How to enter configuration mode on Smart-UPS C1000

[BillP]

My new SMC1000 unit works fine, except that I can't seem to get to Configuration Mode. Pressing and holding down the Mute and Menu buttons causes the unit to go on battery power for a short while.

But then pressing the Menu button (immediately, I understand about not waiting 15 seconds) merely cycles the display among

Events

Estimated run time

Load in watts

Load %

Load in VA

Out amps

Out volts

Out Hz

In volts

At a minimum, I want to dim the LCD display; but I'd like really to be able to use the full set of configuration options. Would appreciate advice on how to do that.

[BillP]

My new SMC1000 unit works fine, except that I can't seem to get to Configuration Mode. Pressing and holding down the Mute and Menu buttons causes the unit to go on battery power for a short while.

But then pressing the Menu button (immediately, I understand about not waiting 15 seconds) merely cycles the display among

Events

Estimated run time

Load in watts

Load %

Load in VA

Out amps

Out volts

Out Hz

In volts

At a minimum, I want to dim the LCD display; but I'd like really to be able to use the full set of configuration options. Would appreciate advice on how to do that.

[BillP]

This might be a firmware issue that I'll have to double check on.

Can you tell me what firmware is on this UPS? I think you'll have to get that via PowerChute if you have that going/installed since this UPS cannot report it via its display unfortunately.

[BillP]

Ok, well what we are thinking is this may be an issue in the older UPS 09.3 firmware. I know you just bought this to replace your Back UPS and UPS firmware 09.8 is the current for this UPS per How do I update the firmware of my SMT, SMX, or SMC series Smart-UPS? | FAQs | Schneider Electric US

So what I am wondering if you can do is use the firmware upgrade wizard in that article (which tells you the firmware when you connect to your UPS before you start), tell me what the firmware is first or note it) and if anything, a firmware upgrade should fix this. When you upgrade, your UPS output will need to turn off so plan accordingly and I'd suggest we remove anything from the UPS that won't be OK if we turn it off (like your computer). If it is already at UPS 09.8 for the version when you start, I need to know that so I can say there is still an issue somehow with UPS 09.8 and look at it further.

In regards to your serial number, I'll need to know it specifically if you look at it and it is something that does not begin with like XX1330 or newer (13 indicating 2013 build year and 30 indicating week 30). I'd be concerned if you bought a new UPS and it was not manufactured within the last 3-4 months since the typical lead time from manfacturing to user is around 3-4 months via reputable distributors or APC direct.

[BillP]

Per the paper record of the QA test run October 18 2013 on this unit, the serial number starts with AS1342, so it looks like it was built and tested last October.

I'm guessing I need to reattach the USB cable to run the firmware app; will try to do that this weekend.

[BillP]

According to the "wizard", the firmware versions are

UPS 09.6

MCU 02.0

UBL 01.2

MBL 02.0

The firmware upgrade to 9.8 looks somewhat disruptive (since everything is now plugged into the UPS, including some devices that get very cranky if they lose power), and all I want to do is use the configuration options. So I'm thinking that unless 9.6 is defective in some way, it might be a simpler alternative to find the documentation for it and use that.

[BillP]

Or can I do the configuration changes via the PowerChute software?  That would probably be the most convenient and least disruptive approach if available.

[BillP]

Yes, well the issue is what you were doing should bring up configuration mode. And yes, the firmware upgrade can be disruptive - as I noted, it will require the UPS output to be turned off. Our best bet long term would be to upgrade to UPS 09.8 to see if the buttons still do not work but in the short term, PowerChute Business Edition should allow you to configure most items if not more than the front panel.

[BillP]

ronks:

I also experienced the exact same thing as you. The firmware upgrade proceeded to begin and then out of nowhere this Windows driver started installing, which did complete successfully. But, it interrupted the firmware upgrade and caused it to fail. Windows then asked me to restart, which I did. It should be noted that this driver notification occurred within the first 10% of sending the file to the UPS. I had no choice but to abandon the firmware upgrade, reboot and try again. I believe APC Support should investigate this as it is not good.

I was able to power-on the UPS again (the firmware process powered it down), re-run the firmware upgrade process and this time the firmware upgraded successfully. However, I should note that I still saw the driver installed AGAIN even after the second go-around on the firmware upgrade. But, for whatever reason, the driver install did not interrupt the firmware upgrade process.

I'm at rev 09.8 now. So, now I just have to figure out how to auto-DIM the LCD panel...

[BillP]

I have a few questions so we can ask someone to investigate

• Can you give specifics of what version of Windows OS you're using where you saw this behavior?
• And you downloaded the version of the Firmware Upgrade Wizard in the knowledge base available today?
• This was via USB?
• Did you happen to see any details about what driver was trying to install itself?

[BillP]

I wouldn't discount the possibility that I'm just doing something wrong.  😕

Still, I held down the Mute and Display buttons, and all that happened was that the UPS went to battery for a few seconds (according to the panel display).

And I see that holding down Display for a few seconds toggles between Auto Dim and panel always on.

But about PowerChute Business Edition on my CD; I'm unclear if I need to install all three of the Agent, the Server, and the Console components.

I have one UPS powering one Windows PC; which components are appropriate for this setup?

[BillP]

I will check my unit again tomorrow to see what it does. I had asked someone more familiar with the unit last time who had known of a problem with getting into configuration mode and that it sounded likely it was not working.

For your set up - you can just use the PowerChute Business Edition Agent.

Once you install it, I think it puts a shortcut on your start menu but if not (incase that's just PowerChute Network Shutdown), just go to a web browser on your computer and access the Agent service via https://127.0.0.1:6547 or http://127.0.0.1:3052. There will be a web page you can log into with the username and password you set up in the installation process.

Let me know if you have trouble.

[BillP]

Thanks! I see that the PowerChute software lets me adjust transfer voltage levels, power-quality sensitivity, and alarm muting if I want to. From the 2011 edition of the SMC1000 user manual, I found how to auto-dim the LCD display (which is actually the one thing I was after). The only missing adjustment is toggling "Green Mode", which I can probably live without, since I don't know what an AVR component is. Other than that, "Configuration Mode" seems to be just a way of grouping the options.

My guess is that all the settings are really available, but I don't have the right documentation for the 09.6 release of the firmware. Obtaining that seems simpler than doing a firmware upgrade to 9.8; do you know if it's available?  Or if there is some other reason to upgrade?  Given the hinky nature of the user guides, I'm not sure an upgrade would resolve the issue and I could end up with a very large corded doorstop if anything goes wrong.

[BillP]

I really suggest considering updating the firmware. I'll explain.

From what I understand, UPS 9.6 has a few different issues and we'd really recommend updating to avoid them. The regular user's guide supposedly focuses at UPS 09.8 and then the manual addendum focuses on UPS 09.8 changes (all at http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SMC1000&tab=documentation).

Now, it is true you can do all of this via PowerChute and if you want to do that, that's fine too. If you follow the instructions and the firmware upgrade does not work, then don't worry about it and I'll take care of it

The struggle I have is UPS 09.6 is old news in development so I can't find much out about it and everything is for UPS 09.8. For instance, apparently they changed how you get to Configuration mode.

P.S. AVR is Automatic Voltage Regulation. Disabling green mode has no benefit unless you have a lot of THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) or a heavy load because it can reduce transfer times to battery by ~1ms - so the typical user does not need to disable this.

Let me know if you have further questions. I think your best bet is to upgrade now and then you'll be all set and things are more stable.

[BillP]

OK, I am persuaded. I'll look into the logistics of the upgrade this week. I assume that everything now on the UPS will need to be unplugged during the process.

Poking around in the 9.8 release notes, I see one of the changes from 9.6 is "To Implement Configuration mode on the LCD", which explains the discrepancy.

(I have to say it is a little odd for a brand new unit to come with an older release of firmware, though. Somebody should have a word with the factory.)

Thanks for your assistance with this.

[BillP]

You're welcome. Depending on the time frame of release, sometimes they will re-upgrade them or let the user do it since these are field upgradable. I am just speaking from dealing with UPS Network Management Cards. What we do there is release the firmware, then for brand new units being manufactured, they get flashed with the latest but we don't go back and re-open boxes and reflash ones that were already made since the user is able to. I understand what you mean though but at least we can upgrade it

[BillP]

OK, done. The upgrade for some reason required SMC1005UPS_09-8.enc and rejected SMC1000UPS_09-8.enc even though the unit is a SMC1000. Then it ran for about 15 minutes, and failed, saying it could not establish communication with the unit and I now had firmware level (    ). Not so good. But I noticed that a driver was installed to Windows in the middle of the upgrade, so I just reran it and it completed successfully. I'll leave out the details of crawling under the desk unplugging and replugging everything. Anyway, it is now at 9.8 and the "Configuration mode" works as advertised. Time to break out the champagne.  🙂  

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hmm, I replied, but I don't see it..

Anyway, I am glad you got it upgraded.

By the way, SMC1000 filename is just a coincidence. The filenames actually go by the "ID" we give units to determine what they are beyond the SKU the customer references. SMC1000 and SMC1005 file names actually refer to ID 1000 and ID 1005. Your unit is an ID1005 and there are other SMC models that are ID1000 that would use the other file.