to USB adapter yet, guess I should do that first.

I'll report back what results I end up with.

[Anonymous user]

OK, I finally got apcupsd running and to connect to my Back-UPS Pro 1100VA (BP1100) today.

Used a 940-0024C cable (haven't tried it with the serial to USB converter yet).

The  apcupsd configuration that worked was "UPSCABLE 940-0024C", "UPSTYPE apcsmart", and "DEVICE COM1".

Apcupsd recognized the ups as a "BACK-UPS PRO 1000", the cable as a "Custom Cable Smart", and the driver as "APC Smart UPS (any)".

I'll try the serial to USB adapter with the 940-0024C (and maybe the apcupsd "Smart-Custom" and a "Simple-Custom" cables also) this weekend and provide an update then.

[Anonymous user]

I never could get the serial to USB converter to work. Made and tried both the apcupsd "Smart-Custom" and a "Simple-Custom" cables. The "Smart-Custom" serial cable with the apcupsd "UPSTYPE apcsmart" setting works the best. Tested this configuration and it notified me when it was on battery, notified me again when it hit low battery, then shut-down my PC cleanly and turned off.

Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous user]

I am trying to get an old Back-UPS Pro 1100VA (BP1100) to communicate through the serial port to a Windows 7 box. I'm using a 940-0024C cable. I tried PowerChute Personal V3.0.2 but it says it can't find the UPS.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the tips, yesterday I repair my old UPS "APC Back-UPS PRO 650", I changed all the capacitors, its 6 TO-220 Transistors, the adjust voltage IC, and the 4 relays, this UPS uses the cable 940-0095B, well I have installed Windows 8.1 Pro on my HP Compaq nx7400 old laptop with its docking with serial port, the Apcupsd daemon, my monitor AOC LM929 19 inches and works great together, I'm so happy because I can access to the UPS readings and now I have an autonomy for 65 minutes for my laptop and my monitor with this UPS. Thank you very much for the settings. 🙂