UPS Help!!

[Fun Guy]

Getting into the home stretch with my new PC build and looking at UPSes. It seems there are two classes:

(1) a $150 to $200 class
(2) a $350 to $500 class

A new company has taken over the low-price class - CyberPower - and they seem to rule it (with the exception of one Tripp-Lite and one APC model). Lots of reviews, most of them positive, but a few damning negative reviews. The units seem to be small and light. Here is a comparison of them.

I am guessing that the way to go is to bite the bullet and spend $400 or more - that is, if I really want my stuff protected. APC is the leader, but Tripp-Lite is there also. There are very few reviews of these. They seem to be big and heavy. Here is a comparison of the top models.

Also, after reading some reviews, there seems to be an issue with "sine wave" compatibility - what does that mean? One of the reviews says that an improper style ("non" pure sine wave??) fried 3 motherboards and some other components. What is he talking about?

My setup (the stuff that will be plugged into the UPS)
CPU: i7-4790K
Boot & OS Disc: Crucial MX100
Storage Disc: WD 6TB WD6001FZWX
Video: Onboard CPU video now, low-power video card later
Monitor #1: Dell 30" U3014
Monitors 2&3: Dell 20" 2007FP (x 2)
Printer #1: Pantum P2502W
Printer #2: HP Envy 4500
Scanner: Canon CanoScan LiDE 110

Any help is appreciated!

 

[VirtualLarry]

Also, after reading some reviews, there seems to be an issue with "sine wave" compatibility - what does that mean? One of the reviews says that an improper style ("non" pure sine wave??) fried 3 motherboards and some other components. What is he talking about?

Most of the cheaper UPSes, use triangle-shaped waveforms, or stepped squares. Modern PSUs are APFC, which really want an input that's a true sine wave, so UPSes are especially harsh on them.

For an example:
I'm using a CyberPower 550VA / 330W UPS. I first swapped from my Q9300 rig with an Antec VP-450 (NON-APFC), to a different rig with an Antec EarthWatts 500W (Delta OEM, APFC). Whenever the UPS would want to switch to battery, the PC would abruptly shut off or reboot. The problem was that the EarthWatts 500W was incompatible with stepped sine UPSes.

So I invested in some different PSUs, some EVGA 500B 500W Bronze PSUs. Those, thankfully, seem to mostly handle dealing with the stepped sine wave.

In either case, though, nothing "downstream" from the PSU got fried. If someone had something like that happen to their rig, then they must have been using a really poor-quality PSU to start with, with poor filtering and regulation. The worst that should happen, is that the PSU will shutdown due to its internal safety features (like my Antec EarthWatts 500W did).

 

[Fun Guy]

Anyone else have input??

 

[Red Squirrel]

I personally never had issues with the square sine wave (pretty much all <$200 UPSes) but maybe I've gotten lucky. The wave form of most UPSes is pretty ugly though, ex:



Though I think what's even more important is the transition from AC power to inverter. I've seen some instances where it's delayed enough that computers notice it.

I have a Tripp Lite inverter-charger and it does my whole server room, the waveform is horrendous but it does work. Eventually I want to switch to a 48v dual conversion setup. But I'm looking at a couple grand for that.

But if you are willing to spend the cash I would go with pure sine wave as then you don't have to worry about what may or may not work with it.

 

[rchunter]

You might want to keep a lookout for cheap used ones on ebay. Just last month I bought a APC SMT1500 for $55 shipped (without batteries). It is like 4 years old, the batteries died and the guy just didn't want to replace them for some reason. It's really like a brand new unit, not a scratch on it.

BTW OP. I don't see any real need to put your scanner and printers on a UPS. I'd just stick them on a separate surge protector. I wouldn't put all 3 of your monitors on it either. Just your main monitor so you'll be able to see what you're doing when your shutting down.

 

[WilliamM2]

I'd recommend a used unit as well. I had a Cyberpower 1200VA unit, it only lasted a couple years, and would power my tower for about 20 minutes tops. I have been running an APC SUA750 that I got refurbished from Refurbups. It puts out pure sine wave, and will run the system for an hour. http://www.refurbups.com/Refurbished-UPS-Systems/APC-Smart-UPS-Tower-Specials

I run the monitors and networking equipment off a seperate APC 450AT (600VA from 1991). The more expensive APC's seem to run forever, just replace the batteries every 3 or 4 years.