UPS Question

[tungtung]

Wanted to know how do you keep those UPS in tip top shape?
I have 3 units (2 APC and 1 Belkin), and so far only one still works properly.
They are about 5 years old now. The one APC seems to need a battery replacement, which from what I heard is kinda expected since most people say those battery only last about 3 to 5 years anyhow.

However the one Belkin just borked out after 2 years. During all the time I used it, we almost never had any power outtages, however anything plugged into the "battery backup" plug will shut down after a few minutes. So most likely it just bites the dust on me.

In any case I'm currently looking to get another UPS for my tower. The PSU is 750 Watt, and I got an LCD plugged into it. From what I gather around a 1200 VA ups should work just fine, am I correct on this?

Also how do you maintain UPS in good order? Do their battery have to be cycled (fully charged and drained) every so often to ensure good working order (like other rechargeables)?

Thanks for all the help ... by the way I live in a condo with the power plugs all wired to 15 amp circuit breakers, will this work fine with the said 1200 VA UPS ? I've read that some big power UPS need 18 amp circuits and stuff.

PS: My old ones were 550 and 350 VA units and both were used with my old PC with only 300 Watt PSU.

 

[Zepper]

Well, Belkin power products are crap so it's unlikely you got quality batteries in there. Replace them with Yuasa or Panasonic batteries and you should get longer service out of them. You should also replace any MOVs in the Belkin at the same time as they go bad too (one may have gone bad in the short condition which they do occasionally and helped drain your batteries.

I would also recommend getting a Kill A Watt meter (newegg carries them now - usually plenty on eBay and elsewhere too). You may have a 750W PSU but I doubt that you're actually using even half of it. The Kill A Watt will tell you what you're actually drawing from the AC thus making it easy to specify a UPS .
. The gelled lead-acid batteries for UPSes are usually designed to withstand constant charging, but probably drawing them down to the second alarm (first alarm level means I'm getting low, second alarm level means "Hey, I really mean it!") on occasion and giving a full charge. Most rechargeable batteries respond well to occasional full discharge/charge cycles.

.bh.

 

[Nocturnal]

I have two BR1500 APC UPSes that I love. There really isn't much maintenance that I'm aware of. I have one for home which is backing up my 700W Seasonic PSU rig with much more room to spare. I haven't really heard great things about Belkin's line of UPSes to be honest.

 

[Zepper]

1200VA is the battery capacity - doesn't take anywhere near that much to keep the battery charged or to run your system when you're not on the battery. So on the AC side the most you'll be drawing is what it takes to run what equipment you have plugged into it plus what it takes to keep the batteries charged up.

.bh.