PowerCool VA1500 and nutdrv_qx

[deaddox]

Hi,

I believe that the UPS the PowerCool VA1500 should be supported by the nutdrv_qx driver. It detects and says its connected but all the value read as zero. Looking through the forums there seems to be a few mentions of this but tbh honest i'm getting a little confused.

My current config is

[nutdev1]
driver = "nutdrv_qx"
port = "auto"
vendorid = "0001"
productid = "0000"
product = "MEC0003"
protocol="q1"

This connects but provides 0 value readouts. What would be the next steps in trying to resolve this problem and is anyone able to assist. I know these PowerCool UPS are quite popular now in the UK as they are very cheap so it would be nice to get this working if possible.

Maint. UPDATE: Seems related to #517 and comments to #638 suggest that it worked for people testing with a "Powercool Smart UPS 1200VA" among other devices.

[zykh]

A good starting point are the logs of the driver launched with a debug level of 5 (i.e. -DDDDD).
Also, a capture of the original software establishing a connection with the device could be useful.

[deaddox]

The debug output for the driver is here https://pastebin.com/i3ddyDkd
The debug output for the UPSmart Windows software is here https://pastebin.com/KbgAHe6u

[deaddox]

I was wondering if anyone had a chance to look into this?

[0x0BCA]

Any luck on this?

[lxgenie]

Has anyone sucessfully got a Powercool UPS to work with NUT?

[0x0BCA]

Yes, I have a powercool 2000va (i also had to use a different usb cable, the supplied one did not work):

#674

Had to compile from source and merge the changes from mariojan

For ubuntu I used (other distros may vary):

apt-get build-dep nut

./configure --includedir=/usr/include --mandir=/usr/share/man --infodir=/usr/share/info --sysconfdir=/etc/nut --localstatedir=/var --libexecdir=/usr/lib/nut --srcdir=. --enable-maintainer-mode --disable-silent-rules --libdir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch --with-ssl --with-nss --with-cgi --with-dev --enable-static --with-statepath=/var/run/nut --with-altpidpath=/var/run/nut --with-drvpath=/lib/nut --with-cgipath=/usr/lib/cgi-bin/nut --with-htmlpath=/usr/share/nut/www --with-pidpath=/var/run/nut --datadir=/usr/share/nut --with-pkgconfig-dir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch/pkgconfig --with-user=nut --with-group=nut --with-udev-dir=/lib/udev --with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system

then make and make install

/etc/nut/ups.conf:

[ups]
driver = "nutdrv_qx"
port = "auto"
vendorid = "0001"
productid = "0000"
protocol = hunnox
langid_fix = 0x0409
novendor
noscanlangid

root@foo:/etc/nut# upsc ups
Init SSL without certificate database
battery.charge: 100
battery.voltage: 40.50
battery.voltage.high: 39.00
battery.voltage.low: 31.20
battery.voltage.nominal: 36.0
device.type: ups
driver.flag.noscanlangid: enabled
driver.flag.novendor: enabled
driver.name: nutdrv_qx
driver.parameter.langid_fix: 0x0409
driver.parameter.pollfreq: 30
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 2
driver.parameter.port: auto
driver.parameter.productid: 0000
driver.parameter.protocol: hunnox
driver.parameter.synchronous: no
driver.parameter.vendorid: 0001
driver.version: 2.7.4-2077-g699bf8b4
driver.version.data: Hunnox 0.01
driver.version.internal: 0.28
input.current.nominal: 6.9
input.frequency: 50.0
input.frequency.nominal: 50
input.voltage: 241.0
input.voltage.fault: 0.0
input.voltage.nominal: 230
output.voltage: 241.0
ups.beeper.status: enabled
ups.delay.shutdown: 60
ups.delay.start: 0
ups.load: 12
ups.productid: 0000
ups.status: OL
ups.temperature: 28.0
ups.type: offline / line interactive
ups.vendorid: 0001

HTH

[holl595]

Yes, I have a powercool 2000va (i also had to use a different usb cable, the supplied one did not work):

#674

Had to compile from source and merge the changes from mariojan

For ubuntu I used (other distros may vary):

apt-get build-dep nut

./configure --includedir=/usr/include --mandir=/usr/share/man --infodir=/usr/share/info --sysconfdir=/etc/nut --localstatedir=/var --libexecdir=/usr/lib/nut --srcdir=. --enable-maintainer-mode --disable-silent-rules --libdir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch --with-ssl --with-nss --with-cgi --with-dev --enable-static --with-statepath=/var/run/nut --with-altpidpath=/var/run/nut --with-drvpath=/lib/nut --with-cgipath=/usr/lib/cgi-bin/nut --with-htmlpath=/usr/share/nut/www --with-pidpath=/var/run/nut --datadir=/usr/share/nut --with-pkgconfig-dir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch/pkgconfig --with-user=nut --with-group=nut --with-udev-dir=/lib/udev --with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system
1227 ./configure --includedir=/usr/include --mandir=/usr/share/man --infodir=/usr/share/info --sysconfdir=/etc/nut --localstatedir=/var --libexecdir=/usr/lib/nut --srcdir=. --enable-maintainer-mode --disable-silent-rules --libdir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch --with-ssl --with-nss --with-cgi --with-dev --enable-static --with-statepath=/var/run/nut --with-altpidpath=/var/run/nut --with-drvpath=/lib/nut --with-cgipath=/usr/lib/cgi-bin/nut --with-htmlpath=/usr/share/nut/www --with-pidpath=/var/run/nut --datadir=/usr/share/nut --with-pkgconfig-dir=/usr/lib/gcc -print-multiarch/pkgconfig --with-user=nut --with-group=nut --with-udev-dir=/lib/udev --with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system

then make and make install

/etc/nut/ups.conf:

[ups]
driver = "nutdrv_qx"
port = "auto"
vendorid = "0001"
productid = "0000"
protocol = hunnox
langid_fix = 0x0409
novendor
noscanlangid

root@foo:/etc/nut# upsc ups
Init SSL without certificate database
battery.charge: 100
battery.voltage: 40.50
battery.voltage.high: 39.00
battery.voltage.low: 31.20
battery.voltage.nominal: 36.0
device.type: ups
driver.flag.noscanlangid: enabled
driver.flag.novendor: enabled
driver.name: nutdrv_qx
driver.parameter.langid_fix: 0x0409
driver.parameter.pollfreq: 30
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 2
driver.parameter.port: auto
driver.parameter.productid: 0000
driver.parameter.protocol: hunnox
driver.parameter.synchronous: no
driver.parameter.vendorid: 0001
driver.version: 2.7.4-2077-g699bf8b4
driver.version.data: Hunnox 0.01
driver.version.internal: 0.28
input.current.nominal: 6.9
input.frequency: 50.0
input.frequency.nominal: 50
input.voltage: 241.0
input.voltage.fault: 0.0
input.voltage.nominal: 230
output.voltage: 241.0
ups.beeper.status: enabled
ups.delay.shutdown: 60
ups.delay.start: 0
ups.load: 12
ups.productid: 0000
ups.status: OL
ups.temperature: 28.0
ups.type: offline / line interactive
ups.vendorid: 0001

HTH

Did you have to do anything special to get the battery percentage to be returned?

Following your guide I managed to get it working with my Powercool 1500VA but battery percentage is not being returned:

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ upsc ups
Init SSL without certificate database
battery.voltage: 27.20
battery.voltage.high: 0.00
battery.voltage.low: 0.00
battery.voltage.nominal: 0.0
device.type: ups
driver.flag.noscanlangid: enabled
driver.flag.novendor: enabled
driver.name: nutdrv_qx
driver.parameter.langid_fix: 0x0409
driver.parameter.pollfreq: 30
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 2
driver.parameter.port: auto
driver.parameter.productid: 0000
driver.parameter.protocol: hunnox
driver.parameter.synchronous: no
driver.parameter.vendorid: 0001
driver.version: 2.7.4-2120-g38b4520c
driver.version.data: Hunnox 0.01
driver.version.internal: 0.28
input.current.nominal: 0.0
input.frequency: 49.8
input.frequency.nominal: 0
input.voltage: 246.0
input.voltage.fault: 0.0
input.voltage.nominal: 0
output.voltage: 248.0
ups.beeper.status: disabled
ups.delay.shutdown: 60
ups.delay.start: 0
ups.load: 11
ups.productid: 0000
ups.status: OL
ups.temperature: 29.0
ups.type: online
ups.vendorid: 0001

[jammmyb]

Was there any progress made on this?

just got the 1000VA model and would love to achieve connectivity of it with NUT under Unraid.

[andydvsn]

I've had the RACK850VA model from CPC in the UK for some time (order code CS33117 if you want to find it). Never bothered connecting it up until now, but when I tried today the repo default version of NUT supplied with Raspbian Stretch was having nothing to do with it.

I found instructions on the NUT hardware compatibility list which led me down the garden path with the NUTDRV_ATCL_USB driver, which would have been very limited anyway. Thankfully I found this thread instead.

Purged the repo default version and followed @0x0BCA's instructions above to compile the latest code from here. I did not need to merge changes from mariojan's repo, but did need:

git clone https://github.com/networkupstools/nut.git
cd nut
sudo apt build-dep nut
./autogen.sh
./configure --includedir=/usr/include --mandir=/usr/share/man --infodir=/usr/share/info --sysconfdir=/etc/nut --localstatedir=/var --libexecdir=/usr/lib/nut --srcdir=. --enable-maintainer-mode --disable-silent-rules --libdir=/usr/lib/gcc --with-ssl --with-nss --with-cgi --with-dev --enable-static --with-statepath=/var/run/nut --with-altpidpath=/var/run/nut --with-drvpath=/lib/nut --with-cgipath=/usr/lib/cgi-bin/nut --with-htmlpath=/usr/share/nut/www --with-pidpath=/var/run/nut --datadir=/usr/share/nut --with-pkgconfig-dir=/usr/lib/gcc --with-user=nut --with-group=nut --with-udev-dir=/lib/udev --with-systemdsystemunitdir=/lib/systemd/system
make
sudo checkinstall -D -y --install

Upon installation it would repeatedly fail to create necessary directories:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/local/ups/bin
sudo mkdir -p /usr/lib/cgi-bin
sudo mkdir -p /usr/share/nut/www

Already losing the will to live, I was now able to create my /etc/ups/ups.conf file:

[ups]
driver = nutdrv_qx
port = auto
vendorid = 0001
productid = 0000
product = "MEC0003"
protocol = hunnox
langid_fix = 0x409
novendor
noscanlangid

Then followed some chowning and permissions fun:

sudo chown -R nut:nut /var/run/nut
sudo chown -R nut:nut /etc/nut
sudo usermod -a -G nut pi

Eventually the output from the following command was my prize:

/lib/nut/nutdrv_qx -a ups -DDDDD

I'm now investigating the normal stuff such as the preferred manner of recovering this on reboot, then I'll be able to feed the data into my little home automation system to keep an eye on things.

If you would like the .deb I generated with checkinstall up above, it should be here. Sorry, I was keyboard hammering and didn't bother to put proper versioning on it or anything fancy like that.

UPDATE 05/09/22: I had to revisit this recently and faced all sorts of problems with file permissions and missing /var/run/nut dirs that I just didn't have time to resolve. So I installed the Debian Bullseye package manager version, compiled the latest 2.8.0 code, grabbed the updated nutdrv_qx driver and added it to /lib/nut as nutdrv_qx2. Seems to work fine.

If you're doing this on a Raspberry Pi you may be able to skip the compiling step by nabbing the 2.8.0 version of nutdrv_qx compiled for ARM from my site.

[Meatballs1]

The above worked steps also for my PowerCool 650VA which is listed as:

Bus 001 Device 008: ID 0001:0000 Fry's Electronics MEC0003

[uipavec]

@Meatballs1 Was there anything else you had to do to make it work? I also have the same device as you:

Bus 003 Device 010: ID 0001:0000 Fry's Electronics MEC0003

...I have compiled the code & installed as per instructions but when I run:

sudo /lib/nut/nutdrv_qx -a greencell -DDDDD

...I get:

Network UPS Tools - Generic Q* USB/Serial driver 0.32 (2.7.4-4539-gefb9ee45)
USB communication driver (libusb 0.1) 0.42
   0.000000	[D1] debug level is '5'
   0.000829	[D5] send_to_all: SETINFO device.type "ups"
   0.000854	[D1] upsdrv_initups...
   0.000883	[D2] Language ID workaround enabled (using '0x409')
   0.415368	[D3] usb_busses=0x55c19f236150
   0.415394	[D2] Checking device (1D6B/0003) (004/001)
   0.415606	[D2] - VendorID: 1d6b
   0.415626	[D2] - ProductID: 0003
   0.415630	[D2] - Manufacturer: unknown
   0.415634	[D2] - Product: unknown
   0.415638	[D2] - Serial Number: unknown
   0.415642	[D2] - Bus: 004
   0.415646	[D2] - Device: 001
   0.415650	[D2] - Device release number: 0513
   0.415654	[D2] Trying to match device
   0.415658	[D3] match_function_regex: matching a device...
   0.415667	[D2] match_function_regex: failed match of VendorID: 1d6b
   0.415676	[D2] Device does not match - skipping
   0.415692	[D2] Checking device (0001/0000) (003/011)
   0.418422	[D2] - VendorID: 0001
   0.418442	[D2] - ProductID: 0000
   0.418446	[D2] - Manufacturer: MEC
   0.418450	[D2] - Product: MEC0003
   0.418454	[D2] - Serial Number: unknown
   0.418458	[D2] - Bus: 003
   0.418462	[D2] - Device: 011
   0.418466	[D2] - Device release number: 0100
   0.418470	[D2] Trying to match device
   0.418474	[D3] match_function_regex: matching a device...
   0.418525	[D2] Device matches
   0.418540	[D2] failed to claim USB device: could not claim interface 0: Device or resource busy
   0.418779	[D2] detached kernel driver from USB device...
   0.418800	[D3] nut_usb_set_altinterface: skipped usb_set_altinterface(udev, 0)
   0.418814	[D5] send_to_all: SETINFO ups.vendorid "0001"
   0.418822	[D5] send_to_all: SETINFO ups.productid "0000"
   0.419317	[D1] First supported language ID: 0x9 (please report to the NUT maintainer!)
   0.419339	[D2] Skipping protocol Voltronic 0.06
   0.419355	[D2] Skipping protocol Voltronic-QS 0.07
   0.419365	[D2] Skipping protocol Voltronic-QS-Hex 0.10
   0.419376	[D2] Skipping protocol Mustek 0.07
   0.419385	[D2] Skipping protocol Megatec/old 0.07
   0.419394	[D2] Skipping protocol BestUPS 0.06
   0.419407	[D2] Skipping protocol Mecer 0.07
   0.419418	[D2] Skipping protocol Megatec 0.06
   0.419428	[D2] Skipping protocol Zinto 0.06
   0.419436	[D2] Skipping protocol Masterguard 0.01
   0.419450	[D3] send: Q1
   0.419464	[D4] command index: 0x03
   0.585272	[D4] fabula_command: the reply lacks the expected terminating CR.
   0.585288	[D4] fabula_command: adding missing terminating CR.
   0.585292	[D5] read: (11 bytes) => 55 50 53 20 4e 6f 20 41 63 6b 0d
   0.585294	[D3] read: UPS No Ack
   0.585298	[D2] qx_process_answer: short reply (input.voltage)
   0.585302	[D3] send: Q1
   0.585303	[D4] command index: 0x03
   0.751253	[D4] fabula_command: the reply lacks the expected terminating CR.
   0.751286	[D4] fabula_command: adding missing terminating CR.
   0.751296	[D5] read: (11 bytes) => 55 50 53 20 4e 6f 20 41 63 6b 0d
   0.751302	[D3] read: UPS No Ack
   0.751310	[D2] qx_process_answer: short reply (input.voltage)
   0.751317	[D3] send: Q1
   0.751322	[D4] command index: 0x03
   0.917393	[D4] fabula_command: the reply lacks the expected terminating CR.
   0.917425	[D4] fabula_command: adding missing terminating CR.
   0.917434	[D5] read: (11 bytes) => 55 50 53 20 4e 6f 20 41 63 6b 0d
   0.917441	[D3] read: UPS No Ack
   0.917450	[D2] qx_process_answer: short reply (input.voltage)
   0.917457	[D2] Skipping protocol Ablerex 0.01
   0.917463	[D2] Skipping protocol Q1 0.07
   0.917467	Device not supported!
   0.917471	Device not supported!

My UPS is a GreenCell, Emergency Power Supply for Line Interactive 600VA. The model: Micropower 600.

[jimklimov]

@uipavec : Just in case, a couple of comments above there is a configuration snippet for the device [ups] with many custom fields that may be critical for device detection and further dialog; is your [greencell] set up similarly?

Other than that, "unfortunately" many USB interface chips are sold and used in unrelated devices without reflashing to registered vendor/product IDs for the thing they are sold in, or using "surprisingly random and unique" values like 0x0000, 0xffff, 0x0001 and such. Probably those vendors did not bother to go to USB-IF to pay for that. As a result, completely unrelated devices talking arbitrary protocols may be exposed with same PID/VID combinations. NUT has a few drivers with such "conflict of interest", I think "atcl" was among those.