Need a UPS, help.

[jhatfie]

I am looking to get a UPS to protect my computer investments, but I have no clue what is needed or recommended. Basically I just want the added protection in case of a power outage (we've had three in the last month). I only need enough power for my 2 systems to shut down clean.

I was eyeballing the APC ES 725 Broadband which is a 725VA/450W that I can pick up for around $75 and the Powercom knight Pro 800VA which is about the same price.

What I want to power: A 19in monitor and 2 PC's (see sig for computer specs) and nothing else. Would I need a more powerful UPS? Any suggestions? Maybe two 500VA models?

 

[SJetski71]

Get either one but make sure it says "AVR" Auto voltage regulation. AVR feeds a constant voltage to your system by nullifying spikes or brownouts. AVR (besides battery time) is the single most important feature a UPS can have imho.

Edit: An 800va unit ought to suffice for a few minutes back-up time on those two systems+monitor...just enough time to save a few documents then shut them down manually or via software.

here's a link to my thread in [H]deals http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=735082
It has two deals involving UPS's with AVR

 

[burningrave101]

I've got a Belkin 1200VA on my workstation and monitor and i love it. I would get one of the Belkin UPS. They are among the best with APC. They are usually cheaper also. Belkin just had a 50% off sale not long ago so that would of been a great time to pick up a couple of UPS.

 

[mabegman]

What you NEED is a UPS with voltage regulation. Surge surpressors stop spikes in the power grid from overvolting your equipment. In 20 years I've only had 1 power surge. I probably shouldn't have said that, but... Undervoltage is the big problem facing the aging power grids in this country. Too much demand and not enough supply, or not fast enough reaction like that big East Coast blackout that just missed my area thankfully. Undervoltage needs a power conditioner to take up the slack. The UPS will switch over to battery power until the voltage comes back up to where it should be, or the battery gets low and the software intervenes and shuts you off. Undervoltage slips right by any circuit breaker protection. Without something monitoring the voltage you can be supplying you equipment with sh%* for power. Ask anybody whose been around what sort of havoc and damage can happen to a computer from undervolting it. I've spoken to a couple of electricians I work with who also said that there is the possibility of doing damage if this happens because when the voltage drops, the amperage can go up. Can anybody corroborate that statement?

Anyway... you are looking for the wattage which will determine how long your system can run on the battery. The 725 should be fine in my opinion. I have the APC Back-ups XS 800 I got from Best Buy. Power Chute says 33 minutes estimated battery time. Is your 19 inch monitor an LCD or CRT. CRTs use more. I have a 19 inch LCD. I think the LCD got me 6 minutes more when I changed. The one I got was @$120. Voltage regulation is big $$$ with APC. CyberPower, Energizer, and I think Belkin all have AVR for less $$$, but you can't change the batteries when they go. APC you can swap them yourself.

 

[tdg]

750VA would be a little low to run those systems and allow enough time for a assured shutdown, especially if the monitors on at the time. I would either get a single larger one, or get two of them like you mentioned at 500VA each. I use a APC Smart-UPS 1000 and 1400 for my systems, the 1000 powers my workstation and 17" and can run for about 15 minutes with the load. 750VA with both of your systems would be cutting it pretty short.