Disable beeping on APC Battery Backup

Question

Level 1

8 points

Disable beeping on APC Battery Backup

Hello,

Sorry for not knowing where to put this, but I'm using this for my Power Mac G5. I bought an APC Battery backup surge protector since the lights flicker sometimes and the APC kicks in to supply the voltage or lack thereof, but I have a problem. The thing beeps me to death.

The included PC software does have the ability to turn this beeping off, but Im in an all mac household. I dont think the library would like it if I brought the APC and installed software on their computers to turn off the beep.

That said, does anyone know how to accomplish turning off the beeping just using a mac? There must be some terminal command that can communicate with the APC via USB.

Save me from the beeping,

Matt

Dual G5 with APC backup Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Mar 25, 2006 6:45 AM

Reply

Answer 1

maclover

Level 4

3,850 points

Mar 25, 2006 7:40 AM in response to MattOSX

If you cannot borrow an XP machine and use PowerChute - it seems to be available for OS X now

http://www.apc.com/tools/download/softwarecomp.cfm?sw_sku=SFPCPE134&id=129&family=&partnum=&swfam=129&tsk=

I can't tell you how well it works, because I can't get it to download... You may have more luck.

If the voltage variations and alarms are not too frequent [on the 'SmartUPS' anyway] you can hit the 'Power On/Test' button to silence the current alarm (as possibly you were aware).

Reply

Answer 2

maclover

Level 4

3,850 points

Mar 25, 2006 8:29 AM in response to maclover

Don't bother with "PowerCut" for OS X - it is primitive compared to Energy Saver - and still has no UPS management capabilities whatsoever.

The simplest thing really would be to borrow an XP machine from somewhere and use the XP PowerChute.

Reply

Answer 3

MattOSX Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 25, 2006 8:35 AM in response to maclover

I actually do have virtual PC and have been trying to get that to do it for me. However, I get an error in installation:

"An installation support file could not be installed.
The filename, directory name or volume name syntax is not correct"

Strange. I have never had trouble installing software before. Now I'm fighting Windows. Any ideas?

Reply

Answer 4

maclover

Level 4

3,850 points

Mar 25, 2006 9:36 AM in response to MattOSX

I don't have Virtual PC so I'm unable to test it.

However, "PowerChute" has some sort of agent/server/client model(to enable remote management of multiple UPSs over a network, I think), and its own, rather unique user interface and can be tricky to install, even on a real PC. I would not be surprised if it will not work on the Mac.

Still, perhaps someone you know has a laptop...?

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 26, 2006 12:04 AM in response to MattOSX

Is it only beeping during a power outage, or when everything is fine? If it is doing it when everything is fine it could be a couple of things. My APC would do that if the battery is going low and not recharging, or if I have too much connected to the APC, causing a load issue.

If it is something that happens only during the power outage, my APC allows me to push the test button once to turn off the alarm, which will stay off and reset once the power comes back on.

Kimo

Reply

Answer 6

MattOSX Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 26, 2006 9:11 AM in response to Kimo Bonnelycke

Edit: The power actually hasnt gone out yet at all, but the lights flicker alot. Presumably there is a bad transformer outside (I dont mean Optimus Prime's evil brother) and when there is high demand, it flickers. The lights look like they go to half brightness and flicker about 2-3 times a second. This can go on for several minutes and then stops.

I made a new user account in windows 2000 in virtual PC. I got it past my installation error now it stops installation at "There is no USB APC 500 Connected"

If it's not one thing, it's another. Either the USB support in virtual pc for windows 2000 is lacking or because OSX is using it. I wonder if it would work if OSX was not using it, but the moment I plug it in I get an OSX dialog box, "An APC 500 has been detected."

Is there a way from stopping OSX from auto-recognizing the APC?

Reply

Answer 7

May 11, 2006 5:24 AM in response to MattOSX

I have a very nasty feeling that the "beeping" that you are refering to is the powermac taking more power than the ups can give.

Is there a light that looks like a set of scales lit up in red?

You mention the apc ups 500, and i know from experience that that wont give enough juice to my g5 with nothing else plugged in.

Hope This Helps

Jay

Reply