Simple monitoring for BK650MC

[Anonymous user]

Hi, I am trying to set up simple monitoring (on battery power/off battery power) and graceful shutdown with a BK650MC.  I know it's a discontinued unit but  here's my set up:

- Desktop running Windows 7 64 bit Pro (with no serial port)

- BK650MC UPS

- Serial to USB converter (female DB9 to connect to UPS on one end, other end is a USB connection to the computer)

Is this even possible?  I believe it is using the 'professional' version of PowerChute from what I've read, not the personal version but no matter how I configure it, the software doesn't see the UPS.  The serial to USB cable is working as it's recognized by Windows and the device driver installs correctly.

It's not the end of the world but I'd love to have the PC shut down gracefully if I lose power when I am not around.

Any thoughts, tips, suggestions?  I really don't want to buy a new UPS to get shutdown functionality, so willing to get creative to try to make this work.

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous user]

I got it to work.  I installed the manufacturers driver for the serial to USB cable (instead of the Windows 7 default drivers) and it worked!  Simple monitoring is working and it shuts down the system gracefully when the configuration calls for it.

Be aware that APC support said you couldn't do this (simple monitoring on a Win 7 machine with a BK650MC). 

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Hi,

What software are you using? Windows Power Options in the control panel, APCUPSD, or PowerChute?

Thanks,