Network UPS Tools
Power Devices support
Table of Contents

UPS Communication Protocol

As Used On The Following SOLA/ Best Power UPS Models:

SOLA Australia

  • SOLA 320

  • SOLA 325

  • SOLA 520

  • SOLA 525

  • SOLA 610

  • SOLA 620

BEST Power

  • Patriot Pro

  • Patriot Pro II

  • Fortress

  • Fortress.TeleCom

  • Best 610

  • Axxium

General

This document contains specific information regarding the RS232C communication protocol for UPS models built for Best Power and SOLA. The protocol provides features to allow the user to:

  1. Monitor charger status.

  2. Monitor battery status and condition.

  3. Monitor inverter status.

  4. Monitor UPS status.

  5. Monitor the utility status.

  6. Shut off power to the UPS load

  7. Turn off power to the UPS load and allow the power to return after a user-selected amount of time

Note <cr> as used in this document is the IBM PC ASCII code for Carriage Return. It has the HEX code of 0D.

The connected computer will control information exchange through a query command followed by <cr>. The UPS is case sensitive to commands received from the connected computer. The UPS will respond with information followed by a <cr> or a specific action will take place without a serial response.

Some data/functions will be different depending on whether the UPS is a standby or on-line (double-conversion) system.

UPS data will be provided at a rate of 2400 baud and consist of 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity bit. All the information is provided in ASCII format.

Standby UPS systems following this specification will be capable of performing a UPS test. This test will be short term, user specified term, or to a low battery warning.

All system will respond to inverter shut down and output shut down after a specified delay and for specified time. They will also permit cancellation of the shut down sequence.

Hardware

The DB9S (Female) Communication Port on the UPS must conform to Best Power’s BestPort Communication Port Specification. Reference document number: EPS-0059.

For the communications described in this document, the following pins a functionality are required:

Pin Function

1

(6 on 610)

RS-232 Receive Data

Receives incoming RS-232 communication data at 2400 baud, 8 bits, no parity and 1 stop bit.

2

(9 on 610)

RS-232 Transmit Data

Sends outgoing RS-232 communication data at 2400 baud, 8 bits, no parity and 1 stop bit.

4

(7 on 610)

Common

The signal ground for all signal pins.

6

(NC on 610)

Reserved or Plug and Play Sense

UPS Models that support Microsoft Plug and Play (PnP) compatibility use this pin to sense the PnP request from the PC.

Currently, models that have PnP support are the Patriot Pro, Patriot Pro II, SOLA 320, SOLA 325, Fortress 520 Series, SOLA 520, Fortress.TeleCom and SOLA 525.

The 610 series, Axxium, SOLA 620 do not support Plug and Play compatibility.

Note If a new UPS is to support Plug and Play, Best Power software engineers must assign the unique numerical identifiers for the PnP sequence, as well as provide the text identifier for the UPS having the PnP feature.

CABLING

Best Power’s INT-0062 (SOLA’s 0999-3400M3) cable shall be used to connect a PC’s DB9P (Male) serial port to the DB9S (Female) port (BestPort) on all models except the 610 series.

The cable used on the 610 series is part number A4D0044. (SOLA’s 0999-3403M3)

COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL COMMAND DEFINITIONS

Status Inquiry #1

Computer Sends:

Q<cr>

UPS Responds:

UPS status stream with the format (MMM.MNNN.NPPP.PQQQRR.RS.SSTT.TU<cr>

Where:

(

Start Byte

MMM.M

Input Voltage

M is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.
NNN.N

Input Fault Voltage

N is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.

Note

For Offline UPS Models, its purpose is to identify a short duration voltage glitch which has caused an offline UPS to transfer to Inverter mode. If this occurs, the measured input voltage will appear normal at the query prior to the glitch and will still appear normal during the next query. The Input Fault Voltage will hold the glitch voltage until the next query. After the query, the Input Fault Voltage will be the same as the Input Voltage, until the next glitch occurs.

For Online UPS Models, its purpose is to identify a short duration utility failure which has caused the online UPS to transfer to Battery mode. If this occurs, the measured input voltage will appear normal at the query prior to the utility failure and will still appear normal during the next query. The Input Fault voltage will hold the utility failure voltage until the next query. After the query, the Input Fault Voltage will be the same as the Input Voltage, until the next utility fail occurs.
PPP.P

Output Voltage

P is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.
QQQ

Output Load

For Offline UPS Models, QQQ is a percent of maximum VA, not an absolute value.

For Online UPS Models, QQQ is maximum of W% or VA%, where W% is a percent of the maximum real power and VA% is a percent of maximum VA.
RR.R

Input Frequency

R is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Hertz.
SS.S or SSSS

Battery voltage

S is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9.

Note

For Online UPS models with battery string voltages of less than 100 volts, the battery voltage reported is provided in the form of SS.S. Otherwise, it is provided in the form SSSS.

For Offline UPS Models, the actual battery voltage is provided in the form SS.S.

The type of UPS indicated in the UPS status byte (Q response string: Status bit 3), determines which Battery Voltage reading is provided.
TT.T

Temperature

T is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Degrees Centigrade.
<U>

UPS Status

<U> is one byte of binary information decoded as <b7b6b5b4b3b2b1b0>, where bn is a binary number, either 0 or a 1.

The table below defines the bits as they are decoded:

Bit n: Description

7

A 1 indicates that there has been a Utility Failure (Immediate)

6

A 1 indicates that the UPS Battery is Low

5

A 1 indicates that Bypass or Boost (offline UPS) is Active

4

A 1 indicates that the UPS has Failed

3

A 1 indicates that the UPS Type is Offline (Standby).

A 0 indicates that the UPS Type is Online.

2

A 1 indicates that a UPS Test is in Progress

1

A 1 indicates that a Shutdown is in Progress

0

Reserved (Always 0)
<cr>

Stop Byte

Example

Computer Sends:

Q<cr>

UPS Responds:

(208.4140.0208.403459.939.635.0U<cr>

U represents the byte equivalent of 00110000

Decodes to:

  • Input voltage = 208.4 Volts

  • Input Fault Voltage =140.0 Volts

  • Output Voltage = 208.4 Volts

  • Output Load = 34%

  • Input Frequency = 59.9 Hertz

  • Battery voltage = 39.6 Volts

  • Temperature = 35.0 Degrees of Centigrade

  • Utility Power has not failed

  • The Battery is not low

  • The UPS Bypass is active

  • The UPS has failed

  • The UPS Type is Online

  • UPS Test is not in progress

  • UPS Shutdown is not in progress

Status Inquiry #2

Computer Sends:

Q1<cr>

UPS Responds:

UPS status stream with the format (MMM.M NNN.N PPP.P QQQ RR.R S.SS TT.T b7b6b5b4b3b2b1b0<cr>

Note that a single space character separates each parameter. One space follows the Temperature data (precedes the status bytes.)

The binary Status code (from the Q response) is modified to 8 bytes ASCII code to avoid any confusion between the binary code and the ASCII control code.

Where:

(

Start Byte

MMM.M

Input Voltage

M is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.
NNN.N

Input Fault Voltage

N is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.

Note

For Offline UPS Models, its purpose is to identify a short duration voltage glitch which has caused an offline UPS to transfer to Inverter mode. If this occurs, the measured input voltage will appear normal at the query prior to the glitch and will still appear normal during the next query. The Input Fault Voltage will hold the glitch voltage until the next query. After the query, the Input Fault Voltage will be the same as the Input Voltage, until the next glitch occurs.

For Online UPS Models, its purpose is to identify a short duration utility failure which has caused the online UPS to transfer to Battery mode. If this occurs, the measured input voltage will appear normal at the query prior to the utility failure and will still appear normal during the next query. The Input Fault voltage will hold the utility failure voltage until the next query. After the query, the Input Fault Voltage will be the same as the Input Voltage, until the next utility fail occurs.
PPP.P

Output Voltage

P is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Volts.
QQQ

Output Load

For Offline UPS Models, QQQ is a percent of maximum VA, not an absolute value.

For Online UPS Models, QQQ is maximum of W% or VA%, where W% is a percent of the maximum real power and VA% is a percent of maximum VA.
RR.R

Input Frequency

R is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Hertz.
SS.S or SSSS

Battery voltage

S is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9.

Note

For Online UPS models with battery string voltages of less than 100 volts, the battery voltage reported is provided in the form of SS.S. Otherwise, it is provided in the form SSSS.

For Offline UPS Models, the actual battery voltage is provided in the form SS.S.

The type of UPS indicated in the UPS status byte (Q1 response string: Status Byte 3), determines which Battery Voltage reading is provided.
TT.T

Temperature

T is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9 and the unit is Degrees Centigrade.
b7b6b5b4b3b2b1b0

UPS Status Bytes

bn is a binary number, either 0 or a 1.

The table below defines the bytes as they are decoded:

Byte n Description

7

A 1 indicates that there has been a Utility Failure (Immediate)

6

A 1 indicates that the UPS Battery is Low

5

A 1 indicates that Bypass or Boost (offline UPS) is Active

4

A 1 indicates that the UPS has Failed

3

A 1 indicates that the UPS Type is Offline (Standby).

A 0 indicates that the UPS Type is Online.

2

A 1 indicates that a UPS Test is in Progress

1

A 1 indicates that a Shutdown is in Progress

0

Reserved (Always 0)
<cr>

Stop Byte

Example

Computer Sends:

Q1<cr>

UPS Responds:

(208.4 140.0 208.4 034 59.9 39.6 35.0 00110000<cr>

Decodes to:

  • Input voltage = 208.4 Volts

  • Input Fault Voltage =140.0 Volts

  • Output Voltage = 208.4 Volts

  • Output Load = 34%

  • Input Frequency = 59.9 Hertz

  • Battery voltage = 39.6 Volts

  • Temperature = 35.0 Degrees of Centigrade

  • Utility Power has not failed

  • The Battery is not low

  • The UPS Bypass is active

  • The UPS has failed

  • The UPS Type is Online

  • UPS Test is not in progress

  • UPS Shutdown is not in progress

10 Seconds Test

Computer Sends:

T<cr>

UPS Responds:

with a Test for 10 seconds and return to utility

If battery low occur during testing, UPS will return to utility immediately.

This command is available in all Best Power/Sola UPS models.

Test Until Low Battery

Computer Sends:

TL<cr>

UPS Responds:

with a Test that lasts until a Low Battery condition exists and then the UPS returns to utility power.

This command is available in all Best Power/Sola UPS models.

Test for specified time period

Computer Sends:

T<n><cr>

UPS Responds:

with a Test that lasts for the specified number of minutes

Where <n> is the number of minutes (01 - 99) the test should continue for.

During the test, the UPS will return to utility immediately if a Low Battery condition occurs.

This command is available in all Best Power/Sola UPS models.

Shutdown Command

Computer Sends:

S<n><cr>

UPS Responds:

by shutting the UPS output off in <n> minutes.

Where <n> is the number of minutes (see below) to wait before turning off the UPS output.

The UPS output will turn off in <n> minutes, even if utility power is present.

If a Low Battery condition occurs before <n> minutes, the UPS output is turned off immediately.

After UPS shuts down, the UPS must not restart even though the input power is restored or is still present unless the user turns the unit on again.

Note Best/SOLA 610 and Patriot Pro/SOLA 320 Models will restart after a 10 second delay upon the return of AC input power.

<n> is a number ranging from .2, .3, …, 01, 02, …, to 99.

The Cancel Shutdown command (C) may be used to cancel the shutdown of the UPS output during the countdown period defined by <n> minutes (shutdown waiting status).

Example

Computer Sends:

S.3<cr>

UPS Responds:

by shutting the output off in .3 minutes (18 seconds)

Shutdown and Restore Command

Computer Sends:

S<n>R<m><cr>

UPS Responds:

by shutting the UPS output off in <n> minutes and then waiting for <m> minutes before turning on the UPS output again.

The UPS output will turn off in <n> minutes, even if utility power is present.

<n> is a number ranging from .2, .3, …, 01, 02, …, to 99.

If a Low Battery condition occurs before <n> minutes, the UPS output is turned off immediately.

<m> is a number ranging from 0001 to 9999.

If <m> minutes expires and the utility power has not returned, the UPS must wait until utility power is restored before turning on the UPS output again.

The Cancel Shutdown command (C) may be used to cancel the shutdown of the UPS output during the countdown period defined by <n> minutes (shutdown waiting status).

The Cancel Shutdown command (C) may be used to cancel the delay before turning on the UPS output defined by the countdown period <m> minutes (restore waiting status). The UPS output must remain off for at least 10 additional seconds before turning on (if utility power is present).

Cancel Shutdown Command

Computer Sends:

C<cr>

UPS Responds:

by canceling the S<n><cr> or S<n>R<m><cr> command sequence (if in progress).

The Cancel Shutdown command may be used to cancel the shutdown of the UPS output during the countdown period defined by <n> minutes (shutdown waiting status).

The Cancel Shutdown command may be used to cancel the delay before turning on the UPS output defined by the countdown period <m> minutes (restore waiting status). The UPS output must remain off for at least 10 additional seconds before turning on (if utility power is present).

Cancel Test Command

Computer Sends:

CT<cr>

UPS Responds:

by canceling all test activity and connecting the utility power to the UPS output immediately.

UPS Runtime Remaining Inquiry

Computer Sends:

RT<cr>

UPS Responds:

with the calculated battery runtime remaining TTT<cr>

Where T is an integer value from 0 to 9 and the unit are in minutes.

This command provides the number of minutes the UPS can run on battery before a low battery shutdown occurs.

This command is not available on the Best/SOLA 610 model series. It is also not available on Patriot Pro/SOLA 320 model series.

Set the Quantity of Attached Battery Packs

Computer Sends:

BP<n>

UPS Responds:

by understanding that there are now <n> battery packs assumed to be connected to the UPS

Where <n> is an integer ranging from 0 to 5.

This command is only available on the Axxium/SOLA 620 model series.

Examples

Computer Sends:

BP0<cr>

UPS Responds:

by understanding that there is no attached battery pack

Computer Sends:

BP3<cr>

UPS Responds:

by understanding that there are 3 attached battery packs

Attached Battery Packs Inquiry

Computer Sends:

BP?<cr>

UPS Responds:

<nn><cr>

Where <nn> represents the number of battery packs the UPS currently understands it has.

A leading O (zero) is always supplied, assuming that less than 10 (ten) battery packs are connected.

  • 00 → No attached battery packs

  • 01 → One attached battery pack

  • 02 → Two attached battery packs

  • 03 → Three attached battery packs

  • 04 → Four attached battery packs

  • 05 → Five attached battery packs

This command is only available on the Axxium/SOLA 620 model series.

UPS ID Inquiry

Computer Sends:

ID<cr>

UPS Responds:

with the UPS Identification stream with the format: AAA,BBBB,CCC,DDD,EE.E,FF.F

Where:

AAA

is the three-character identification for the UPS model as define by Best Power and listed in the table below:

Identifier UPS Model

PRO

Patriot Pro U or E models

320

SOLA 320 A models

FOR

Fortress 520 Series U or E models

520

SOLA 520 A models

PR2

Patriot Pro II U or E models

325

SOLA 325 A models

FTC

Fortress TeleCom U or E models

525

SOLA 525 A models

AX1

Axxium U or E models

620

SOLA 620 A models
BBBB

is the output power in VA (volt amperes). B is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9.

Example: 1500 represents a 1.5KVA UPS
CCC

is the Nominal Input Voltage. C is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9. The unit is Volts AC.

DDD

is the Nominal Output Voltage. D is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9. The unit is Volts AC.

EE.E

is the Battery Voltage that will cause the UPS to shut itself off. E is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9. Then unit is Volts DC and a decimal point is present.

FF.F or FFF.F

is the Battery Voltage at full charge. F is an integer number ranging from 0 to 9. Then unit is Volts DC.

Typically, for 700VA, 1KVA and 1.5KVA units, the format is FF.F. For 2KVA and 3KVA units, the format is FFF.F.

This command is not available on the Best/SOLA 610 model series.

Shutdown Set Command

Computer Sends:

SS<n><cr>

UPS Responds:

by setting the shutdown mode functionality of Pin 1 and Pin 7 on the UPS DB9 communication port (Per Best Power’s EPS-0059)

Where:

<n> is an integer number ranging from 0 to 6.

The following table summarizes the effects on Pin 1 and Pin 7 functionality:

Shutdown Set # mode LEDs on UPS Pin 1 Functionality Pin 7 Functionality

0 Default

LEDs OFF

Shut off after 2 minutes on battery, even if input power returns during the 2 minutes. Restart after a 12 second delay following shutdown, once input power returns.

Emergency Power Off (EPO) immediately under any condition (normal input power or on battery). UPS will not restart.

1

LED 1

Shut off after 2 minutes on battery, even if input power returns during the 2 minutes. UPS will not restart when normal input power returns.

Shut off after 2 minutes on battery, even if input power returns during the 2 minutes. UPS will not restart when normal input power returns.

2

LED 2

Shut off after 1 minute on battery.
[Shutdown occurs in each case even if input power returns during the "n" minutes. In each case, a restart will occur after a 12 second delay following shutdown, once input power returns.]

Shut off after 1 minute on battery.
[Shutdown occurs in each case even if input power returns during the "n" minutes. In each case, a restart will not occur following shutdown, once input power returns.]

3

LED 3

Shut off after 3 minutes on battery.
[note1]

Shut off after 3 minutes on battery.
[note2]

4

LED 4

Shut off after 5 minutes on battery.
[note1]

Shut off after 5 minutes on battery.
[note2]

5

LED 5

Shut off after 10 minutes on battery.
[note1]

Shut off after 10 minutes on battery.
[note2]

6

LED 6

Shut off after 20 minutes on battery.
[note1]

Shut off after 20 minutes on battery.
[note2]

This command is not available on the Best/SOLA 610 model series.

Shutdown Set Inquiry Command

Computer Sends:

SS?<cr>

UPS Responds:

by reporting the current value set as the Shutdown mode as <n><cr>

Where <n> is an integer number between 0 and 6 representing the functionality listed on the table above.

This command is not available on the Best/SOLA 610 model series.

COMMAND SUMMARY

Below is a summary of all the commands listed in this document:

Q

Status Inquiry

Q1

Status Inquiry (typically used by CheckUPS)

T

10 Seconds Test

TL

Test until Low Battery occurs

T<n>

Test for a Specified Time Period

S<n>

Shutdown Command

S<n>R<n>

Shutdown and Restore Command

C

Cancel Shutdown Command

CT

Cancel Test Command

RT

UPS Runtime Remaining Inquiry

BP<n>

Set the Quantity of Attached Battery Packs

BP?

Attached Battery Packs Inquiry

ID

UPS ID Inquiry

SS<n>

Shutdown Set Command

SS?

Shutdown Set Inquiry Command