Alpha Technologies CFR 1500, CFR 1500RM - Manual (Page 16)

10
2. FEATURES
2.5 Communication / Interface Options
The CFR is equipped with four rear panel jacks for communication and
remote interfaces: RS-232 Serial data; LAN Interface; External IID and External
Alarms. Units with the external modem option have a fifth connector for modem
connection.
NOTE: With the SID installed in the UPS, either the External IID port or the
RS-232 port can be activated. The factory default is set for RS-232 operation.
With the internal IID option installed in the UPS
both ports are active.
RS-232 Monitoring / Control Applications
The Alpha CFR-UPS provides a standard RS-232 serial port on a DE-9
female connector. This port may be used to monitor and control the CFR using 1)
ASCII terminals, 2) an external modem, 3) UPS monitoring software and 4) SNMP
agent devices.
You may use the serial port to interface with a dumb terminal or a personal
computer (running a terminal emulation software) to monitor, control, and calibrate
the CFR. All you need is a standard off-the-shelf, “straight-through,” RS-232 cable
and a terminal. Refer to section 5 “RS-232 TERMINAL COMMUNICATION” for
more information. On a SID equipped unit, this port can connect to a customer
supplied, external modem (refer to section “4.2 External Modem Configuration” and
“4.3 External Modem Operation” for more information).
You may also use the RS-232 serial port to communicate with the intelligent
UPS monitoring software running on a host computer or a SNMP agent device
connected to your LAN network. Alpha Technologies provides the “AlphaNet C”
family of UPS monitoring software and SNMP agents to manage your network
requirements. You can use the “AlphaNet C shutdown software” to monitor the CFR
in a network environment and to perform an orderly system shutdown when the
battery becomes low (during extended line fail situations). AlphaNet C shutdown
software informs all workstations of pending power failures and shutdowns and in
multi-server networks, AlphaNet can shutdown other servers in the network as well
as the workstations. For a full description of the features and capabilities of AlphaNet
C shutdown software, refer to its user’s manual or contact Alpha Technologies.
AlphaNet C is available for all major network platforms and operating systems —
Novell Netware, SCO Unix, IBM OS/2, IBM AIX, Sun Solaris, Hewlett-Packard HP-
UX (DAT), and Digital Equipment (OS/F, VMS, and DECNET).
Alpha Technologies also provides the “AlphaNet CS SNMP Agent Device”
to monitor and control the CFR using the SNMP protocol. This provides an interface
between the CFR and your network environment and allows you to use your Network
Management Station (NMS) to monitor and control the CFR. To obtain detailed
information on SNMP management solutions for your CFR refer to AlphaNet CS
SNMP Agent User’s Manual or contact Alpha Technologies.
63
6.1 CFR Maintenance
The electronic components used in the UPS require no maintenance. If
the unit fails to perform a specific function, refer to the troubleshooting guide. The
guide lists typical symptoms, causes and solutions that apply to the UPS, star ting
with the most obvious and working systematically through the unit.
By establishing a routine maintenance program and following the guidelines
contained in this manual, your Alpha CFR will continue to provide years of trouble-
free service.
6.2 Battery Maintenance
The maintenance free batteries used in the UPS will be affected by many
variables including operating temperatures, number of discharges over the life of
the battery, charging characteristics, and low voltage cell cutoff. The Alpha CFR
complies with all factory recommendations for charging and discharging batteries
to ensure optimum performance and the longest possible battery life.
During normal operation, the UPS batteries will tend to increase in capacity
over the first three to twelve months of service. There can be as much as a 20%
increase in available backup power after the first ten to fifteen battery discharges.
Once the batteries reach this peak, they will slowly begin to lose capacity until,
eventually, they will be unable to provide the required backup power.
6. MAINTENANCE
Fig. 34
Typical UPS Battery
Note: Battery
terminals vary in
size and shape.