Any ideas on a UPS w/AVR w/o so much battery?

[RacerXC2C]

I'm looking for ideas on a new UPS, but I don't need more than 5 minutes of backup time. Is there a better way to go for both cost and form factor (smaller) than a car battery sized UPS that costs $130+?

I still want it to be able to support a high end rig (3D work) with a 24" or larger LCD Monitor, more likely dual monitors.

Thanks for any input!

 

[RacerXC2C]

Anyone use one of these?
Line-R 1200VA Automatic Voltage Regulator
http://www.apc.com/resource/in..._sku=LE1200&tab=models

 

[LOUISSSSS]

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm...m/ccd/productDetail.do

great UPS for the money. will support almost anything you'll throw at it

i'm running it with my pc and dual monitors

 

[Blain]

Maybe simply a line conditioner?

 

[RebateMonger]

A high-end rig with two large monitors could end up as a 300- or higher-watt load, which isn't going to run very long with many of the lower-end UPS units. I imagine you could get away with that $20 (plus shipping) line conditioner noted by Blain, along with a lower-end UPS unit. But use caution on how low-end you go on the UPS. Once the battery gets a bit old, you may not even end up with that 5 minutes of backup time that you mention.

For the job you describe, the APC unit described by LOUISSSS is probably appropriate. Especially since you wanted AVR. But you're definitely in to the "car battery size" that you tried to avoid.

 

[RacerXC2C]

All good advice, my thinking (and wallet) at present are to forgo the battery (for now), protect the system components with a solid stand alone AVR, and make sure I save my work often.

Many thanks for the replies.

 

[RacerXC2C]

Update: Here's a note received from APC tech support after I double checked about putting a UPS behind a stand alone AVR -

"If you decide you want to use a UPS after all, you would not use the LE1200. The LE1200 is unable to be used with a UPS because for both the LE1200 and any UPS, the load needs to be plugged directly into each unit and each unit needs to be plugged directly into a wall outlet."

Also, I asked about a laser printer plugged into the LE1200 AVR and learned that:

"A laser printer can not be plugged into either the LE1200 or any UPS. A laser printer uses too much power. For a laser printer, you would use just a surge protector."

Hope that helps anyone else with similar questions.