Jmayes.com!

There was another disappointment here in that the display would only come on during an "Event" or when you first plug it in, during regular operation is would be off and black. You are required you to hit a button to bring it on and check status by repeating the button push’s. Not so much WOW factor in that!!! I found no software work-around, no commands would tickle the display unless I kicked the ups into action which was out of the question for normal use. After much contemplation I came up with a Hardware hack where by adding one wire internal to the UPS and a 10k resistor on my board I could pulse the RTS pin of the serial interface and simulate a push of the front panel button thereby bringing on the display and changing modes to add action to the readout. Below are pictures of the Hack on a OR500L ups (other models may be slightly different). This is completely optional and you MUST be able to do internal soldering work and pulse the RPS pin with your software, I do it along with the “D” command every three seconds. It keeps the display on and cycling through the available screens so anyone looking at the setup sees some action.


Wire to add for Display hack Connect Wire to Pin 2 of the card connector

Connect wire to “Orange” wire of display connector