PowerChute Serial Shutdown web interface not working

SCDesign · ‎2025-01-20

I'm really hoping someone here can help, I'm at my wit's end.

I have a Back-UPS Pro 1500 with battery expansion. I'm using a Windows tablet, running Windows 10, and installed PowerChute on it yesterday with the intention of using it just to monitor kWh usage of everything connected to the UPS. I don't actually need any of the shutdown features since the UPS powers a 3D printing setup.

Based on the screenshots on the website, I should be able to view kWh usage on an Energy Reporting tab. I can't find that anywhere on the localhost web interface for PCSS, and the top navigation links in the green bar don't do anything besides disappear when I tap on them.

I've tried Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, all with the same results. I've tried incognito/private mode on each. This is a squeaky-clean fresh install of Windows and each of the browsers. I've disabled ad blockers and script blockers as well.

Is there something I did wrong during setup? Here's a video of what's happening.

SCDesign · ‎2025-01-26

I borrowed my mom's laptop and installed it on that to test whether it was the computer. Turns out what's actually going on is that the navigation drop-down menus only appear when the mouse cursor is hovered over the parent menu item. Works fine with a mouse or trackpad, less so with a touchscreen.

For anyone else scratching their head, the workaround is to simply press-and-hold on the menu item, and the drop down will appear.

Insert grumbling about accessible web design here...

See Answer In Context

Teken · ‎2025-01-21

What are the results of doing the same on the target computer that hosts the PCSS application via Chrome browser?!?

SCDesign · ‎2025-01-21

As far as I know, that tablet is the target computer hosting it. It's set up with the data cable from the back of the UPS into the tablet's USB port. I don't have the UPS connected directly to the internet on its own.

Teken · ‎2025-01-22

Hi,

Understood, please install the APC PCSS software on to a regular computer system (None Tablet) and report back the results.

SCDesign · ‎2025-01-26

I borrowed my mom's laptop and installed it on that to test whether it was the computer. Turns out what's actually going on is that the navigation drop-down menus only appear when the mouse cursor is hovered over the parent menu item. Works fine with a mouse or trackpad, less so with a touchscreen.

For anyone else scratching their head, the workaround is to simply press-and-hold on the menu item, and the drop down will appear.

Insert grumbling about accessible web design here...

Teken · ‎2025-01-27

Appreciate you following up with root cause and the solution on the Windows Tablet. 👍