Re: APC Back-UPS 1500 erratic behavior
You can "see" the charging voltage by monitoring the terminals that would normally connect to the battery and increasing the battery pack's apparent impedance (so the battery doesn't "load down" the charger). Or, by impressing a voltage from a lab supply, behind a resistance, and gradually increasing the output until the charging current drops to 0. By doing this, you're effectively simulating a battery at various levels of charge.
[Some UPSs disconnect the charging current if they don't sense a battery's presence. So, you may have to impress a nominal ~24VDC potential (behind maybe 100 ohms?) to get the UPS to supply charging voltage.]
The battery leads on all UPSs are really short -- to limit voltage drops in the wiring (some UPSs add a third "sense" wire so they can see the voltage AT the battery terminals despite the current load on the pack). But, if you flip the UPS onto its side, you can usually access the leads (note that you aren't powering a load at this time so you don't need the battery in the way!)
It's not really an "ethernet" cable but, rather, an 8P8C/RJ45 connector. While this has the same physical characteristics of an "ethernet connector", thinking of it as such leads folks to try stupi^H^H^H silly things -- like plugging it into a network jack!
I don't think the Back-UPS line of products offers any hooks for "programming" beyond the general options presented in the powerchute interface (e.g., selecting self-test frequency).
My notes for my SmartUPS units effectively say:
Once a parameter has been selected:
But, I'm not sure any of this will work on the BackUPS devices. (And, if the USB port on those appears as a serial port or something else)
Note, also, that I've not tried any of these in a TELNET session (which could, in theory, support them on NMC-equipped units!)
I've also not tried poking around on the PCBs to see if there are any "internal" serial port connections hidden just for manufacturing use...
Originally posted by sambul83
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[Some UPSs disconnect the charging current if they don't sense a battery's presence. So, you may have to impress a nominal ~24VDC potential (behind maybe 100 ohms?) to get the UPS to supply charging voltage.]
The battery leads on all UPSs are really short -- to limit voltage drops in the wiring (some UPSs add a third "sense" wire so they can see the voltage AT the battery terminals despite the current load on the pack). But, if you flip the UPS onto its side, you can usually access the leads (note that you aren't powering a load at this time so you don't need the battery in the way!)
Can someone share practical experience in charger voltage calibration in APC Back-UPS BX1500 LCD? It comes with APC USB-to-Ethernet cable ( AP9827 ) control cable.
I don't think the Back-UPS line of products offers any hooks for "programming" beyond the general options presented in the powerchute interface (e.g., selecting self-test frequency).
My notes for my SmartUPS units effectively say:
- Use the "UPC" widget; a 9pin serial cable will shut down the UPS!
- Configure tip session for 2400 8N1
- Send 'Y'
- Expect "SM" ("Smart Mode"?)
- Send '1'
- Pause >1 second
- Send '1'
- Expect "PROG" ("PROGramming mode"?)
- Send 'L' ("Line voltage scale factor"?)
- Expect <current value>
- Send 'o' ("Output voltage scale factor"?
- Expect <current value>
- Send 'B' ("Battery voltage scale factor"?)
- Expect <current value>
- Send 'P' ("Power scale factor"?)
- Expect <current value>
- ...
- Send 'R' ("Return"? "Ready"??)
- Expect "BYE"
Once a parameter has been selected:
- Send '+'
- Expect next higher value
- Send '-'
- Expect next lower value
But, I'm not sure any of this will work on the BackUPS devices. (And, if the USB port on those appears as a serial port or something else)
Note, also, that I've not tried any of these in a TELNET session (which could, in theory, support them on NMC-equipped units!)
I've also not tried poking around on the PCBs to see if there are any "internal" serial port connections hidden just for manufacturing use...
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