Need PCPE with >>SERIAL PORT support for two SUA1500's

[Anonymous user]

Hi. We invested in two SUA1500's for the explicit reason that they had the option to attach to stable, fixed-pipe serial ports. At home I've got a little XS1500 which came with PCPE, and while I loathe its USB connection (because I loathe USB {color:#ff0000}universally{color}), I love the PowerChute software that came with it — the "Personal Edition" with its cute little icon and simple reporting. The Business Edition of PowerChute came with our SUA1500's and I just can't stand it. We're on standalone PC's (one W2K, one XP MCE) and if I can't find a way for the little Personal Edition to run these two serial-ported UPS's I'll frankly hunt down a different program and/or different hardware. :_|

I searched this forum for a version of PCPE that has serial port support and someone posted an earlier version of 'PE that he stated would have it. It doesn't. With the SUA1500's reporting fully under the Power Tab at their respective COM ports I get the following error:
bq. APC POWERCHUTE PERSONAL EDITION SETUP \\ The installer is unable to locate a supported APC battery backup connected to your computer. \\ {color:#ff0000}Please check your USB connections and try again.{color}
In fact, I can't see that any of the earlier PE's have Serial Port support. So is that it then? I have to buy someone else's products just to take advantage of the serial ports on our units?

[Anonymous user]

Hi. We invested in two SUA1500's for the explicit reason that they had the option to attach to stable, fixed-pipe serial ports. At home I've got a little XS1500 which came with PCPE, and while I loathe its USB connection (because I loathe USB {color:#ff0000}universally{color}), I love the PowerChute software that came with it — the "Personal Edition" with its cute little icon and simple reporting. The Business Edition of PowerChute came with our SUA1500's and I just can't stand it. We're on standalone PC's (one W2K, one XP MCE) and if I can't find a way for the little Personal Edition to run these two serial-ported UPS's I'll frankly hunt down a different program and/or different hardware. :_|

I searched this forum for a version of PCPE that has serial port support and someone posted an earlier version of 'PE that he stated would have it. It doesn't. With the SUA1500's reporting fully under the Power Tab at their respective COM ports I get the following error:
bq. APC POWERCHUTE PERSONAL EDITION SETUP \\ The installer is unable to locate a supported APC battery backup connected to your computer. \\ {color:#ff0000}Please check your USB connections and try again.{color}
In fact, I can't see that any of the earlier PE's have Serial Port support. So is that it then? I have to buy someone else's products just to take advantage of the serial ports on our units?

[Techie_apc]

Unfortunately, the Power Chute Personal Edition software does not work via the Serial connection. It works only via the Back UPS USB cable.

I understand that you are looking for the simplified software to manage your Smart UPS. I have been using the Power Chute Business Edition version 8.0.1 Web Interface to monitor my Smart UPS since it has been released. In my opinion, the PCBE version 8.0.1 single node web interface is user friendly and simplified management software to monitor the UPS.

Have you ever tried the PCBE version 8.0.1 web interface to monitor your Smart UPSs?

Message was edited by: Techie

[Anonymous user]

None of the versions of PCPE? None of them?

[Techie_apc · Accepted solution]

No...all of the PCPE versions work via only the Back UPS USB cable.

[Techie_apc]

I am from APC Technical Support. I double checked my answer with a product specialist. I was told that the PCPE does not work with an SUA Smart UPS unit unfortunately.

Message was edited by: Techie

[Anonymous user]

Hello again Techie. I don't wish to appear rude but . . . are you affiliated with APC? I'm happy to give you credit for answering this question but I would like verification that I am hearing it {color:#0000ff}directly{color} from APC Technical Support and not a User (however experienced). Thank you.

wu

[BillP]

Hello WattsUp,

Unfortunately our PowerChute Personal Edition would only work for Back-UPS on USB, there's no option for it to be used or work for serial. For the UPS that you have it is designed to work with PowerChute Business Edition on serial-to-serial communication or USB.

On the side note, Techie and I are part of APC Technical Support.

[Anonymous user]

So, I have a Back-UPS 500 model # BK500MC.
The serial com port worked fine on 32bit Vista.
I have new software, Windows7 64bit.

I have tried several flavors of PowerChute software to no avail.
One says that it can not find the serial port which otherwise works fine.
The other flavor says "The installer is unable to locate an APC battery backup connected to your computer".

So, I guess that I need to get a serial to USB adapter cable, as PowerChute does not like serial com ports???