UPS question for my PC

[Oyeve]

Hi all. I recently moved to an apt in Brooklyn and FINALLY got around to setting up my computer system. Anyway, I was using it all day yesterday with no problems. I shut down for the night and turned off the powerstrip to save electricity. Anyway, my wife called me a little while ago saying the power went out for a couple of seconds and the phone needs to be reset, clock et..al. So, now I am thinking if I had my PC one it would have shut down so I am now looking into getting a UPS. My questions are as follows.

1. I dont want to spend an arm and a leg on a UPS so I am looking at $100 or less.
2. I am on a very tight budget as I have spent nearly 10k on this move so I am being very conservative with electricity as I have to pay for it now! Do UPSes suck up a lot of juice just to run? I will only be hooking up my main PC to it as it is the most expensive component in my system.
3. Any recommendations on which UPS to get?

Thanks.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Search this forum for UPS. You might want to look in the archieves. Many good threads
will be found.

Remember, the display will need to be seen if you are working during an outage.

Read the FAQ at http://www.apc.com. Then buy what you need at YOUR price point.
I use two Belkins and have NEVER had an issue with either, one is 4 years old and just
got new batteries.

NOTE: UPS threads are just as bad as PSU threads for the poop throwing that goes on.


...Galvanized

 

[corkyg]

If you can find notes on UPS's by MS Dawn - they are excellent and cover all of the technical angles. I use a 1000 VA UPS, and it does include the monitor. But - if there is a power outtage, I don't work - just need enough time to shut things down gracefully. 30 minutes usually more than enough.

 

[Oyeve]

Thanks Galvanized and CorkyG! I think I found the perfect one on that site. Price is very reasonable also. Just need to know if its a juice sucker.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Once the batteries are charge...the UPS' current draw is very low.

I put my hand on mine and it feels like a 5W bulb is on inside. The FAQ at APC will cover that.

Yes, do look up MS Dawn's posts in this forum on UPS. She is a bright gal.


...Galvanized

 

[Amaroque]

I really like APC. I've used them for years on all my machines. The APC BR800 is probably the best for under $100. I also like the APC 650BB.

My power is crappy here, and the APC's always catch any overvoltage, undervoltage, or electrical noise.

My 2¢ from personal experience.

 

[Oyeve]

Hmm, they are somewhat of a juice sucker. The APC 500VA sucks about 1100btu/h. Not extreme but not so great. Oh well, safety first eh? Thanks guys.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

A UPS is NOT a juice sucker. Waste heat is <10W.


...Galvanized

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
A UPS is NOT a juice sucker. Waste heat is <10W.


...Galvanized

Correct, almost all of the UPS's I've tested have pulled less than 10W when idle. At the moment I would recommend this one if you want something really cheap and decent or this one if you want excellent protection for a very reasonable price.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
The APC 500VA sucks about 1100btu/h.

Where did you get that figure from?
1000 BTU/h is approximately 293W.
You cannot expect a UPS to power your PC and monitor and not draw any power off the wall!

The 300W figure in the spec for that unit is the maximum real power it can deliver (300W and 500VA are both parameters related to the output capability of the UPS). The power that the UPS consumes will be slightly more than the power that it delivers. The difference goes to charge the battery and make up the power loss inside the UPS since no equipment has a 100% efficiency.

 

[Old Hippie]

Yes, do look up MS Dawn's posts in this forum on UPS. She is a bright gal.

I'll say. I learn a lot from her posts.