Get Power Consumption

[posterberg_apc]

Hi

Is there a way to read out my connect equipments power usage, either with apcaccess or some other command?

I am running apcupsd, with usb cable, ubuntu 18.04 server. 
Power-Saving Back-UPS Pro 1500

VERSION : 3.14.14 (31 May 2016) debian
CABLE : USB Cable
DRIVER : USB UPS Driver
UPSMODE : Stand Alone
STARTTIME: 2020-08-30 10:58:39 +0000
MODEL : Back-UPS RS 1500G

The only power reading I can find is NOMPOWER but that is not matching the ~200W I am expecting, it says 865W.

Are there other command that I can use to get the power usage?

BR,
Peter

[BillP]

Hi,

The software does not give that data directly. However, if you pull LOADPCT and multiply NOMPOWER by LOADPCT you will get the draw wattage. Example: NOMPOWER reads 865, LOADPCT reads 20% so 865 times .20= 173 Watts.

NOTE: When pulling LOADPCT the UPS is only reporting what is being drawn from the Battery / Surge outlets. The number does not include what is being drawn from the Serge only outlets. 

[posterberg_apc]

Thanks for the reply!

I am not sure that is correct, that would in my case be 865W * 11% = 95W. I have a power meter connected to the socket to which only the UPS it is connected. That power meter has never been below 115W (currently 128W). Does the UPS itself draw 20-30W in addition to the equipment that I have connected to it?

BR,
Peter

[BillP]

Hi,

I have a BR1500MS. I plugged the UPS into a Kill A Watt meter and with no load, it reads 2 - 4 watts while not charging. After running on battery the meter read 16 – 18 watts and decreased over time until settling at 2 - 4 watts.  

With a 150 watt lamp connected the meter reads 152 - 154 watts when fully charged. When I plug the meter into the UPS, connect the load to the meter, the meter reads 148 watts. At that time, APCUPSD reports NOMPOWER 900 watts, LOADPCT 16%, 900 * .16 = 144. Slightly less than the Kill A Watt meter reading of 148.

Please remember, the UPS is only presenting the load on the battery/surge outlets to the software. It does not report the draw on the surge-only outlets. So, if you have something plugged into the surge-only outlets with the meter attached to the wall the software will report less load then the meter. 

[posterberg_apc · Accepted solution]

Hi Bill,

thank you for your test results! Seem like my power meter and the UPS are giving the same results then. I have nothing connected to the surge only outlets. It's just a NAS and an esxi server and I wan't to have both on the battry/surge outlets of course. 🙂

I'll have to do some more follow up tests I think. I just go this new UPS a few days ago.

BR,
Peter