OpenElectrons.com SmartUPS User Manual

What is SmartUPS

SmartUPS is Uninterruptible Power Supply & Portable Power for
Raspberry Pi. SmartUPS runs on 3 AA NiMH rechargeable batteries.

Connections

1) Power connection (micro-USB):

For input power connect a MicroUSB cable from mains power to
connector 1 in picture above.

2) USB host connection:

Connect a MicroUSB cable from your Pi to USB host connector on
SmartUPS. (at connector labeled 2 in picture above).

3) Data connection:

Connect I2C Access Point Board on GPIO pins of
your Pi, (as shown in adjacent picture) and
connect the 4-pin colored wire from the i2c
connector of that board to i2c connector of
SmartUPS (at connector labeled 3 in picture
above).

SmartUPS

User Guide

Button and LED Indicator

4) Press Button:

This button can be used to power SmartUPS on and off. The button
clicks can also be read by your Pi over the I2C interface.

5) LED indicator

LED will blink to show status of the SmartUPS. See LED indications
below.

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How to Use

Connect the cables as mentioned above and insert 3 AA NiMH
rechargeable batteries**.

Power ON:

Press the button (labeled 4 in picture above) to power on the
SmartUPS. Button must be pressed to send output power and I2C
communication to Raspberry Pi anytime the LED flashes red, green,
and blue upon startup.

Power OFF:

Hold and press the button for about 4 seconds. The LED will start
blinking at about 1 second interval indicating power will be turned off
soon. (It will blink for about 2 minutes before powering off the Pi).

Automatic startup and shutdown options can be configured. See
Startup and Shutdown options below.

** Currently supported chemistry: NiMH

LED indications

Flashing Meaning

Red, Green, and Blue SmartUPS is starting up and button must be pressed

once to initialize I2C communication and send output
power.

White occasional
blink

Blue occasional blink Normal operation, battery is being charged.

Yellow occasional
blink

Red fast blink SmartUPS is in shutdown mode.

White blink on Power ONWhen SmartUPS is powered off, it will blink once to

Green blink on Click When SmartUPS button is clicked (single click or

Red occasional blink Battery internal resistance is high (battery is going

Red fast blink Battery is very bad, and won't last long for UPS.

Normal operation, battery is full.

Normal Operation, battery is being drained.

acknowledge change in power state.

Double click), it will blink once to acknowledge.

bad).

Red steady light FAULT (Battery is dead or missing, or thermistor

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missing, etc). The SmartUPS will still deliver power
to Pi, if connected to mains, but won't operate as
UPS.

Button Clicks

You can
configure
Rapsberry Pi to
execute a
command on specific number of button clicks. For example, if you
want to take a picture with your PiCamera you can configure
appropriate command in upspanel for a number of button clicks (up to
three). Any time you simultaneoulsy click for that set number, you
will take a picture.

1 Click Start the output power if turned off/ User

defined command from upspanel.

2 Clicks User defined command from upspanel.

3 Clicks User defined command from upspanel.

Hold (for about 2 seconds) LED starts blinking fast Green,indicating

shutdown approaching in 50 seconds. (at this
point SmartUPS issues a shutdown command
to Pi).

Hold longer (about 6
seconds)

LED turns solid Red, and as soon as you let go
the button it shuts down power to Pi.

Startup and Shutdown Options

The startup and shutdown
options can be configured by
the upspanel GUI or by
changing the SmartUPS.cfg
file found in /etc/SmartUPS
on your Raspberry Pi.

**Configured options will only
work if the I2C cable is
connected.

**Start up options are designed for automated operation. When
SmartUPS is manually shutdown (by pressing and holding the button
until it power's off), upon power restotation to SmartUPS, you will
have to press the button to power up your Pi.

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