Can BX1400UI UPS be powered up or down by a software command

[Anonymous user]

We have  APC BX1400UI  UPS powering a single windows PC Kiosk application on bespoke hardware.

When there is a power failure we want the PC to initiate a controlled shutdown (after completing any transactions in progress) but also put the UPS into dormant/shutdown state so the other devices in the Kiosk don't drain the UPS.

When the power returns we want the PC to boot normally and Kiosks to return to an operational state. The PC BIOS is configured to boot on power up but this will only work if the UPS is fully discharged or shutdown.

Is there any command that we can issue to the UPS to put it in to dormant state (ie power off)  in xx minutes ? We don't have PowerChute installed but is PowerChute able to power off the UPS BX1400UI ?

If the UPS battery is providing powering to PC, when the mains is restored, if the PC is shutdown or hibernate, it will not get reboot due to mains returning ?

How do we wake up PC on UPS battery ?

Barry

[voidstar_apc]

Yes, PowerChute does exactly that. It sends a command that tells the UPS to wait two minutes while the computer shuts down and then the UPS discontinues powering the computer. When power returns, the UPS restores power. If power returns after the shutdown command but before the computer has finished shutting down, the UPS does the same thing: wait two minutes, turns off the output power, then turns it back on.

If you don't want to use PowerChute, you could also use third party software like APCUPSd or check out the USB Usage Tables for HID Power Devices.

[Anonymous user]

Thanks ok this PowerChute personal edition with BX 1400UI UPS - I understood it could only  monitor the UPS status. 

Can you send PowerChute shutdown screen or document show how we do this ?

Thanks

[voidstar_apc]

On page 2 of this brochure on PowerChute, I see you can configure shutdown under configuration->runtime. The BX1400UI brochure lists shutdown as a feature.

[Anonymous user]

Ok this will shutdown the mains to the PC and preserve the UPS battery.

But the PC is now shutdown and when UPS has the main power restored - there is no POWER ON to the PC so it does not wake up. Unless the UPS is full discharge which we don't want this to happen.

These are remote unmanned PCs configured to boot on power up.

 I want to be able to switch off the UPS (in the future) via the the PC, so everything is shutdown when the mains is unavailable.

When the mains is restored the UPS powers up (and charges) the PC has the power restored and reboots.

Do you see the problem ?

[voidstar_apc]

As part of OS shutdown, PowerChute commands the UPS to wait 2 minutes and turn off. When mains is restored, the UPS turns back on. The attached PC then detects restoration of power and turns back on. At least that's my experience with other APC UPSes. The BX1400UI brochure mentions that it will restart your system.

It sounds like this is not happening for you? With PowerChute installed, your PC shuts down but the UPS does not?

[Anonymous user]

Thanks, sorry for labouring the point - the UPS shuts down is the important part. We will install PowerChute and test it 

[Anonymous user]

Guys as promised I have installed PowerChute and tested RunTime shutdown after 2 min.

The PC was put into "hibernation" the UPS DID NOT SHUTDOWN and when the power return the PC did not re-boot because the UPS was still on ?

Any suggestion ?

[voidstar_apc · Accepted solution]

That's disappointing!

At this point I recommend contacting APC technical support to troubleshoot why the BackUPS is not going into sleep mode. Contact information here:

https://www.apc.com/us/en/support/contact-us/