SMT1500i bricked by firmware update (blank LCD, not seen by wizard or PuTTY)

[DazOG]

Hi

Hoping someone might be able to help.  I recently flashed the firmware on a SMT1500I UPS, a process I've done several times without issue.  On this particular one the Firmware Update Wizard told me that I couldn't update over USB (existing firmware or hardware too old?) so I had to do it over serial.

I used a USB-to-serial adapter and the OEM cable, and flashed the unit.  This appeared to work properly, but took longer than it normally takes over USB.  From how it proceeeded I had no reason to assume it wasn't working properly - the Firmware Update Wizard proceeded to 100%, and then to the page with the spinning cog, meanwhile the UPS said "Firmware update in progress" on the LCD with various LEDs illuminated.

After the Firmware Update Wizard reached the final screen I left it like that for 40 minutes.  The UPS never changed from "Firmware update in progress" with the red and two amber LEDs lit.  The green one was off.

Eventually I figured that it was stuck - so removed power from the UPS.

Attempting to turn it back on again, the LCD backlight illuminates, but nothing is shown.  There is no obvious sign of life - e.g. it making sounds as if it is doing a self-test or anything else.

I tried connecting it back up to serial and also USB - and it is not detected in either case.

I also tried connecting it via serial and then using "Extra Putty" to blindly send the firmware over XMODEM (something I read about on here) but there is never any acknowledgement of a connection, much less transmission of data, despite leaving it for 15 minutes.

At this point it seems completely dead and I don't know how to resolve it.  I am being quoted almost the cost of a new UPS to replace the "core", which I consider a last resort.

Can anyone think of any other methods of recovering this device?  It is long out of any warranty and we don't have any kind of support contract with Schneider Electric.

Thanks in advance!

Daz

[Teken]

The only other solution is to load the firmware directly to the MCU on the MOBO.

You can search for that possible solution on this forum and the requirements that must be met.

Questions Ask . . . 👍