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Configure UPS (Eaton 5E) in Debian bullseye

This is the configuration for my bananapi with Debian bullseye and an Eaton 5E UPS connected via USB cable.

Configure USB

First, connect the UPS to the USB port and check if it is recognized by the system.

lsusb

The output should be something like this:

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0463:ffff MGE UPS Systems UPS
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 1a40:0101 Terminus Technology Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

Note the 0463:ffff part, this is the vendor:product ID of the UPS.

Install packages

apt install nut

Configure NUT

Edit the file /etc/nut/nut.conf and add the following lines:

MODE=standalone

Edit the file /etc/nut/ups.conf and add the following lines:

xretry = 5
pollinterval = 5

[eaton5e]
    driver = usbhid-ups
    port = auto
    desc = "Eaton 5E"
    vendorid = 0463
    pollfreq = 30

Edit the file /etc/nut/upsd.conf and add the following lines:

LISTEN 127.0.0.1 3493
LISTEN 192.168.1.2 3493

Note, that I have added the IP address of my bananapi to the LISTEN line. This is because I want to monitor the UPS from my home assistant instance running on a different machine.

Edit the file /etc/nut/upsd.users and add the following lines:

[username]
  password = SuperSecretPassword
  actions = SET
  instcmds = ALL
  upsmon master

You should edit the username and password to your liking.

Start NUT

sudo upsdrvctl start
sudo upsd -c reload  # in case you have changed the config ()

Check UPS status

One way to check the UPS status is to use the upsc command.

sudo upsc eaton5e

The output should be something like this:

Init SSL without certificate database
battery.charge: 53
battery.runtime: 428
battery.type: PbAc
device.mfr: EATON
device.model: 5E 850i
device.type: ups
driver.name: usbhid-ups
driver.parameter.pollfreq: 30
driver.parameter.pollinterval: 5
driver.parameter.port: auto
driver.parameter.synchronous: no
driver.parameter.vendorid: 0463
driver.version: 2.7.4
driver.version.data: MGE HID 1.40
driver.version.internal: 0.41
input.voltage: 240.0
outlet.1.status: on
outlet.desc: Main Outlet
outlet.id: 1
outlet.switchable: no
output.frequency: 49.9
output.frequency.nominal: 50
output.voltage: 236.0
output.voltage.nominal: 230
ups.beeper.status: enabled
ups.delay.shutdown: 20
ups.firmware: 03.08.0018
ups.load: 31
ups.mfr: EATON
ups.model: 5E 850i
ups.power.nominal: 850
ups.productid: ffff
ups.start.battery: yes
ups.status: OL
ups.timer.shutdown: -1
ups.vendorid: 0463

Configure Home Assistant

There is a nut integration for home assistant that can be used to monitor the UPS. You can simply find it and configure it via the integrations page in home assistant. You need to provide the IP address of the machine running nut and the username and password you have configured in the upsd.users file.

References

  • https://mic22.medium.com/basic-nut-configuration-for-green-cell-ups-and-home-assistant-integration-e08affcc54f
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