upsd: Powercom (PCM) hardware

USB models are not supported. The USB "support" in all the series with USB connector consists of a USB-to-Serial converter, so basically the same protocol ("language") can be used to talk with such UPSes, but I know right to nothing about how USB works and hence I can't implement such support. Someone implemented a kernel-level driver for (some) of such series for Linux, -- the driver creates a /dev/ttyUSBn device which works like a COM-port, and with this driver it's possible to use USB models with upsd. Also, in NUT project there are several drivers which works with similar hardware (trivial USB-to-Serial converter in the UPS), but works in userspace. Please email me if you're able and willing to write USB transport for USB-to-Serial converter used in PCM models in userspace (over /dev/hiddevN device in Linux, which is not a true HID).

Only models with suffix "P" are supported - which stands for "PRO". Those models has control connector and cirquit, the rest are control-less in principle.

The models supported all implements the same (modulo several differences) protocol. Host sends a command (one byte plus 1 or 2 bytes argument when appropriate), and UPS either responds with status information (11 or 16 bytes encoded status data) or performs certain actions (shutdown, self-test etc).

Basic status (encoded as bits in two bytes of status reply) is supported for all models with this protocol. It's such things as whenever we're running on battery or online, whenever there's low-battery condition (when running on battery) or not, whenever UPS is over-loaded or just "failed" for whatever reason, if there's a self-test in progress and the like -- in other words, everything which can be said in a single on/off bit.

All models in these series also tells "advanced" information, such as input and output voltage levels and frequencies, UPS load level and battery charge level. But for those, it's near impossible to find the right ways to calculate the values, which depends on the exact model (series, wattage and voltage) and various status bits (for example, output voltage is calculated differently depending on whenever the UPS is running off battery, or whenever it boosts or bucks input - it's in addition to the exact model number and voltage). There's very little information available about ways how to decode all the values, and even their own specs contradicts with each other and with the reality - certain models gives unreal values when calculated using any of the available formulas.

Due to all this, don't expect that your UPS will be supported by upsd in "advanced" mode (basic bits will work). Also due to this, please send me email if you tried your UPS with upsd and whenever it worked and whenever levels looks ok or not. For this, it's best to have complete information - if you have a voltmeter handy and especially if you can change input voltage (to test AVR mode), please run upsd in debug mode (so it will show raw data as read from UPS), and write out a simple table which lists actual input/output voltage, raw values corresponding to those levels, when it starts its AVR things (also input/output voltage and raw data). Try plugging/unplugging something to/from UPS so that load level will change, and also record all the values. Also try turning input power off and wait for some time (again recording values) - the best is up to the point where it will say "low battery" (don't wait longer!) - record this moment (decoded battery level should be 29 at this point) - you will also know how much time your UPS will be able to power your hardware before it will run out of battery.

See also drv_pcm.c file in source tarball for alot more protocol details -- everything which is known so far. Sadly it's difficult to find/get useful information, and even the very brief information Powercom gives (so-called "specifications") is semi-secret (ie, they give you the "specs", probably, but will ask you not to tell anyone else). (I collected this information piece by piece from various sources, mostly public).

Supported PCM series and devices

Warrior (WAR)

No info about this series.

Models	Status/Comments	Live examples
WAR-400A WAR-500A WAR-600A	unsupported: no controlling port
WAR-1000A	unsupported: no controlling port
WAR-1000AP	unknown: no information

Imperial (IMP, IMD)