pin out of serial cable for pro650 to PC for PowerChute?

[Anonymous user]

Obviously  not a straight-thru cable as plugging that in instantly KILLS the pro650's and powers them off.

I have gone thru maybe 15 APCs over the years and never bothered to plug in serial cable, until now.  So no cables saved over the years, and APC site has no real tech data like cable pin outs.

Install program won't even install w/o it communicating!  Jeesh....

Help someone?

Thanks!

[voidstar_apc]

Surprisingly APC does have a bit of documentation:

What are the computer interface port specifications for the 3G Smart-UPS family?

Elsewhere on the web there's more info.

If you want to get the right cable, the part number you're looking for is 940-0024D (that last letter doesn't matter, it's just a revision). Here's the apc link.

[Anonymous user]

Suprising indeed!  Thank you for the info.

Unfortunately there is more involved than what you listed.  I suppose I have a "SU" model since it is called a "smart UPS V/S 650 model?

Unfortunately, their software still won't talk to my PC  (:  A software program needs to have same baud and correct com port;  their program does not seem to care - they must insist on old school something like "use com port 1 only" or something?  Any clue on THIS?

Installing their software, it gets 1/2 way installed then insists on connecting or it un installs right away.  No allowance for different com ports.  I ASSUME they built it to match the baud they set in the UPS?  No clue there either....

Thank you for the cable no:  it allowed me to pick one from my junk box - with that part number on it.  Still no go on 2 different UPS.

May be they no longer support the 'smart UPS V/S 650" series?  And their software is for some newer model?

My model nos are VS650...

So I used the small tech descrip above and made my own simple serial cable using pin 4 (instead of industry std 5) for common, and pins 1&2 @UPS, to pins 2,3,&5 at PC.  Still no go...

The more I look at this, I think this 'powerchute ver 3.0.2 ONLY works with USB connections, not serial...  My serial channel never even blinks, so nothing is being sent out so no cable is going to work.

Anyone know where to get an older powerchute program that might support serial connections?

Any other ideas?

[voidstar_apc]

That's a bit out of my depth -- maybe someone else on here knows more.

If you have a SmartUPS, make sure you're using PowerChute Business Edition not Persional Edition (only for BackUPS). I think PowerChute checks each of the serial ports during install. Only thing I can think of here is that some windows programs don't recognize serial ports >= COM10, although it would be odd if PowerChute were like that.

While I don't know much about PowerChute, we can check whether the UPS is responding manually. In hyperterminal or other serial comm program, use 2400 baud, 8n1, then type uppercase 'Y' a few times. You should see the UPS respond with SM. If nothing happens... perhaps disconnect the UPS and jump pins 2 and 3 on your USB->serial dongle to see if it will echo characters back at you.

[Anonymous user]

THANKS for the good info!  I could not get any reply from either ups at 9600 or 19200 with my putty (like hyperterminal);  I expected gably gook if talking at all.

Guess really old things talking 2400baud can't even SEE the higher speed shorter bursts!  HA!  

2400 was key to prove the ups's talk.  Thanks for the Y gives SM response.  Any other random key gives NA response.  

So I know it talks, know my homemade cable and found OEM cables work.  Now to find an older power shute program that is not apparently hung up on USB only.

Thanks again for getting me this far.

[voidstar_apc · Accepted solution]

The only one I think is USB-only is PowerChute Personal Edition. You want PowerChute Business Edition.