About

Software is not developed by BlueWalker GmbH.

There was no Linux software available for the PowerWalker PDU and ATS, but the manufacturer was kind enough to supply me with what I needed to make my own library.

I'm using a Raspberry Pi as a power manager in my homelab, it is connected to both the PDU and ATS. It's best practice to have a single application responsible for communicating with the devices, as you will get communication errors if two applications tries to talk to the same device at the same time.

I am using the mqtt.py script to publish ATS and PDU data on the MQTT network. Then you can have multiple clients subscribe to the respective MQTT topics, like Home Assistant. To visualize the data I use the Home Assistant InfluxDB component, then Grafana pulls the data from InfluxDB and makes cool graphs.

To make sure that the mqtt.py script keeps running; I'm using Supervisor.

Note! Methods and keys may change; as I am still investigating use cases and best practices.

Communicate

Connect either the USB or the serial port, find the correct device path and instantiate.

Serial port

import powerwalker

pdu = powerwalker.PDU("/dev/ttyUSB0")
ats = powerwalker.ATS("/dev/ttyUSB1")

USB HID device

There's a chance that your device is not being recognized as usbserial. Therefore, you have to instantiate as usbhid device:

import powerwalker

pdu = powerwalker.PDU("/dev/hidraw0", usbhid=True)
ats = powerwalker.ATS("/dev/hidraw1", usbhid=True)

Give regular users in the dialout group access to hidraw devices:

Add this line to /etc/udev/rules.d/99-com.rules:

KERNEL=="hidraw*", GROUP=="dialout", MODE="0664"

And run sudo udevadm trigger

PowerWalker PDU RC-16A IEC

PowerWalker PDU RC-16A is designed to distribute AC power from a single source to 8 outputs with advanced load monitoring and local or remote ON/OFF switching control of individual outlets.

https://powerwalker.com/?item=10133001

Available methods

Method	Description	Type
connect()	Connect to PDU device.	-
send(cmd)	Send custom command.	-
info()	Get and return device information.	get
status()	Get and return device statuses. (see codes below)	get
power_w()	Get and return active power (W) measurements for input and all outputs.	get
power_va()	Get and return apparent power (VA) measurements for input and all outputs.	get
energy_kwh()	Get and return energy consumption (kWh) for input and all outputs.	get
energy_kwh_clear()	Clear energy consumption values for input and all outputs.	set
countdown_times()	Get and return shutdown and restore countdown times for all outputs.	get
shutdown(idx, shdn)	Shutdown output idx in shdn minutes.	set
shutdown_restore(idx, shdn, rst)	Shutdown output idx in shdn minutes, restore power after rst minutes.	set
shutdown_cancel(idx)	Cancel pending shutdown on output idx.	set
protocol()	Get and return device protocol ID.	get
firmware()	Get and return device firmware version.	get
test()	Test PDU device, turn on all LEDs and the buzzer for 5 seconds.	set
memory_get(adr)	Get and return memory setting at adr location.	get

Output status codes

0. Off
1. On
2. Shutdown active
3. Shutdown imminent (S01-S08 code)
4. Restore active
5. Overload alarm (F01-F08 code)
6. Locked (L01-L08 code)

Shutdown method arguments

• idx : output; 1 to 8, A for all.
• shdn : shutdown delay in minutes; 0.1 to 0.9, 1 to 99, 0 for immediate.
• rst : restore delay in minutes; 1 to 9999, 0 for 1 second.

Memory configuration map

Adr	Key	Unit	Min	Max	Default
0	output_start_up_delay	sec	0	240	1
1	out1_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
2	out2_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
3	out3_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
4	out4_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
5	out5_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
6	out6_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
7	out7_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
8	out8_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.5	4.0	2.0
9	low_input_voltage_alarm	V	184	207	196
10	high_input_voltage_alarm	V	242	264	253
11	max_input_voltage_shutoff	V	253	300 *	276
12	low_input_current_alarm	0.1 A	0.0	15.0	0.0
13	high_input_current_alarm	0.1 A	1.0	16.0	16.0
14	shutdown_imminent_signal	min	1	-	3

* 0xFFFF = disabled

Output configuration byte

Memory address 1 to 8 also contains output configuration byte, key: out?_config.

Byte	Dec	Description	0	1
0	1	Output status at power on	off	on
1	2	Automatic disconnection of the output 1 minute after the overload alarm	enabled	disabled
2	4	On/off button enabled on front panel	disabled	enabled
3	8	Not in use	-	-
4	16	Not in use	-	-
5	32	Not in use	-	-
6	64	Not in use	-	-
7	128	Not in use	-	-

Example responses

Generic

• ACK if command was accepted.
• NAK if command was not accepted.

info()

{   'in_out_phase': '1/1',
    'in_socket_no': '1',
    'model': '############PDU',
    'nom_in_voltage': '230',
    'nom_out_voltage': '230',
    'out_socket_no': '8'}

status()

{   'in_current': 2.1,
    'in_freq': 49.8,
    'in_voltage': 225.5,
    'int_temp': 36.0,
    'out1_current': 0.4,
    'out2_current': 0.5,
    'out3_current': 0.3,
    'out4_current': 0.1,
    'out5_current': 0.2,
    'out6_current': 0.2,
    'out7_current': 0.3,
    'out8_current': 0.0,
    'status': {   'a01_low_in_voltage': 0,
                  'a02_high_in_voltage': 0,
                  'f09_low_in_current': 0,
                  'f10_high_in_current': 0,
                  'f11_pwr_fail_aux1': 0,
                  'f12_pwr_fail_aux2': 0,
                  'na_b8': 0,
                  'na_b9': 0,
                  'out1_status': 1,
                  'out2_status': 1,
                  'out3_status': 1,
                  'out4_status': 1,
                  'out5_status': 1,
                  'out6_status': 1,
                  'out7_status': 1,
                  'out8_status': 1}}

power_w()

{   'in_w': 441,
    'out1_w': 62,
    'out2_w': 108,
    'out3_w': 74,
    'out4_w': 37,
    'out5_w': 39,
    'out6_w': 33,
    'out7_w': 57,
    'out8_w': 0}

power_va()

{   'in_va': 478,
    'out1_va': 108,
    'out2_va': 123,
    'out3_va': 83,
    'out4_va': 47,
    'out5_va': 43,
    'out6_va': 65,
    'out7_va': 70,
    'out8_va': 0}

energy_kwh()

{   'in_kwh': 725.9,
    'out1_kwh': 4.3,
    'out2_kwh': 103.4,
    'out3_kwh': 17.4,
    'out4_kwh': 114.0,
    'out5_kwh': 201.9,
    'out6_kwh': 106.8,
    'out7_kwh': 47.6,
    'out8_kwh': 19.8}

countdown_times()

{   'out1_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out2_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out3_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out4_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out5_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out6_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out7_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0},
    'out8_cd_sec': {'r': 0, 's': 0}}

protocol()

{'prot_id': 'PI90'}

firmware()

{'verfw': 0.15}

memory_get(0)

{'output_start_up_delay': 1}

memory_get(1)

{'out1_config': 255, 'out1_current_alarm': 20}

PowerWalker ATS

ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) supports connection of two independent power sources. If primary power source fails, the secondary will automatically back up the connected load without any interruption.

https://powerwalker.com/?item=10120543

Available methods

Method	Description	Type
connect()	Connect to PDU device.	-
send(cmd)	Send custom command.	-
info()	Get and return device information.	get
status()	Get and return device statuses.	get
protocol()	Get and return device protocol ID.	get
firmware()	Get and return device firmware version.	get
memory_get(adr)	Get and return memory setting at adr location.	get

Memory configuration map

Adr	Key	Unit	Min	Max	Default
0	src1_voltage_high_loss	V	100	300	258
1	src1_voltage_high_back	V	100	300	248
2	src1_voltage_low_loss	V	100	300	180
3	src1_voltage_low_back	V	100	300	190
4	src1_freq_high_loss	Hz	40	70	55
5	src1_freq_high_back	Hz	40	70	0
6	src1_freq_low_loss	Hz	40	70	45
7	src1_freq_low_high	Hz	40	70	0
8	src2_voltage_high_loss	V	100	300	258
9	src2_voltage_high_back	V	100	300	248
10	src2_voltage_low_loss	V	100	300	180
11	src2_voltage_low_back	V	100	300	190
12	src2_freq_high_loss	Hz	40	70	55
13	src2_freq_high_back	Hz	40	70	0
14	src2_freq_low_loss	Hz	40	70	45
15	src2_freq_low_high	Hz	40	70	0
16	overload_alarm	%	0	150	100
17	overload_fault	%	0	250	0
18	acceptable_phases	°	0	180	0
19	breaking_time	ms	0	9999	5
20	blanking_time	ms	0	1000	4

Example responses

info()

{   'battery_voltage': '---.-',
    'rated_output_current': '016',
    'rated_output_freq': '50.0',
    'rated_output_voltage': '230.0'}

status()

{   'int_temp': 35.0,
    'out_current': 2.2,
    'out_load_pct': 14.0,
    'src1_freq': 50.0,
    'src1_voltage': 227.3,
    'src2_freq': 50.0,
    'src2_voltage': 227.3,
    'status': {   'aux_pwr1_fail': 0,
                  'aux_pwr2_fail': 0,
                  'na_c0': 0,
                  'na_c1': 0,
                  'na_c2': 0,
                  'na_c3': 0,
                  'na_c4': 0,
                  'na_c5': 0,
                  'na_c6': 0,
                  'na_c7': 0,
                  'on_fault_mode': 0,
                  'on_src1': 1,
                  'on_src2': 0,
                  'overload_alarm': 0,
                  'overload_fault': 0,
                  'preferred_src2': 0,
                  'short_fault': 0,
                  'src1_freq_bad': 0,
                  'src1_voltage_bad': 0,
                  'src1_wave_bad': 0,
                  'src2_freq_bad': 0,
                  'src2_voltage_bad': 0,
                  'src2_wave_bad': 0,
                  'syncron_bad': 0},
    'sync_angle': 1.0}

protocol()

{'prot_id': 'PI97'}

firmware()

{'verfw': 181.0}

memory_get(0)

{'src1_voltage_high_loss': 258}

CLI

For easy access to the device methods; use cli.py:

$ python3 cli.py device method arguments

Examples

Run test sequence on PDU:

$ python3 cli.py pdu test

Shutdown output 8 in 0.5 minutes:

$ python3 cli.py pdu shutdown 8 0.5

Shutdown output 8 in 2 minutes, restore after 1 second:

$ python3 cli.py pdu shutdown_restore 8 2 0

Cancel pending shutdown on output 8

$ python3 cli.py pdu shutdown_cancel 8

MQTT

To publish ATS and PDU data to MQTT; use mqtt.py:

$ python3 mqtt.py

Make sure to rename config.sample.py to config.py and set the correct settings.

Outlet state change (PDU)

The MQTT script subscribes to cfg.mqtt['prefix'] + "/pdu/outlet/+/+"; to change the state of an outlet use topic:

your_prefix/pdu/outlet/out[1-8]/set

Payload can be 0, 1 or anything that Python casts as a boolean value.

All incoming commands are queued so not to interrupt any ongoing serial communication, at the start of each loop cycle all pending commands are performed.

Note that the state change is not immediate, there is a slight delay were the PDU warn of outlet imminent shutdown. Also note that if an outlet is not listed in the config file as "allowed state change"; a ValueError exception is raised.

Sample topics

pdu/outlet/out1 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out2 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out3 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out4 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out5 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out6 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out7 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/outlet/out8 {"shutdown_sec": 0, "state": "On", "status": 1, "restore_sec": 0}
pdu/status {"pwr_fail_aux2": 0, "low_in_voltage": 0, "pwr_fail_aux1": 0, "high_in_current": 0, "temp_c": 33.0, "low_in_current": 0, "in_hz": 49.8, "high_in_voltage": 0, "in_v": 228.2}
pdu/power/out1 {"va": 95, "w": 76, "a": 0.4}
pdu/power/out6 {"va": 0, "w": 0, "a": 0.0}
pdu/power/out7 {"va": 0, "w": 0, "a": 0.0}
pdu/power/out2 {"va": 0, "w": 0, "a": 0.0}
pdu/power/out3 {"va": 92, "w": 89, "a": 0.4}
pdu/power/out8 {"va": 0, "w": 0, "a": 0.0}
pdu/power/in {"va": 318, "w": 266, "a": 1.4}
pdu/power/out5 {"va": 65, "w": 60, "a": 0.2}
pdu/power/out4 {"va": 63, "w": 50, "a": 0.1}
ats/supply/src1 {"preferred": 1, "hz": 50.0, "bad": "0", "active": 1, "v": 229.7}
ats/supply/src2 {"preferred": 0, "hz": 50.0, "bad": "0", "active": 0, "v": 230.9}
ats/status {"out_pct": 10.0, "overload_alarm": 0, "overload_fault": 0, "out_a": 1.4, "syncron_bad": 0, "aux_pwr2_fail": 0, "sync_angle": 1.0, "temp_c": 32.0, "on_fault_mode": 0, "short_fault": 0, "aux_pwr1_fail": 0}

Script files

• cli.py: Simple command line interface.
• mqtt.py: Publishing values to MQTT.
• ups.py: Get UPS data from upsc and publish to MQTT.

Useful resources

• Persistent names for usb-serial devices

Author

Thomas Jensen

• Twitter: @thomasjsn
• Github: @thomasjsn
• Website: cavelab.dev

Notices

• PowerWalker is a brand of BlueWalker GmbH.
• PowerWalker PDU RC-16A IEC and PowerWalker ATS are products of BlueWalker GmbH.
• Software is not developed by BlueWalker GmbH.
• This library is published under the MIT license.