Looking at UPS's

[enon8727]

So I'm kind of entertaining the idea of purchasing a semi-inexpensive uninterruptable power supply. It's just going to be powering my rig (below), my 20" monitor, a future 15" or 17" monitor, my external hard drive and possibly my printer...so I'm thinkin if I were to go through with this it'd need to be about 650-700 watts, i guess. So for starters, what is a VA rating? And secondly, is there any brands that you suggest to get or forget...any suggestions at all, would be helpful, thanks

 

[pkme2]

Here's a good link to check out.
http://www.psuinquisitor.com/

jonnyGuru does cover the PSUs well. I got a Seasonic S-12 600W on his recommendations.

 

[Jeff7]

What's your price range?

This Cyberpower UPS should do the trick easily. You'd probably actually be ok with one of their lower models, like the CP900AVR.

APC is also recommended here, but I don't have a lot of experience with them. I have one small UPS made by APC, but it just dutifully sits there, providing backup power for my networking gear - modem, router, and switch.


Only thing I don't like about the new UPSes I've bought, and this includes both Cyberpower and APC - they lack a Mute switch on the unit. The software allows you to mute the beeping, but it doesn't do a damn bit of good if the UPS isn't connected to a PC.
For the APC UPS, I just popped it open, found the little beeper on the circuit board, and did a little desoldering. The thing is now permanently mute.
But this isn't something recommended for everyone. Power supply guts are generally things that most consumers should never be fiddling around with.


I have a 1250AVR powering:
21" monitor
AthlonXP 2400 @2.1GHz
1.25GB PC3200
7 x 7200rpm hard drives
Radeon 9800 Pro

Run time as estimated by the software is about 15 minutes. I've honestly never tested that though. The power doesn't go out often here, and if it does, it's only for a few seconds, and the thing's performed perfectly then. And I've set the software to power down the computer after 5 minutes of outage.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

just be sure you don't screw up like me and get one that does not connect to the computer via USB (STUPID mistake ! i know..)

 

[corkyg]

My favorite at the moment is the Tripplite 1000 va model at Costco for $99.95. It can be placed horizontally or vertically, is black, and has a great digital LCD readout. re current voltage.

UPS

I have added a picture - the LCD can be rotated for horizontal position. It has a smart USB link to computer, and the Costco price is great.

My UPS

 

[wpshooter]

Personally I like Belkins' UPSs.

I like the way their shutdown and control software works better than other brands.

Of course, if it was on a vital application/server, I would want a fairly expensive APC brand UPS.

And like the other poster said, get one with a USB connection. I think there may be some that have both USB and serial interfaces.

P. S. - Make sure you get some overkill, you will be surprised how quickly a short power outage will pull one of these down.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: enon8727
So I'm kind of entertaining the idea of purchasing a semi-inexpensive uninterruptable power supply. It's just going to be powering my rig (below), my 20" monitor, a future 15" or 17" monitor, my external hard drive and possibly my printer

You should not power a printer with the battery backed up output of a UPS. Specially if it is a laser printer (too power hungry). You should only power components that you need while you shut down your PC.

so I'm thinkin if I were to go through with this it'd need to be about 650-700 watts, i guess. So for starters, what is a VA rating?

The VA rating is the "Apparent Power". It is equal to RMS voltage multiplied by RMS current. For a resistive load, the apparent power is equal to real power. For a typical; load, apparent power is always higher than the real power. Real power is measured in Watts (W). Apparent power is measured in VA.

And secondly, is there any brands that you suggest to get or forget...any suggestions at all, would be helpful, thanks

APC

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: corkyg
My favorite at the moment is the Tripplite 1000 kva model at Costco for $99.95. It can be placed horizontally or vertically, is black, and has a great digital LCD readout. re current voltage.

UPS

I have added a picture - the LCD can be rotated for horizontal position. It has a smart USB link to computer, and the Costco price is great.

My UPS

1000KVA? Wow, power your entire home for a week or so, for only $100. Not bad at all.

That's a pretty nice UPS. My first UPS was a Tripplite. Bought it for $212 (after taxes) at Best Buy. 675VA model, several years ago. Batteries just eventually wore out from old age, and the Surge Suppressor light got really dim. It had a pretty good run though.

 

[corkyg]

Ha, ha! Sorry - VA - excuse the errant finger.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, UPS is not to play games on when the AC power fails. It's to run the computer and monitor just long enough for you to save that Novel you are working on or have it shut itself down if you are not there. Don't hook up the printer. Jim

 

[pkme2]

I use a Cyberpower 1250 AVR and a UPS 650.
https://direct.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=3000235

The Cyberpower has the Automatic Voltage Regular, which is great for power fluctuation (gray power areas) and included with backup UPS system.

Protection during brown outs and protection against power spikes. Old suburbs mean old power lines and power outages are common.
The power companies will not insure or replace your equipment in case of damage due to surges or other outages.

Surge protectors do not protect against certain power spikes. Can you take a chance?

 

[wolfman11]

I have this one, seems to be wroking out nicely.

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=270620

 

[enon8727]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions...so far I'm pretty interested in the tripplite 1200VA. I really like that it has the lcd screen right on the front, but i guess it'll display the information that most of the software that's bundled with other ups's would display, so idk yet...i did the thing on tripplite.com where it tells you how many watts you'll be needing for a ups by inputing all the devices you plan to use. The thing that I'm running into though is that I'd like one with a networking cable input and output so the internet won't shut down on me if a power failure were to occur but that obviously means i'd have to plug in my router and modem to the ups...the problem is my router and modem are on the other side of the room by the coax jack, so idk what i'll do yet...anymore suggestions?

 

[SparkyJJO]

I recommend APC because of their reputation and warranty. One thing tho is to not connect your printer to the battery backup. I'm not sure on all the details why, but APC suggests against it, probably due to extra pull on the battery which could be unecessary.

Router/cable modem across the room.... Extension cables FTW

I have an APC UPS and I don't even use the software, no need to I used basic windows power management, and when I plug the UPS into my USB port it comes up under there like a laptop battery would. So I set it to shut down the computer after a certain amount of time. No extra software to clog up the system

 

[enon8727]

Thanks for all the suggestions, but i have one more question. I was looking for a UPS with a network connection to it so it wouldn't kick me offline if the power went out...but then i just realized that as long as i have the cable modem and router plugged in to the UPS, it would still keep me online...isn't that right? So what then would be the need for a network connection on a UPS?

 

[WackyDan]

If your house loses power, it's a safe bet the cable will be out too. - Each node, usually divided by neighborhood is on the same power your house is on.

The only near sure bet for that is to go DSL.

 

[Aluvus]

Originally posted by: enon8727
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions...so far I'm pretty interested in the tripplite 1200VA. I really like that it has the lcd screen right on the front, but i guess it'll display the information that most of the software that's bundled with other ups's would display, so idk yet...i did the thing on tripplite.com where it tells you how many watts you'll be needing for a ups by inputing all the devices you plan to use. The thing that I'm running into though is that I'd like one with a networking cable input and output so the internet won't shut down on me if a power failure were to occur but that obviously means i'd have to plug in my router and modem to the ups...the problem is my router and modem are on the other side of the room by the coax jack, so idk what i'll do yet...anymore suggestions?

The ones with networking cable connections just prevent a surge along the cable from killing the ethernet adapter on your computer. They have no impact on whether your internet access stays up when the power cuts off. Just putting the modem and router on a UPS is all you can do.

 

[Twinpeaksr]

Cable Internet may be still working. I have had the whole neighborhood out and still can get online. Great to match the weather (usual cause outside of construction). Keep the router and modem powered, can't hurt, they don't draw much.

I am currently running a Compaq R3000 XR 3000VA UPS. Works well, keeps my systems up for about 45 minutes. weights about 92lbs though and is extremely loud. Looking to go with an APC, I have used many of thier products through the years, never had a problem with them and a $25,000 lifetime warrenty is not bad either!

 

[Redfoot]

Twinpeaksr, I am willing to bet that your Compaq is probably a rebranded APC Smart UPS 3000. Unfortunately, the UPS's of that size normally require pretty large fans to cool the inverters, batteries, etc. And the weight will not likely lower either, again due to the batteries (where are our damn fuel cells !!!).

I wholeheartedly recommend APC products. I have a SU1400, as well as my mom and brother. Not one has let me down yet, and they are admittedly past the battery replacement date :^O.

Good luck.

-Redfoot

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: Twinpeaksr
Cable Internet may be still working. I have had the whole neighborhood out and still can get online. Great to match the weather (usual cause outside of construction). Keep the router and modem powered, can't hurt, they don't draw much.

I am currently running a Compaq R3000 XR 3000VA UPS. Works well, keeps my systems up for about 45 minutes. weights about 92lbs though and is extremely loud. Looking to go with an APC, I have used many of thier products through the years, never had a problem with them and a $25,000 lifetime warrenty is not bad either!

Then you are probably in what they call a split node. Your neighborhood may be large enough to be fed by two or more different cable hardline/fiber feeds, and power supplies (cable system).

 

[CreepieDeCrapper]

Originally posted by: enon8727
the problem is my router and modem are on the other side of the room by the coax jack, so idk what i'll do yet...anymore suggestions?

i have a similar situation... my cable modem and router are on opposite sides of the room and i have a very long network cable strung up and around my wall into my pc

i'm not interested in providing up-time to my cable modem or router in the event of a power outage, just my pc... however, i DO want to protect my pc against any line spikes/power surges... is it theoretically possible for a surge to come through my coax (or power line) cable at the "non-protected" location and travel through my cat5 across the room and into my pc?

keep in mind the cable modem and router, although not on a UPS, will at least be plugged in via a standard surge protector

ps - wireless is not an option i hate it!

 

[imported_goku]

Personally I think you should get an APC UPS, it's really the cream of the crop when it comes to power conversion and other power utility stuff. I don't know of another company that does a better job than APC when it comes to UPSs. Cheap UPSs aren't worth it if you care about your equipment.