Communication Protocol and other Smart UPS SMC questions

[Anonymous user]

*** Updated to fix an error in the model number. The UPS I have is an SMC1000.

I recently acquired a retired Smart UPS SMC 1000, manufactured in late 2011 or early 2012. I plan to put it into use, and since this is the first one of these I've actually seen, I have a few questions.

1. What communications protocol do these use? I'm hoping to use the unit with apcupsd. If I need to use Modbus and the unit supports doing so, how would I enable it?

2. What is the part number for the serial cable?

3. The manual that APC has available for download seems to indicate that these have AVR boost and buck capability. I tested this capability and my example appears to have only low voltage boost capability. Under a high line voltage condition, my example of this UPS switches to battery.

4. The manual also indicates that a "setup mode" is available by holding down the two buttons at the bottom of the display panel. When I do this, the UPS performs a self test.

5. I was surprised to see that the supplied batteries (it's still running on the original set supplied by APC) were two 12 volt, 7-9 amp-hour units. I'd have figured these would use the same 12 volt, 12 amp hour batteries seen in the "full" Smart UPS 1000 model. Is it possible to use the larger batteries if I removed the plastic block inside the battery compartment (and possibly adjusted the metal guides)?

[Anonymous user]

I updated the UPS firmware from version 2.0 to 10.0, and while doing so, came across a readme file discussing fixes made to the firmware. However, it only goes back to version 9.8, and I'm curious what the other earlier releases might have fixed. Is this information available anywhere?

I didn't initially find a clear answer to whether or not the SMC UPS models support Modbus or not. What little I did find seems to suggest they do not. (Update: I later found this thread, which would indicate that the SMC1000 does not, and will not, support Modbus.)

For whatever it's worth, the UPS's serial number is AS1225210698. (Interestingly, the readme states that firmware 10.0 is for serial numbers beginning with AS1208 and earlier.)

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

The SMC will work with APCUPSD via USB however it does not provide all features. The SMC does not include Modbus.