SOLUTION: apcupsd to Minisys (ProtectLI) and APC Smart Serial Interface

[SammyWoo]

These are the things to do to configure apcupsd to a legacy APC UPS using a 940-0024C Smart Serial Cable,

to a MiniSys (ProtectLi) computer with a RJ45 COM port.

1. Must install pFsense VGA, single COM port will be dedicated to UPS.

2. Minisys BIOS = Disable COM redirection. In Addition I set mine for 2400,n,8,1 or whatever speed ur UPS is currently set.

3. Install apcupsd pkg and configure with params below.

4. Build and use cable as shown below.

/usr/local/etc/apcupsd/apcupsd.conf

This Doc created 3/14/2018. pFsense 2.4.2. FreeBSD 11.1.

Name your UPS

UPSNAME YOUR_UPS_NAME

Legacy APC serial port

UPSCABLE 940-0024C

Smart Signalling

UPSTYPE apcsmart
DEVICE /dev/cuau0

Leave the rest of params at default or customize to suit your need.

Now you must build and use this custom cable, pinout as follows:

Short pins 1 - 8.

#    RJ45    DB9-M

+– 1

|

+-- 8

#      3 ----- 1

#      6 ----- 2

#      5 ----- 9

Here's one: https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=1151

#END

UPDATE: Even Simpler. Use an USB-Serial dongle like the popular Prolific PL2303 which FreeBSD 11 has built-in driver, coupled with 094-0024c will do it. Then u save the 1 com port for console use. Mine came up as port cuaU0 (uppercase U) when hooked up to the USB3. So config DEVICE /dev/cuaU0.