[help] UPS recommendation

[slyphnier]

hello everyone

i need help here, since i can't find wattmeter tools anywhere near my city, so i don't know how much my PC taking power from outlet, i tried the watt simulator i find on a site, but i believe professional/expert in here could give me more detailed info/recommendation

i need UPS for my PC... here the detailed regarding my PC :
DELL XPS730
using Dell 1000w PSU
intel quad Q9550
Nvidia 9800GT
Asus Xonar D2X
4 WD HDD SATA (500+750+500+750)
2 DVD-combo drive (LG+Pioneer)
seems there 3 case fan + 1 processor i think
10+colored Led all over the case

and what my PC equipment supplier give me for the UPS is : APC BR1100CI-AS or APC BR1500i
but again my supplier can make sure which one is better for me, so i hope people in here can help me

if possible i prefer to take APC BR1100CI-AS since the price different is kinda big
APC BR1000i price is $200 while APC BR1500i is $345

thanks alot for the help! ?(´?`)?

 

[Harvey]

ASCII, and you shall RECEIVII.

P3 Kill A Watt Electricity Load Meter and Monitor
$19.99
SKU: N82E16882715001

 

[slyphnier]

thanks for the reply harvey ('?')
i was looking for that kind tools, but somehow i can't find it anywhere in my city
the best things i can find is to calculate Amp not Watt and i even don't know how to use that tools (´;?;`)

 

[Modelworks]

To get watts use Volts x Amps = Watts.
It isn't 100% accurate but its close enough to get a rough idea.

So 120volts x 5 amps = 600 watts.

Almost any meter for about $20 can calculate amps.
Does require someone to be careful though with the first method.

You take something like an extension cord. Cut one wire and that routes through the meter. Plug whatever you like into the cord and measure the amps.

Or you get the clamp meter that you place with the wire inside the clamp and measure that way.

 

[slyphnier]

modelworks thanks for the guide
i might try it, hope i won't making any mistake (´?`)

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: slyphnier

thanks for the reply harvey ('?')
i was looking for that kind tools, but somehow i can't find it anywhere in my city
the best things i can find is to calculate Amp not Watt and i even don't know how to use that tools (´;?;`)

YW.

I posted that link because you can buy it from newegg online so you wouldn't hvae to find it in your city.

Modelworks is right that power = volts x amps, and there's nothing inaccurate about it. The reason it doesn't give you an exact answer for actual power usage is due to other factors in AC, including phase, the nature of the load and other issues affecting the power factor.

Power factor
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The power factor of an AC electric power system is defined as the ratio of the real power flowing to the load to the apparent power , and is a number between 0 and 1 (frequently expressed as a percentage, e.g. 0.5 pf = 50% pf). Real power is the capacity of the circuit for performing work in a particular time. Apparent power is the product of the current and voltage of the circuit. Due to energy stored in the load and returned to the source, or due to a non-linear load that distorts the wave shape of the current drawn from the source, the apparent power can be greater than the real power.
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I'm an electroninc design engineer, and a number of my engineer friends have spoken very highly of the Kill A Watt product. If you need what it does, for $20 + shipping, it's probably a good investment for no other reason than the amount of time you'll save running around your city looking for something else that would probably be more expensive.

 

[RebateMonger]

A Kill-a-Watt meter is definitely the way to go.

Note, though, that the new "high-effieciency" power supplies can consume high power during startup. This can cause a UPS to shut down from "overload". This has nothing to do with the Amp-Hour capacity of the unit (which dictates how long the UPS will supply power), but is a function of the Volt-Amp rating. As I understand it, in theory, a 1000 Watt power supply MIGHT draw close to 1000 Watts in the first moments of startup, even though the steady-state power might only be 200 Watts.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: slyphnier
and what my PC equipment supplier give me for the UPS is : APC BR1100CI-AS or APC BR1500i
but again my supplier can make sure which one is better for me, so i hope people in here can help me

Are you located in a country that uses 220-240v power?
I ask because both the UPS you listed are not rated for 110-120v.
The Kill-O-Watt only functions for 110-120v outlets.

 

[RebateMonger]

n.m.

 

[slyphnier]

thanks for the reply anyone

yes i am living in country that uses 220-240v, there should be a similar tools that have some function like kill-o-watt... but i can't find it anywhere in my city
and also thanks RebateMonger for noticing me high-effieciency power supplies, i will keep it on my mind

hope someone that have experience with UPS can give me more information which UPS capacity i should use

thanks before

 

[alaricljs]

Gross estimate... 15 minutes uptime on the 1100va. If you think you need more than that, get the 1500.