Liebert / Vertiv "Power Assist" software for HE? Shut down HE?

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1

Th Liebert/Vertiv consumer grade UPS devices come with free shutdown software called "power-assist." The device comes with a USB cable you plug between a Windows Computer with this software installed and the UPS, and the UPS will then shut down the computer at a loss of power.

I've googled around and cannot find that there is any Hubitat support for the Lieber/Vertiv UPS as there is for some other brand UPS devices. Any chance I'm missing something? ( I don't have a Windows computer anywhere near the UPS nor do I have an always on Windows machine).

If I can't get the UPS to tell the HE to shut down, I think (not sure?) I can use the below to shut down HE (based on at least two other devices not connected to the UPS not having power) but how do I get HE to automatically restart when power is restored?

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There is no way from HE to do that, so unless the UPS completely drains or you use a WiFi outlet controlled via some other source…

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3

Hi!

I have my UPS integrated with Hubitat using Reactor Automation and NUT (NUTController - Reactor - Multi-Hub Automation) as a bridge.

Through the Reactor I receive all the information from the UPS, so I can take action in the HE, such as commanding the HE itself or the computer to shut down.

In addition, I have this dashboard that I set up with information from the UPS in HE, where in the event of faults I can see the status and even, in the case of automation for example, send warning messages via Telegram.

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Some link to manual to NUT:

https://networkupstools.org/docs/user-manual.chunked/index.html

https://networkupstools.org/docs/man/apcsmart.html

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@WMarcolin That looks like a nice solution. I'm trying to understand exactly what you have done - did you install some software on the Hubitat? You mentioned a "bridge" - what is that?

I looked up the documentation in your link and my UPS (consumer grade UPS) is not listed as one of the compatible ones. My UPS does not, to my knowledge, have a network card. It does have a specific USB jack that you can supposedly plug into your computer and the UPS, and if you then put their "Power Assist" software on your computer, the UPS will supposedly shut down the computer when the UPS goes on to its battery backup. So it has some smarts inside, but not sure how much...

5

Okay, let's see if I can help.

First of all, your UPS has to have a USB port, usually the USB printer plug.

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You must have a computer that will install the NUT software, see the process in this manual.

https://networkupstools.org/docs/user-manual.chunked/index.html

This is the first step in getting your computer to talk to your UPS, the next step is to make this available in software that you will use the information for. In my case I use MSR Reactor, which is an application that I use for automation and talks directly to the HE, importing information, exporting it and commanding actions in the HE. This manual is about integration with the NUT.

https://reactor.toggledbits.com/docs/NUTController/

But to understand the MSR Reactor better, take a look at this part of the manual. As a reference, it's Basic Rule or Rule Machine, but for me, it's infinitely better.

https://reactor.toggledbits.com/docs/

In short, the NUT drive brings information into your computer, I capture it all in the MSR and then send it to HE in variables that are displayed on the dashboard.

Below is an example of what I bring through the NUT drive into the MSR.

    battery_maintenance.charging=false
    battery_maintenance.rechargeable=true
    battery_maintenance.replace=null
    battery_maintenance.state=null
    battery_power.level=1
    battery_power.since=1705944002633
    power_source.source="utility"
    x_nut_ups.battery_charge="100"
    x_nut_ups.battery_charge.low="10"
    x_nut_ups.battery_charge.warning="20"
    x_nut_ups.battery_runtime="8577"
    x_nut_ups.battery_runtime.low="180"
    x_nut_ups.battery_type="PbAc"
    x_nut_ups.battery_voltage="27.6"
    x_nut_ups.battery_voltage.nominal="24.0"
    x_nut_ups.device_mfr="Tripp Lite"
    x_nut_ups.device_model="TRIPP LITE UPS "
    x_nut_ups.device_serial="3103EV4SM895A00974"
    x_nut_ups.device_type="ups"
    x_nut_ups.driver_name="usbhid-ups"
    x_nut_ups.driver_parameter.pollfreq="30"
    x_nut_ups.driver_parameter.pollinterval="30"
    x_nut_ups.driver_parameter.port="auto"
    x_nut_ups.driver_parameter.synchronous="no"
    x_nut_ups.driver_version="2.7.4"
    x_nut_ups.driver_version.data="TrippLite HID 0.82"
    x_nut_ups.driver_version.internal="0.41"
    x_nut_ups.input_frequency="59.9"
    x_nut_ups.input_transfer.high="150.0"
    x_nut_ups.input_transfer.low="92.0"
    x_nut_ups.input_voltage="124.2"
    x_nut_ups.input_voltage.nominal="120"
    x_nut_ups.output_current="0.0"
    x_nut_ups.output_frequency="59.9"
    x_nut_ups.output_frequency.nominal="60"
    x_nut_ups.output_voltage="124.9"
    x_nut_ups.output_voltage.nominal="120"
    x_nut_ups.ups_beeper.status="enabled"
    x_nut_ups.ups_delay.shutdown="20"
    x_nut_ups.ups_delay.start="30"
    x_nut_ups.ups_load="0"
    x_nut_ups.ups_mfr="Tripp Lite"
    x_nut_ups.ups_model="TRIPP LITE UPS "
    x_nut_ups.ups_power="0.0"
    x_nut_ups.ups_power.nominal="1500"
    x_nut_ups.ups_productid="3016"
    x_nut_ups.ups_serial="3103EV4SM895A00974"
    x_nut_ups.ups_status="OL"
    x_nut_ups.ups_timer.reboot="65535"
    x_nut_ups.ups_timer.shutdown="65535"
    x_nut_ups.ups_timer.start="65535"
    x_nut_ups.ups_vendorid="09ae"
    x_nut_ups.ups_watchdog.status="0"

Regarding whether or not your UPS model is listed, there are usually several generic drives available. I use a generic one for my TrippLite since there isn't a specific one for my UPS model.

Below is my collection of links with installation and configuration instructions.

1) MANUAIS NUT
https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/blob/master/docs/config-notes.txt
https://networkupstools.org/docs/user-manual.chunked/index.html
https://wiki.ipfire.org/addons/nut/detailed
https://networkupstools.org/docs/man/apcsmart.html

2) Instalacao do NUT
https://installati.one/ubuntu/22.04/nut-server/
https://www.sismonda.com.ar/578-2022-05-04-instalar-servidor-nut-network-ups-tools-y-clientes-en-ubuntu-debian/

USAR para validar cada drive > https://networkupstools.org/docs/man/

Below is my MSR automation screen that keeps updating the HE dashboard with the UPS data.

image
image1458×2139 273 KB

I have to admit that it took me a while to get it to work, so I've put together these various support links. I think this can help you a lot.

Thanks.

6

I really appreciate you taking the time to post this. Thank you so much.
The UPS does have a USB port similar to a printer, as you posted.
Unfortunately I don't have a computer anywhere near this, nor do I have an always on computer. The Hubitat is near UPS, so I was hoping there was some sort of version of an app I could install on the Hubitat that would make this work, but it sounds like that is not the case.

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