Problems communicating with PCBE Agent running on Windows 7 to SURTA1500XL UPS

[Anonymous user]

The APC drivers are installed correctly (Device Manager shows APC UPS under Battery and HID), and Agent service is running. But when I log into the Agent web interface it says under Status that UPS not connected.  I'm using the serial db-9 port on UPS connected to 940-0024 serial-to-serial cable and then the APC conversion cable to USB for connection to PC.

Any suggestions ?

[BillP]

Hi,

If you are using a serial to USB converter then PowerChute is not using the HID driver. If you look in the control panel under devices and printers you should see the device similar to the screenshot below.

You need to configure PowerChute to communicate over serial not USB. 

[Anonymous user]

On 11/16/2015 10:10 AM, Bill said:

You need to configure PowerChute to communicate over serial not USB. 

I'm not sure how to do this. When I installed Agent it couldn't find the UPS and then simply asked what style of connector I was using on the UPS, and I chose the DB9 connector, which is the serial port I believe.

The drivers seemed to be installed automatically, as soon as I plugged in the APC serial to usb converter cable.

[BillP]

Hi,

What is the part number on the cables you are using? A SURTA1500XL and SURTA1500RMXL have 2 communications ports. A 9 pin serial and a keyed RJ45 for USB. The serial cable in 9 pin to 9 pin and the keyed RJ45 is USB to RJ45. When using the keyed RJ45 you system should discover the UPS and load the APC driver. PowerChute should discover the UPS and install Agent version 9.0.3. SURTA Smart-UPS do not ship with a USB to serial conversion cable. The SC1500 Smart-UPS ship with a USB to serial convert. 

[Anonymous user]

Thank you very much, I'm amazed, the RJ45 to USB cable seems to be able to handle smart signalling.  I didn't think it could do that.

You wouldn't happen to have any suggestions on how to get this working on a Windows Home Server 2003 ?  It has installed the same drivers (Battery & HID) as my Windows 7 PC but unfortunately no magic is happening when I plug in the RJ45 to USB cable.

[BillP]

Hi,

If you have already installed PowerChute on the Win 2003 system uninstall it. Then attach the RJ45 - USB cable and run the PowerChute installer. PowerChute should discover the UPS. 

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Wow, thank you very much.  I would have bet that wouldn't work, but it did.  And to think of all the cables I bought, and they weren't cheap.