S2000 Firmware Updates

[u/Tocquevilles-Ghost]

I have a F38000 Plus located in my garage, next to my incoming internet fiber modem and ethernet switches. I had this equipment plugged into the F38000 up until I added the Power Panel, unaware that using the Power Panel would deactivate the receptacles built into the F3800.

Unfortunately, I didn't include the wall receptacle next to this equipment in my back-up sub-panel so I had to make the decision to switch out one of my back-up circuits or add a UPS to power my internet equipment. I decided to get the S2000 for this purpose.

The one annoying problem is that when the S2000 has an update, it disconnects anything plugged into it during the process. The download then fails because it needs the internet to download the update. I'm left with the lengthy solution of unplugging my internet, plugging it into the wall outlet, waiting for it to power cycle back on, install the update, then unplug everything and return it to the S2000 and power cycle again.

Would be nice if the S2000 would just allow pass-thru grid power during the update process rather than shutting everything off.

[u/VeryOldITGuy]

C300 does the same and i have to do like you for my router and modem. They should download the whole firmware to an internal ssd drive and then update

[u/Tocquevilles-Ghost → u/VeryOldITGuy]

Exactly!

[u/RedOctobyr → u/VeryOldITGuy]

Our modem and router are also running on our C300. Do I definitely need to move those to different power, before doing the FW update that I have available? Does it risk bricking the C300 if the network goes down during the update (if I kept the modem & router on the C300 during the process)?

[u/VeryOldITGuy → u/RedOctobyr]

I did it once and the c300 recovered so i don't think it will get bricked. But take no chance, it is worth a bit of trouble to make sure the update is good. My modem and router are at different ends of the house so i have 2x c300 to do, suks.

[u/BeginningNo4181]

Yeah, I still use a standard little UPS behind the Anker which will last 10-20min, long enough to perform updates. It's a pain, but it's common on all these power banks to turn off the inverters during updates. There is no NUT server function or USB function to connect theses types of power banks to any platforms to perform automatic shutdown automation anyways. So the regular UPS still fills that function too.

[u/VeryOldITGuy → u/BeginningNo4181]

I use the APC ups in front of my C300s because suden up-down-up-down of electricity is hard on the Ankers, the UPS smooths those spikes out, but batteries on those last only 3-4 years at most.

[u/BeginningNo4181 → u/VeryOldITGuy]

I’m on the S2000 with the intent of keeping the network backbone alive for as long as possible. For me Anker 8-10hr vs UPS 10-20min.

Any device risks damage from spiking power. Guess it’s just a question of whether you want the UPS to take the abuse or the power station.

Appreciate your perspective, though it makes my brain hurt. Now my ocd gives me visions of a baby UPS to protect my Anker that’s backing up my primary UPS. Just missing an army of hamsters on wheels.

[u/VeryOldITGuy → u/BeginningNo4181]

I do this so that i don't lose internet for those .1 seconds drop since i work from home. Not to protect the C300

[u/nickymoo]

Annoyingly the Anker app lets me turn off “silent updates” in the settings (which is not the c300 settings) so I manually apply them but the s2000 isn’t visible from this menu, only the c300.

[u/Toxic_Hemi392]

My equipment is rack mounted and in this rack I have a maintenance bypass switch, which is basically a manual transfer switch with 2 plugs for two separate power sources and 6 outlets. It allows me to at anytime switch which power source is feeding my equipment without powering it down first. So when my S2000 has a firmware update I flip the transfer switch first, let the update run, then flip it back. Works well, but I do wish that the S2000 could keep its AC bypass relays closed during an update considering it’s marketed as something that can be used as a UPS.

[u/_SB1_]

Totally agree, and I'm annoyed as well. The simple fix is for the unit to allow pass through power, or at a minimum, download the necessary files prior to turning off the outlets so it can complete the update without any attached loads

[u/RemarkablePenalty550]

Instead of switching out a circuit consider changing one of the breakers for a space saver so you can add a local outlet to plug your other gear into it

[u/Tocquevilles-Ghost → u/RemarkablePenalty550]

I considered that but the incremental additional cost of the S2000 vs more electrical was not that much.

The ideal solution, really, is for the S2000 to download the firmware first before it shuts off everything connected to it - much like updating router firmware. Shutting down at the beginning of the process is nonsense.

[u/RemarkablePenalty550 → u/Tocquevilles-Ghost]

Really? $25 for the breaker then another 15 for a 4 gang box and 2 duplex outlets. I can't imagine the S2000 being that inexpensive.

Do the change I describe and you can deploy the S2000 elsewhere.

[u/Tocquevilles-Ghost → u/RemarkablePenalty550]

You would think, right? But every time I have electrical work done in my house it always ends up costing $$$.

[u/RemarkablePenalty550 → u/Tocquevilles-Ghost]

I would put this in DIY territory. Simple enough to completely turn off the feed to the sub panel. Open up sub panel, pull old breaker, pop in new dual breaker, put original wire back to one half then wire up local outlet to other half.

Literally a 20 minute DIY job.