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Uninterruptible Power Supply

H

HvyMtl

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 3, 2003
Messages
1,730
Ok, since this is the power supply section, I thought this might fit better than "general hardware."
I would like your thoughts on UPS (uninterruptible power supplies) and where it is best to buy them. (Presently have Belkin.com 's 12345 code for 40% MSRP and 90220425 code for free ship) Heck, I want your opinion as to what brand/model is best.
Basically, I want one that can handle both by system and monitor in my sig. However, I want breathing room to make sure the next upgrade (say dual processor/dual vid card/perhaps even dual monitor - as I still have my older 19inch crt) can be handled in a power down during black out. Automatic Voltage Regulation is an absolute must (brown outs, spikes and blackouts happen all too frequently here...) as well as auto shut down.
So is it better to buy two small ones for more $ or one big one for less?
How much coverage should I get?
 
I have a APC 1000XS and I LLOOOOOOVVVEEEE it to death. From what I heard APC was to company to go with a far as UPSs go. I'm running......
3500+, Neo 2 plat, 500watt Xfinity,6800GT @ 450/1100,3 hard drives,1 optical, NECfe991sb CRT and a Samsung 712N LCD.

Without the LCD(712N) hooked up I can get about 25-30 mins of run time on the battery while gaming. Power went out during a EQ2 session and I timed it. My UPS came w/ a USB cable to transfer battery info ect to windows. In your windows screensaver settings you have the option to set what you would like your PC to do when the UPS hits X% of battery life ect.


To sum up my very random comments.
1) APC for teh win(IMO)
2) At least a 1000VA

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=298345&pfp=BROWSE
This is my UPS
 
25-30 mins don't seem enough for me.
Whenever my power goes out, It's for like 2 -4 hours.
I'd prolly have to spend $500 -$600 to keep that kind of up time.

Are there any that last real long ?
 
J32P2006 said:
25-30 mins don't seem enough for me.
Whenever my power goes out, It's for like 2 -4 hours.
I'd prolly have to spend $500 -$600 to keep that kind of up time.

Are there any that last real long ?
Click to expand...

Damn thats awhile...
LOL try this

J/K ;)
 
HvyMtl said:
Automatic Voltage Regulation is an absolute must (brown outs, spikes and blackouts happen all too frequently here...) as well as auto shut down.
So is it better to buy two small ones for more $ or one big one for less?
How much coverage should I get?
Click to expand...
Most (if not all!) of those features should be on any UPS you buy. I'd get one big one unless you have two seperate machines to put on them. Trying to use two UPSes on one machine means that you have to chain them together; this means when the closer one runs out of juice, the one farther from the computer sends power through it, but there'll be more loss because of more cables in the middle and such. It may even end up doing an extra AC->DC->AC conversion, which is a Bad Thing. I'd go for the 1250va myself. I have 2 APCs, and they work well (even with linux) but I've heard good things about Belkin as well, and $107.40 for 1250VA is pretty dang good.

 
Ok, so go with one big one and not one for the computer and one for the monitor... makes more sense money wise.
As in the original post, I do have the Belkin in mind due to the discounts - anyone know of a good place to buy any decent branded UPS at excellent prices?
Example: the 12345 discount at Belkin.com
 
you could wire up extra sealed lead acid batteries to a UPS in parallel.

I am not sure how exactly the peak charge detection works in a given model, but I think this would work.

just get a good UPS, and then a few extra (sealed!!!! esp. if you are indoors) batteries and wire them up.


a UPS does not work well in brownouts unless it is a good one. if you have more brownouts then blackouts you could get a nice regulated 12v powersupply and run that through an inverter and hook your UPS to that and then your PC to the UPS.

then if you have a brownout it won't drop to battery supply, but only in blackout.
 
go to the APC website and spec out a UPS you will need. they have a program there that calculates what sort of power you are going to need to keep a system of whatever online for 4 hours
 
Another vote for APC. Their websyte should help you choose the right one.

And kudos on the AVR (auto volt reg). Many people don't know what that is or why
they need it in a UPS.
 
APC is pretty much the only way to go. I've used other UPSes and never been impressed or had them work very well. Currently, my roomate and I each have an APC Back UPS Pro 500, one for each PC, and they've worked perfectly. They're old, both of them have already gone through two battery replacements and are still working great.

I gave a friend of mine a Smart UPS 650 (still used a serial cable to shut the PC down :eek: ) that I used all through high school and college before the batteries died. At work, the only thing we use are APC units.
 
Why I like my APC UPS..

we got crappy power here.
apc.jpg
 
Liebert GXT2


a true online double inverted
not that you'll be finding many end users with em
enterprise class solution

PS, upgrade your PSU to an active PFC unit if you anticipate ever drawing off of batteries
inverters dislike non-linear loads
 
thanks for the heavy input.
APC sounds good... and I know Belkins work, as I have owned a few...
Any place where one can get an excellent deal on the APC? (example like the 12345 discount with the Belkins... at belkin.com)
 
i have one of these belkin ups and i couldnt be happier. handles the system in my sig plus a 24" sony FW900 crt with no probs. i havent exactly unplugged it for a long time to see how long it could go but looking at the stats in the software i am only loading it 60% at full gfx/cpu load with my comp.
pretty good for the price and it comes with a 3 yr warranty. im not sure what kind of warranty the APC comes with though.
 
I recommend APC, I have 4 of them and have had no problems. The prices will be a bit higher than Belkin, but IMO they are a much better unit. I got all mine used for dirt cheap, and just swapped in new batteries, $47 a set for a 1400 VA unit :cool:
 
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