Tech Log Entry — Configuring PowerChute Serial Shutdown Email Alerts (on Schneider Electric APC Back-UPS 1350)

Tech Log Entry — Configuring Email Alerts (app: PowerChute Serial Shutdown; device: Schneider Electric APC Back-UPS 1350)


Initial Task

Configure Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown to send email alerts for important APC Back-UPS events.

Use a dedicated Gmail account as the sender and a professional Gmail account as the recipient.

Keep the alert account separate from personal, professional, and hobby email accounts.


Hardware and Software

APC Back-UPS 1350 uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

Schneider Electric PowerChute Serial Shutdown application.

PowerChute local web interface at localhost:6547/emailsettings.

Windows desktop connected to the UPS.

Google Gmail account with 2-Step Verification enabled.


Required Email Settings

SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com

Port: 587

Connection security: TLS / STARTTLS

Server Identity Check: Enabled

Server username: Full dedicated Gmail address

Server password: Google-generated 16-character App Password

Sender address: Same dedicated Gmail address used for authentication

Recipient address: Professional Gmail account


Overall Setup Steps

Created a separate Gmail account for UPS, hardware, networking, Linux, backup, and security alerts.

Enabled Google 2-Step Verification on the new account.

Added Google Authenticator as a second-factor method.

Opened Google App Passwords at https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords.

Created an App Password specifically for PowerChute email use.

Entered the Gmail SMTP server, port, TLS setting, identity check, username, and App Password in PowerChute.

Configured the dedicated Gmail account as sender and the professional Gmail account as recipient.

Sent a PowerChute test email and confirmed successful delivery.


Problems and Issues Encountered

Microsoft Outlook / Office 365 SMTP was initially considered, but PowerChute uses basic username-and-password SMTP authentication and does not support Microsoft OAuth / Modern Authentication.

A first Gmail test failed because the App Password belonged to one Gmail account while the PowerChute username and sender address belonged to another.

The new Gmail account displayed: “The setting you are looking for is not available for your account.”

A passkey existed on the new account, but Google 2-Step Verification had not actually been enabled.


Solutions Applied

Switched from Outlook / Office 365 SMTP to Gmail SMTP, which supports App Passwords for this type of legacy application.

Matched the SMTP username, sender address, and App Password to the same Gmail account.

Enabled 2-Step Verification on the new technical-alert Gmail account.

Added Google Authenticator, then generated a new 16-character App Password.

Retested PowerChute email delivery successfully.


Cautions and Warnings

Do not enter the normal Gmail account password in PowerChute; use only the Google App Password.

An App Password is tied to the Google account that created it and cannot be reused with a different Gmail username.

Keep the App Password private because it grants SMTP access without requiring the normal account password.

Use the dedicated alert account only for technical notifications, not newsletters, ordinary browsing, or unrelated registrations.

Keep Server Identity Check enabled with TLS to reduce the risk of connecting to an impersonated SMTP server.

After changing the Google account password, Google may revoke existing App Passwords and require a new one.


Final Resolution

PowerChute Serial Shutdown now sends test email successfully through the dedicated Gmail account.

The dedicated account is used as the sender, while the professional Gmail account receives the alert.

TLS on port 587 and Server Identity Check are enabled.

The UPS email-alert configuration is operational.


Future and Ongoing Concerns

Revoke the older PowerChute App Password from the previous Gmail account after confirming it is no longer needed.

Name future App Passwords after the exact device or service so individual credentials can be identified and revoked easily.

Create a Gmail filter or label for UPS and infrastructure alerts.

Choose the PowerChute events that should generate messages, especially On Battery, Low Battery, Communication Lost, and Shutdown events.

Periodically send a test email to confirm that PowerChute, Gmail authentication, and recipient delivery still work.

Review the dedicated Gmail account recovery methods and securely store backup codes.

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