APC Cable, UPS Communications Smart Signalling (15' / 4.5m - DB-9 to RJ-45 Serial)

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

This APC DB-9 to RJ-45 serial signalling cable is one of those “you’ll only notice it when you need it” items. At £24.44 ex-VAT it’s decent value *if* you already have the right APC UPS model and software setup and you just need the missing link between the UPS and your monitoring/management device. In day-to-day terms, it saves you messing about with adapters, driver quirks, or patchwork cabling—so if you’re trying to get clean, reliable status alerts, it’s the right kind of boring.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it unless you’ve confirmed compatibility with your specific UPS and the management method you’re using. APC’s comms lead requirements can be very particular, and buying “the APC one” blindly can still leave you with a cable that physically fits but won’t talk correctly. If you’re setting up a new environment, it’s worth double-checking what port/protocol your UPS expects before you spend the money. For anyone doing UPS monitoring properly—small offices, IT closets, or anyone running basic alerting from a server—this is a sensible buy. For hobbyists or anyone unsure of their UPS comms requirements, it’s an easy avoidable mistake.