UPS into Surge Protector?

[MrMike]

I've been doing some research on replacing a couple of old, cheapo plastic surge protectors (one of which may just be a power strip) sitting around my house.

In the course of doing some research, I read that UPS just use basic MOV surge protection that wears out over the course of time or from a single use. Being ignorant about the subject and just buying UPS for my computers and not worrying, I didn't realize this, and I have one UPS that's over ten years old and another that's six or seven. My other two are two or three years old.

I read APC's web site, but I see no reason the UPS wouldn't be able to draw full power as long as it doesn't trip the breaker on a quality surge protector. I'm quite sure I'm on the right page here, but I would be interested in being enlightened if there's some science to this.

I'm planning to just get a few of these.

Do I have anything to worry about with this plan? Am I the only one who didn't realize this about UPS?

 

[drescherjm]

I almost always plug a UPS into a surge protector (not the other way around since that can reduce runtime). The reason is I do this is the surge protection rating on most UPSs is very low.

 

[caddys83]

I have a APC xs1500 plug into a Monoprice brand surge protector power strip. Monoprice.com - MB-40RA-9B for that very same reason. There has been a few topics on this issue. I have no issues and the APC load right now is 157- 158w. I had 2 electrical surge in June (a odd experience when the lights dim) but the APC clicked on and did its job to keep my PC running. It will be fine.

 

[AcidBurn]

....... I had 2 electrical surge in June (a odd experience when the lights dim) but the APC clicked on and did its job to keep my PC running. It will be fine.

That's not a surge, that's called a brown out that happens when the voltage actually drops. Your ups clicked on to increase the voltage to spec.

 

[caddys83]

That's not a surge, that's called a brown out that happens when the voltage actually drops. Your ups clicked on to increase the voltage to spec.

Ahh thanks. I couldn't figure out the correct term

 

[larrymoencurly]

I read that UPS just use basic MOV surge protection that wears out over the course of time or from a single use.

MOVs do wear out as the accumulate hits, but apparently they usually hold up well until something big comes along. But backup supplies (few are actually UPSs) vary in quality and while some have nothing but MOVs, others also include line filters that block noise and surges that are too low in voltage to trigger the MOVs. Generally, the higher cost backups, real UPSs, and APC branded UPSs (whether built by them or by CyberPower) contain line filters. One way to find out if a surge protector or backup has a line filter is by plugging the computer into the device and plugging the device into one socket of an AC outlet, and plug the laser printer into the other socket. Run something at the DOS level (MemTest86/86+ is good so your hard drive data can't be messed up, and try turning the laser on and off. If the laser makes the computer lock, reboot, or actsfunny, then there's no line filter, or at least not one that's good enough. Also all but the very worst PSUs contain their own line filters, and some of those filters are so good that the computer won't hiccup even when there's no line filter in the surge protector or backup supply.