Any want or need for an ESP32 smartcard for APC UPS devices?

Hardware
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1

I’m testing the water here to see if there would be any desire for an esphome-powered APC UPS device using the smartcard slot. Most business- or enterprise-grade APC UPS devices contain such a slot, and I’d like to see if people would want an esphome-driven module to install in the smartcard slot and provide power monitoring/control.

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My reasoning for replacing the snmpwebcard devices is that I am dissatisfied with the feature set. NUT can only monitor the APC via SNMP, and USB on newer devices doesn’t bring in power monitoring. RS232 only works on linux using the APC application, but they are phasing that out.

There’s a project that already links up to the APC UPS via traditional RS232, which is what the smartslots utilize:

Hints and more data on the smartslot pinout:

Please let me know if this is an attractive idea, and if there are any features you’d like in addition to this list:

  • Device Model / Serial / Firmware
  • Input Voltage / Power / Current / Frequency
  • Load Voltage / Power / Current / Frequency
  • Battery stats: Current / Voltage / Charge / State
  • UPS functions: Tests / Calibration
  • Network Capability: Wifi, HA API, MQTT, possibly SNMP
  • Possible future improvements: Ethernet, external serial port for devices without smartslots, using RJ-50 (APC standard) interface with the UPS

TL;DR
I want to know if people want in-system esphome power monitoring for their APC UPS devices using the smartslot, which provides integration into the energy dashboard. If so, I’ll design a module and set up a source for purchasing them.

2

i’m very interested, ideally supporting mqtt. i’d need 6 boards

3

and ethernet

4

Funny, I’ve been thinking of making an affordable generic UPS interface module (which connects to the USB/serial port) for years due to the high cost of UPS network interfaces.

Of course instead I just buy used SmartSlot cards on eBay for $10.

Would definitely be interested in another option however only if it supports Ethernet and MQTT.

5

I’ve had a change in work schedule, and will be getting back to this once it settles down. I am still serious about getting this started.

6

It is a good idea.
as everybody I wanted to get rid of those USB cables.
but I am not sure to waste battery energy on wifi Access Point in case of power failure. A network cable is mandatory, or maybe use the usb connexion as a serial port to discuss with the “network ups manager” (watch the 5V!!!)
Wifi or Bluetooth should be avoided in this noisy environment, usually shielded.

7

I’m interested too.
ESPHome component syssi/esphome-apc-ups it works well, but the switches don’t work! I created issues.
MQTT works in ESPHome without problems.
Are you going to use this component?

8

Hi All, I’m interested too - have tried NUT and APCUPSD, which both work well on my older APC UPSes, but the “newer” (to me) APC UPSes (SMT1000i) that I have use some non or only partially supported modbus thing, and I can’t upgrade the firmware on the ones I have as they predate the ones you can update :confused: Access via the smart slot would definitely resolve this. I have 4 of the SMT1000i currently that I’d love to try a project like this on :slight_smile: