APC by Schneider Electric AP940-1525A RJ45 Serial Management Cable

Overview

The AP940-1525A is a 15-foot serial interface cable that bridges a DB9 COM port on a management workstation or terminal server to the RJ45 serial management port found on APC Smart-UPS LCD models. If you need direct console access to a Smart-UPS for local configuration, firmware updates, or out-of-band management without deploying a network management card, this cable is the direct-connect path. At 15 ft, it gives enough reach to connect a rack-mounted UPS to a nearby server or KVM console without cable strain — keep that in mind when planning your rack layout.

Compatibility

The AP940-1525A is designed for APC Smart-UPS LCD series units that expose an RJ45 serial management port. This includes the Smart-UPS SMT and SMX LCD families commonly deployed in rack and tower UPS installations. Verify your specific Smart-UPS model exposes an RJ45 serial port (not solely a USB port) before ordering — some SMT variants ship with USB-only local management interfaces. The DB9 end connects to a standard RS-232 serial port; if your management host uses only USB, you will need a separate USB-to-serial adapter. This cable does not replace or substitute for APC network management cards — it provides local serial access only, not network SNMP or remote monitoring.

Installation Notes

Plug the RJ45 connector into the UPS serial management port and the DB9 connector into the host COM port. Configure your terminal emulator (HyperTerminal, PuTTY, or equivalent) to match the Smart-UPS serial parameters — typically 2400 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit, no flow control, though confirm against your specific UPS model's documentation. No drivers or software install required for the cable itself. Route away from high-voltage power cabling in the rack to avoid signal interference on the serial line.