What would this cable be used for? (..and why do I have it?)

[Diggs]

Found this cable while cleaning out old shelf bins. I have no idea why I have it, where it comes from or what it's used for. Anyone? (Showing both ends below....)

 

[phaZed]

It's for (generally) a UPS battery backup system, so it can report to the PC the status and perform a shutdown, etc.

 

[Diggs]

It's for (generally) a UPS battery backup system, so it can report to the PC the status and perform a shutdown, etc.

Thank you! I've had many UPSs come through over the years. This rings a bell!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Haven't seen that one in a while. Also they used to be 9 pin serial.
And...there are similar RJ45 to USB...as well as RJ45 to serial...which were "Console cables"...to bring up telnet/Putty sessions on hardware. They were "usually" colored light blue though.

 

[Markverhyden]

That's for a serial connection for console management of any number of devices. Yes they were common with some APC UPS's but I've seen them on other devices. Uses a console session which isolates itself from regular TCP/IP traffic for security reasons.

 

[HCHTech]

Others have answered the what, but the why is that you are probably like me - I save every quirky wire (and many non-quirky ones, too!). I can't help it. Every couple of years my wife gets on a tear and makes me throw out a few boxes of them.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I still have one in service, connects my APC SmartUPS 2200... which honestly is 20 years old and I should swap it, connected to my server.

 

[Metanis]

I still have one in service, connects my APC SmartUPS 2200... which honestly is 20 years old and I should swap it, connected to my server.

Those old things were built very sturdy. Except you never know how much life the MOV's have left in them. So you may have plenty of backup power but reduced spike and surge protection.

 

[Sky-Knight]

Those old things were built very sturdy. Except you never know how much life the MOV's have left in them. So you may have plenty of backup power but reduced spike and surge protection.

Very true, it's also lost much of its ability to detect the subtle changes in grid voltage. It's very slow to respond, but that doesn't matter as much because the Smart UPS 2200 is line interactive, my equipment is running on the inverter. All that's changed is the quality of power going into the charging circuit, and when that cuts it takes a bit longer for the UPS to respond. But again, the connected equipment doesn't care, it's been on the inverter all along!

Still... she needs replacing. The transformer generates more heat now than it should, she's done.

 

[beechwood]

Ah yes, the ancient artifact… basically the tech equivalent of finding a VHS tape in a Netflix box

 

[phaZed]

Ah yes, the ancient artifact… basically the tech equivalent of finding a VHS tape in a Netflix box

Whatever. Don't talk bad about my box of cables!

 

[britechguy]

Don't talk bad about my box of cables!

Mine is a bag, but the same principle applies. And why is it that almost invariably if I decide something will "never be used again" that shortly after disposing of it I have need of it (and wouldn't have need of it for years after, if ever)?

 

[Sky-Knight]

@phaZed, @britechguy I have a wall, or rather two 2 x 4 x 1ft cube organizers. That's 16 cubic feet of storage, and about half of it is cables. Every time I think... I don't need this junk anymore... I've closed up enough.

Someone shows up and feeds from the bin. Or the kids need something. My stuff is organized though, power cables in one box, network in another, video in yet another, sata in another one.

The part that always terrifies me are the power cables. I swear those things breed!

 

[Porthos]

The part that always terrifies me are the power cables. I swear those things breed!