Good inexpensive UPS that lasts for hours?

[JEDI]

i currently have a Cyberpower UPS 900VA thats suppose to last 100min.

a big storm took out power to my neighborhood for ~3hrs.

my ups barely lasted 30 min powering DSL modem, LCD monitor, and computer (AMD X2 5000).

I was looking at this:
APC SMART-UPS 1400 $91

Recommendations?

THX!

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Good...
inexpensive UPS that... lasts for hours?

...powering DSL modem, LCD monitor, and computer (AMD X2 5000).


Recommendations?

The phrase "lasts for hours" and "inexpensive", can't be used together when talking about UPS. :roll:

Let me try my hand at a little soothsaying...
You will adjust your uptime expectation downward... way down from "lasts for hours". :laugh:

 

[CalvinHobbes]

It's just not possible in that price range. When the manuf. makes those claims they are usually based on a small percentage of the max load supported. For example: "Lasts up to 30 minutes", really means 2 - 3 minutes with max load.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

heres a comparison

i have an APC 1300va 780 watt UPS (http://www.apc.com/resource/in...fm?base_sku=BX1300LCD) and with my system under 100% cpu load i'd get about 13-14 minutes of usage.
powering: my system in sig, 2 monitors, laptop & speakers.

doubt you'll get anything in the hours unless you're willing to spend big bucks

 

[RebateMonger]

APC's big RS series, when combined with a second optional battery, may give you life measured in hours. But the retail price of these components is at least $500.

Note, too, that the VA rating of a UPS is pretty much meaningless when it comes to determining the life of the battery. You need to know the voltage and amp-hour rating of the battery. Or, just weigh the thing. The heavier a UPS is, the longer it'll last.

 

[jgigz]

Originally posted by: LOUISSSSS
heres a comparison

i have an APC 1300va 780 watt UPS (http://www.apc.com/resource/in...fm?base_sku=BX1300LCD) and with my system under 100% cpu load i'd get about 13-14 minutes of usage.
powering: my system in sig, 2 monitors, laptop & speakers.

doubt you'll get anything in the hours unless you're willing to spend big bucks

That sounds about right. I tend to think that home based UPS's are only really useful incase you are working on something thats critical to have (work from home or something along those lines) and it will give you enough time to save what you're doing and power down safely, or keep your system up long enough for the power to kick back on.

But as others have said, you won't get anything in that price range with the performance you want without spending serious amounts of $$$.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: JEDI
Recommendations?

Buy the second UPS, and put your computer on it. Put your LCD monitor and DSL modem on first UPS. Don't plug in anything else to them. This will give you more uptime. 3 hours? No. 30min-1hour? Likely.

 

[JackMDS]

The way I see it.

Most reasonably prices UPS actually meant to keep the system going when thier is Brown outs. and or. to give One enough time to clean up what they do, save and switch off the systems until the power is back and stable again.

If there is 3 hours power outage and One can not give up the use of the computer for 3 hours, it means that One is doing something so important that a lot of money is going to be lost (or something comparable) if the computer does not keep working.

In such case there is No reason to be "Foolish" and save. It is rather easy to buy for few thousand $$ a good UPS system that will last for few hours.

http://www.securityhardwaredis...t-surt3000xlt-1tf3.htm

 

[DarkRogue]

^ Agree with that, if it's absolutely critical, you'll need to invest, otherwise use the few minutes you have to save and shut down.

A question though, if you're going to spend a few thousand on it, why not go for one of those home power generators? (I've only heard of the Honda one, although I wouldn't be surprised if there were others.) You could get a smaller UPS, power down when disaster strikes, and hook up the power generator for a few hours until power comes back.

 

[aceO07]

Buy a laptop. During a power outage, power down your computer and use your laptop for hours.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: aceO07
Buy a laptop. During a power outage, power down your computer and use your laptop for hours.

That makes eminent sense. :thumbsup:

 

[HannibalX]

Having a notebook is a must IMO.

I keep my cable modem and wireless router on UPS which will last about five hours.

I have a notebook that I use for around the house. I keep a "travel battery" in the CD bay and I get about 10 hours total.