min & max line voltage on PCBE version 127.0.0.1

[Anonymous user]

Hi all, brand newbie here with a question relating to an SUA750i using PCBE version 127.0.0.1 on windows XP.....

In the log (screen dump attached) there are 2 columns for min and max line voltage which are and have always been "N/A",
I have ticked the relevant sections in the configure log page - also attached

any ideas appreciated
thanks

[Anonymous user]

Hi all, brand newbie here with a question relating to an SUA750i using PCBE version 127.0.0.1 on windows XP.....

In the log (screen dump attached) there are 2 columns for min and max line voltage which are and have always been "N/A",
I have ticked the relevant sections in the configure log page - also attached

any ideas appreciated
thanks

[Anonymous user]

Hi and thanks for the prompt reply...although it's not what I wanted to hear.

So, by using powerchute with, say, Yahoo webmail I cannot use the email facility for any alerts and now, because by default it uses USB to communicate with the PC I also cannot record the highest & lowest line voltages......hmmmmm.....not very good is it ?

[BillP]

yes i understand. but this is where you can post so that APC can hear your complaints and can improve the product.

[Anonymous user]

buzz....I could use the serial lead .....but my PC doesn't have a serial port and I can't justify fitting one just for that

not being able to use USB does seem rather a backward step though....what is the reasoning behind not being able to use USB....surely it is only a serial comms port, albeit a very fast one

Message was edited by: davidwf

[BillP]

You could always use the serial cable instead if you must have those values. They aren't crucial; PowerChute will still serve the purpose of shutting down your computer in the event of an outage (or a number of other events), and record all of the other data, so I suspect the min/max voltages don't really make or break the software. But yeah, that's a limitation of using USB.

[BillP]

Yeah, you're not the first person to point out serial is outdated, also not the last I suspect. 😉 Though it's not that you can't use USB... USB just doesn't record those values. I honestly am not sure why.

How about a serial to USB adapter? Cheaper than buying a card just for a serial port anyway...

[Anonymous user]

would that work ?....it will still be using USB....

[BillP]

It's the USB on the UPS, not your computer, so you can use the serial cable and it will read the voltages, and then stick the adapter for USB on the end and it'll be fine.

[Anonymous user]

Ah right, I see now.......pity APC tech don't know that....they are still trying to figure out why it isn't working !!!...I will let them sweat a bit more before I tell them

Did I read somewhere that the "serial" port does not use true serial connections.....anybody got a diagram with the pinouts so I can make the correct lead ?

Thanks all

[voidstar_apc]

It's also somewhat described in [this APC knowledgebase article|http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=1481].

[Anonymous user]

APC customer support kindly sent me a serial lead which, with the aid of a serial to USB adapter (I don't have any serial ports) is now reporting the voltages correctly ! 🙂

They are adamant however that a USB lead should do likewise so they are sending me one of those as well......will report back as & when

Thanks for your replies and help so far

D

[Anonymous user]

Well well, the "new and correct" USB lead arrived today - which appears to be a bog standard USB lead with no electronics or anything in it.
I un-installed and re-installed everything again and, as before it does NOT output the max & min line voltages...just like you all said in the earlier posts !!!

I have "advised" APC technical about this and also pointed out that I found the answer (on THEIR website) via this user forum.

So, I will continue to use the serial port connected via a USB to serial dongle as I don't have any proper serial ports and it all seems to work OK.

Thanks again to all who offered help
DF

[BillP · Accepted solution]

Right, it's a proprietary pin-out. I don't have any diagrams but I bet Google does. 😉