UPS (Battery) - Anyone use CyberPower CP1500PFC or similar models?

[destrekor]

So a good deal yet again this year at Amazon for one, but... it's such a significant price difference in comparison to the pure sinewave model APC offers (which has a much larger battery), that I don't know if I can trust the build quality/longevity.

Anyone have one for a few years who can attest to its capabilities? I've gone without a UPS forever, but I do very much want one and, if I can avoid the price of entry for APC, I'd be very happy.

 

[Kaido]

I prefer APC's, but I do have a bunch of Cyberpower UPS's installed & they do work fine.

 

[balloonshark]

I have the 1350VA model and it died during Hurricane Sandy. We had a really bad ice storm that damaged pretty much every tree in my area. The power was kicking on and off in rapid succession and so did the UPS. It killed the UPS.

Warranty replacement was painless but communication was sparse. The replacement model which I believe was new has been working ever since. It still had the plastic on the glossy bit and screen so I assume it was new. The box was plain though.

$140 is a killer price on that unit. APC is probably the best if you have the money and it is essential. I went with cyberpower because it was much cheaper than a similar APC unit.

Edit: Next time power fluctuates rapidly I will unplug the unit.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

How often does your power go out? Seriously, I've NEVER been tempted to get a UPS based simply on how often our power goes out. Maybe it's based on where you live that you are more prone to it?

I would worry much more about having a proper surge protector to make sure my hardware doesn't crap out, long before I worry about saving whatever I am currently doing. Most programs (like MS ones) now have autosave features anyway.

 

[Demo24]

I have 2 of these units in varying sizes. One I've had for about 2-3 years now, the other about 1. Both have worked just fine for their applications (one for PC, other for TV/PS4). No issues dealing with power outages/fluctuations. I'd definitely get another and don't feel the need to pay the APC tax these days.

 

[destrekor]

How often does your power go out? Seriously, I've NEVER been tempted to get a UPS based simply on how often our power goes out. Maybe it's based on where you live that you are more prone to it?

I would worry much more about having a proper surge protector to make sure my hardware doesn't crap out, long before I worry about saving whatever I am currently doing. Most programs (like MS ones) now have autosave features anyway.

There are more programs than the MS Office suite, and a lot do not have auto-recovery.

But more importantly, it is not about saving documents in the event of a power outage, it's more about preventing corrupted data due to sudden loss of power during writes, as well as feeding constant clean power.

Power outages aren't frequent, but I have noticed the briefest of brownouts will throw my computer off but many other things remain on.

Just nice to have the option to ensure all devices can be turned off gracefully. Will be very beneficial when I add a NAS that functions as a media server to many things, including as the DVR recording engine if Silicon Dust completes their HDHomeRun DVR software (with protected channels included).

 

[smitbret]

I've had the 1350VA model on my server for about 4 years and it works fine. Power regulation isn't much of an issue where I live but it does the job just fine for the 3 times a year the power blinks off or goes out.

This model is traditionally about $95 at CostCo.

 

[Bacstar]

I use APC on all my expensive electronics. I have two UPS Pro 1300's on my computer and for home entertainment center for the last 4 years. In the past, we've had power outages due to weather at least once every couple seasons since I moved up here, better safe than sorry.

 

[littlebitstrouds]

The only UPS we trust with our equipment is APC. I've had every single UPC from other makers fail on me, when feeding it demanding equipment. To understand the scope I'm talking: 2-3 times a week our production UPS's are taken into new environments, with no idea how clean the power coming from the buildings/trucks are. They have various power draws: either 2 - 350w devices or an entire table full of gear, running 24/7. We typically use the 1500w APC and never load it above 1/2 load.

I can't stress the importance of spending the extra on the one thing providing power to all of your gear. Why save $20-$30 when it's power runs through all of your gear?

 

[destrekor]

The only UPS we trust with our equipment is APC. I've had every single UPC from other makers fail on me, when feeding it demanding equipment. To understand the scope I'm talking: 2-3 times a week our production UPS's are taken into new environments, with no idea how clean the power coming from the buildings/trucks are. They have various power draws: either 2 - 350w devices or an entire table full of gear, running 24/7. We typically use the 1500w APC and never load it above 1/2 load.

I can't stress the importance of spending the extra on the one thing providing power to all of your gear. Why save $20-$30 when it's power runs through all of your gear?

If you are working with professional or mission critical equipment, I certainly agree.

But for home use, it was more than saving $20-30... it was saving over $200. That's significant, and worthwhile - there isn't anything I absolutely must continue to do while the power is out, and it stays in one place, on a clean power feed. Fine by me.

Oh, and yes, I got the CP1500PFC model. Hasn't been tested with a power or brown out as far as I know.

 

[bigboxes]

I only buy true sine wave UPS devices. APC isn't all that. I have had more than one APC unit fail. I use a pair of that CyberPower model that you are inquiring about, one for my main rig and monitor and one for the file server and all the networking peripherals. I get the VA1500 models cuz I like the run time to last more than a few minutes under load. With the CP1500PFC I usually have 30 minutes before I have to shut things down. That's normally enough for brown outs and normal power failures. Also, CyberPower's widget is much more useful than that Power Chute crap that is bundled with APC units. The biggest thing is to replace your batteries at 3 years of usage before you start having issues. I have an APC unit in our bedroom that has bright lit up buttons that I cannot turn off in software. Needless to say we have a towel over the top of the unit.

 

[destrekor]

I only buy true sine wave UPS devices. APC isn't all that. I have had more than one APC unit fail. I use a pair of that CyberPower model that you are inquiring about, one for my main rig and monitor and one for the file server and all the networking peripherals. I get the VA1500 models cuz I like the run time to last more than a few minutes under load. With the CP1500PFC I usually have 30 minutes before I have to shut things down. That's normally enough for brown outs and normal power failures. Also, CyberPower's widget is much more useful than that Power Chute crap that is bundled with APC units. The biggest thing is to replace your batteries at 3 years of usage before you start having issues. I have an APC unit in our bedroom that has bright lit up buttons that I cannot turn off in software. Needless to say we have a towel over the top of the unit.

APC has true sine-wave devices compatible with PFC PSUs. It just so happens they cost about $400 for 1500VA. Granted, there is more to it than just the price, but it's not all just about quality either: the APC simply has a more massive lead-acid battery, partly why it is that much more expensive. It can be worth it if run time at max capacity is a big concern. You'll only get a few minutes if you are running anywhere near the 1500VA on the Cyberpower model.

 

[bruceb]

APC is good for most use. But I have had them fail internally where the unit would not recognize a newly bought and installed replacement battery. It just keeps chirping "replace battery" ... This is a LS700 unit that takes the RBC17 battery. I checked with APC and the date code on the battery indicates that it was a fresh one. Found a new on with the same capacity (APC 700VA) on sale for $79.99 at Staples (normal retail is $99.99) which is still a good price.

 

[bigboxes]

My current APC unit is a PFC model. It's a 1000VA. My CyberPower UPSes run for 30+ minutes fully loaded. No reason to disparage them. I recently replaced the battery in he APC unit after it leaked all over the place.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I'm still running my first apc bx1500lcd unit which is now on its 3rd battery. APC has consistently been a great performer for me and I currently run two of them, one for my pc and another for my laser printer and tv.