Nut upsuser - May 2024 - Supporting a DIY UPS with minimal effort butmaximum gain

I agree with earlier posters, such documentation can help future tinkerers.
There is probably more than just one to hold the hand and walk through the
ordeals :)

Perhaps a new page at https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki can be a
good location...

Jim


On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 1:29?PM Bill Gee <bgee at campercaver.net> wrote:
> Hi Kelly -
>
> As an Arduino nerd, I am interested in this!  I am sure others on the
> list would be interested.  If nothing else, it would be nice to have
> some documentation in the archives.
>
> I assume you set it up as an online system rather than a standby system.
>   Right?  If true, then the choice of inverter is fairly critical.  It
> has to be bomb-proof reliable.
>
> What did you choose for battery voltage?  What is the power capacity of
> the inverter?
>
> Which Arduino did you use?  All of my Arduino projects use the Pro Mini,
> though it would be quite easy to get some other model for this.
>
> Thanks -
> ==============> Bill Gee
>
> On 5/15/24 20:11, Kelly Byrd wrote:
> > I put together my own DIY UPS,  it's a RV charger/converter, an
> > inverter, and some batteries. I use an Arduino and the HIDPowerDevice
> > library (https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice
> > <https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice>) to get it to talk
to
> NUT.
> > Been working great for months!
> >
> > The Arduino is connected to two modules:
> > * AC detection circuit to measure mains power on/off
> > * Voltage divider and an external ADC to get a reasonably good DC
> > voltage level for the battery which I turn into the a charge
percentage.
> >
> > This uses the USBHID driver in NUT and "just works" as long
as you're
> > using NUT 2.8.2 or later. I used the example code in the
HIDPowerDevice
> > library as a starting point for running on my Arduino.
> >
> > I can share more specifics about the Arduino side of things off list
if
> > you want, the NUT side of things is pretty boring and normal.
> >
> > On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:27?PM Kiril Zyapkov via Nut-upsuser
> > <nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
> > <mailto:nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>> wrote:
> >
> >     Hello,
> >
> >     I found out about NUT just days ago while searching for a solution
> >     for my home setup. After some digging through the interwebs, I
come
> >     to you with questions.
> >
> >     I'm putting together a DIY 12V UPS, very similar to what this
guy
> did:
> >
> >     [1]
> >
>
https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html
> <
>
https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html
> >
> >
> >     The objective is to keep a bunch of mini PCs and network gear
online
> >     for as long as the battery lasts and then provide a mechanism for
a
> >     graceful shutdown of my NAS and other appliances for which cutting
> >     power would not be healthy. The project above is missing the
> >     "connected" part. I want to get mine to play with NUT
nicely. Other
> >     prior art is this project:
> >
> >     [2] https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS
> >     <https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS>
> >
> >     Mentioned in a previous thread here:
> >
> >     [3]
> >
>
https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html
> <
>
https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html
> >
> >
> >     A valid approach -- emulates an existing protocol on an arduino.
> >
> >     Are there other similar projects that you know of? I found plenty
of
> >     "DIY UPS" projects, but none were "smart".
> >
> >     I am able to put together firmware for some micro which will take
> >     care of measuring voltages, currents, possibly also turn on/off
> >     loads, serial or USB or IP are options. Not sure yet what hardware
> >     features I'll put together, but this depends somewhat on the
> >     approach for getting this thing integrated with NUT. PSUs and
> >     batteries are already on the way, and my junk drawers have most
> >     other parts I may need.
> >
> >     So, options found so far:
> >
> >     * Use genericups. Least favorite option, very limited features
> >
> >     * Use the same approach as [2]. If I were to go that route --
which
> >     is the best protocol to pick for emulation? I'm looking for
> >     something simple, extensible/flexible and well-documented.
> >
> >     But what I really wish was possible was the ability to describe my
> >     device in some format, feed it to a generic driver in NUT and
> >     profit. I see some efforts have been made in this direction, most
> >     notably:
> >
> >     [4]
> >    
https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)
> >    
<https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)
> >
> >
> >     What is the state there? Is it usable for USB HID? Or, how hard
> >     would it be to make it usable? Even a modbus description will do
--
> >     implementing the modbus server (yes, server, I'm being
> >     politically-correct) over serial or even TCP is easy, if only
there
> >     was a way to dump a CSV with register descriptions in some magical
> >     driver...
> >
> >     And yet another approach which comes to mind is to implement my
> >     driver as an external executable. This may be completely
unfeasible
> >     and stupid, and please let me know if it is. But, from what I
> >     gather, drivers run in their own process and talk to the daemon
via
> >     a UNIX socket. Why not make it possible for the driver to be just
> >     any executable, built/deployed outside of the NUT codebase? The
> >     socket protocol seems simple enough, and this will allow for ...
> >     creativity. It could be implemented in any language (including
> >     scripting languages) and need not depend on anything NUT-specific,
> >     other than maybe some common CLI interface and/or configuration.
> >
> >     I'm hoping the NUT masters will have some insight. Thanks for
> >     working on this!
> >
> >     Cheers,
> >     Kiril
> >     _______________________________________________
> >     Nut-upsuser mailing list
> >     Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
> >     <mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
> >    
https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
> >     <
> https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser>
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nut-upsuser mailing list
> > Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
> > https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nut-upsuser mailing list
> Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
> https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
>
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On 5/16/24 08:59, Jim Klimov via Nut-upsuser wrote:
> I agree with earlier posters, such documentation can help future 
> tinkerers. There is probably more than just one to hold the hand and 
> walk through the ordeals :)
> 
> Perhaps a new page at https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki 
> <https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki> can be a good
location...
> 
> Jim
> 
Great Idea Jim.
> 
> On Thu, May 16, 2024 at 1:29?PM Bill Gee <bgee at campercaver.net 
> <mailto:bgee at campercaver.net>> wrote:
> 
>     Hi Kelly -
> 
>     As an Arduino nerd, I am interested in this!? I am sure others on the
>     list would be interested.? If nothing else, it would be nice to have
>     some documentation in the archives.
> 
>     I assume you set it up as an online system rather than a standby
>     system.
>      ? Right?? If true, then the choice of inverter is fairly critical.? It
>     has to be bomb-proof reliable.
> 
>     What did you choose for battery voltage?? What is the power capacity of
>     the inverter?
> 
>     Which Arduino did you use?? All of my Arduino projects use the Pro
>     Mini,
>     though it would be quite easy to get some other model for this.
> 
>     Thanks -
>     ==============>     Bill Gee
> 
>     On 5/15/24 20:11, Kelly Byrd wrote:
>      > I put together my own DIY UPS,? it's a RV charger/converter,
an
>      > inverter, and some batteries. I use an Arduino and the
>     HIDPowerDevice
>      > library (https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice
>     <https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice>
>      > <https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice
>     <https://github.com/abratchik/HIDPowerDevice>>) to get it to
talk to
>     NUT.
>      > Been working great for months!
>      >
>      > The Arduino is connected to two modules:
>      > * AC detection circuit to measure mains power on/off
>      > * Voltage divider and an external ADC to get a reasonably?good DC
>      > voltage level for the battery which I turn into the a charge
>     percentage.
>      >
>      > This uses the USBHID driver in NUT and "just works" as
long as
>     you're
>      > using NUT 2.8.2 or later. I used the example code in the
>     HIDPowerDevice
>      > library as a starting point for running on my Arduino.
>      >
>      > I can share more specifics about the Arduino side of things off
>     list if
>      > you want, the NUT side of things is pretty boring and normal.
>      >
>      > On Wed, May 15, 2024 at 3:27?PM Kiril Zyapkov via Nut-upsuser
>      > <nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
>      > <mailto:nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>>> wrote:
>      >
>      >? ? ?Hello,
>      >
>      >? ? ?I found out about NUT just days ago while searching for a
>     solution
>      >? ? ?for my home setup. After some digging through the interwebs,
>     I come
>      >? ? ?to you with questions.
>      >
>      >? ? ?I'm putting together a DIY 12V UPS, very similar to what
this
>     guy did:
>      >
>      >? ? ?[1]
>      >
>    
https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html
<https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html>
<https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html
<https://baldpenguin.blogspot.com/2015/10/diy-12v-ups-for-home-network-equipment.html>>
>      >
>      >? ? ?The objective is to keep a bunch of mini PCs and network gear
>     online
>      >? ? ?for as long as the battery lasts and then provide a mechanism
>     for a
>      >? ? ?graceful shutdown of my NAS and other appliances for which
>     cutting
>      >? ? ?power would not be healthy. The project above is missing the
>      >? ? ?"connected" part. I want to get mine to play with
NUT nicely.
>     Other
>      >? ? ?prior art is this project:
>      >
>      >? ? ?[2] https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS
>     <https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS>
>      >? ? ?<https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS
>     <https://github.com/xm381/Raspberry-Pi-UPS>>
>      >
>      >? ? ?Mentioned in a previous thread here:
>      >
>      >? ? ?[3]
>      >
>    
https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html>
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/pipermail/nut-upsuser/2018-August/011198.html>>
>      >
>      >? ? ?A valid approach -- emulates an existing protocol on an
arduino.
>      >
>      >? ? ?Are there other similar projects that you know of? I found
>     plenty of
>      >? ? ?"DIY UPS" projects, but none were
"smart".
>      >
>      >? ? ?I am able to put together firmware for some micro which will
take
>      >? ? ?care of measuring voltages, currents, possibly also turn
on/off
>      >? ? ?loads, serial or USB or IP are options. Not sure yet what
>     hardware
>      >? ? ?features I'll put together, but this depends somewhat on
the
>      >? ? ?approach for getting this thing integrated with NUT. PSUs and
>      >? ? ?batteries are already on the way, and my junk drawers have
most
>      >? ? ?other parts I may need.
>      >
>      >? ? ?So, options found so far:
>      >
>      >? ? ?* Use genericups. Least favorite option, very limited
features
>      >
>      >? ? ?* Use the same approach as [2]. If I were to go that route --
>     which
>      >? ? ?is the best protocol to pick for emulation? I'm looking
for
>      >? ? ?something simple, extensible/flexible and well-documented.
>      >
>      >? ? ?But what I really wish was possible was the ability to
>     describe my
>      >? ? ?device in some format, feed it to a generic driver in NUT and
>      >? ? ?profit. I see some efforts have been made in this direction,
most
>      >? ? ?notably:
>      >
>      >? ? ?[4]
>      >
>     https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)
>    
<https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)>
>      >   
>     
?<https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)
<https://github.com/networkupstools/nut/wiki/Data-Mapping-File-(DMF)>>
>      >
>      >? ? ?What is the state there? Is it usable for USB HID? Or, how
hard
>      >? ? ?would it be to make it usable? Even a modbus description will
>     do --
>      >? ? ?implementing the modbus server (yes, server, I'm being
>      >? ? ?politically-correct) over serial or even TCP is easy, if only
>     there
>      >? ? ?was a way to dump a CSV with register descriptions in some
>     magical
>      >? ? ?driver...
>      >
>      >? ? ?And yet another approach which comes to mind is to implement
my
>      >? ? ?driver as an external executable. This may be completely
>     unfeasible
>      >? ? ?and stupid, and please let me know if it is. But, from what I
>      >? ? ?gather, drivers run in their own process and talk to the
>     daemon via
>      >? ? ?a UNIX socket. Why not make it possible for the driver to be
just
>      >? ? ?any executable, built/deployed outside of the NUT codebase?
The
>      >? ? ?socket protocol seems simple enough, and this will allow for
...
>      >? ? ?creativity. It could be implemented in any language
(including
>      >? ? ?scripting languages) and need not depend on anything
>     NUT-specific,
>      >? ? ?other than maybe some common CLI interface and/or
configuration.
>      >
>      >? ? ?I'm hoping the NUT masters will have some insight. Thanks
for
>      >? ? ?working on this!
>      >
>      >? ? ?Cheers,
>      >? ? ?Kiril
>      >? ? ?_______________________________________________
>      >? ? ?Nut-upsuser mailing list
>      > Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
>      >? ? ?<mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>>
>      >
>     https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
>    
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser>
>      >   
>     
?<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser>>
>      >
>      >
>      > _______________________________________________
>      > Nut-upsuser mailing list
>      > Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
>      >
>     https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
>    
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser>
> 
>     _______________________________________________
>     Nut-upsuser mailing list
>     Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
>     <mailto:Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net>
>     https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
>    
<https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser>
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Nut-upsuser mailing list
> Nut-upsuser at alioth-lists.debian.net
> https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nut-upsuser
Cheers, Gene Heskett, CET.
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