UPS, which brand to get?

[WalkingDead]

I'm planning to get UPS for couple of workstations. So, which UPS brand makes a decent one? APC, Tripp Lite or Belkin?

What voltage should I get? 500VA or more? The computers it will be use with are either dual core Dell or Mac G5 or Mactel towers. All runs with dual LCD monitors.

Another thing that I'm looking for is the UPS software - it must runs in PC and Mac. The Belkin UPS software seems working alright but I hear APC has the best software. Heavn't try Tripp Lite yet?

Thanks in advance for any recommandation!

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Search this forum (GH) for UPS as much has been posted in the last 90days.

APC is the best, Belkin is the cheapest but OK I guess, TrippLite falls between the two.
I use two Belkins, A F6C-120 and a F6C-1500 both are OK but have NO bragging rights.
If I could afford it I'd go APC. Make sure you get one with AVR. Do not plug it into a surge
protector or plug a laser printer into a UPS.

It is accepted that APC uses better componets for building. It is accepted that the APCs
that have a cooling fan can offer longer battery support w/o overheating and shutting
down during battery operation. These units co$t but for those that want/need it maybe
worth it.


...Galvanized

 

[SE7ENGREEN]

APC and TrippLite are both good. OptiUPS is pretty decent as well but I'm not sure about Belkin. If I were to advise anyone to NOT use a product it would be Ultra.

 

[CraKaJaX]

I use an APC UPS, no complaints here

 

[spikespiegal]

Another suggestion is to avoid the fancy and underpowered desktop UPS's being sold by Best Buy, etc. I've had far higher rates of failure with these pieces of junk regardless of brand than anything else.

I stick with refurbUPS.com, because I'm insured of getting fresh batteries, and they have some killer deals.

I prefer APC.

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Do not plug it into a surge protector or plug a laser printer into a UPS.

The first part makes sense (since the UPS is already doing its own line regulation/monitoring) but why the bit about laser printers?

(Don't know much about UPS's, but am also interested in getting some.)

 

[Arcanedeath]

you can hook up laser printers to ups but when they startup they draw a tremdous amount of power so its a good idea that if you plug in a laser printer you have something that has alot more volt / amps that you would normaly need.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: cleverhandle

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Do not plug it into a surge protector or plug a laser printer into a UPS.

The first part makes sense (since the UPS is already doing its own line regulation/monitoring) but why the bit about laser printers?

(Don't know much about UPS's, but am also interested in getting some.)

Because APC reccomends against it and they should know. Other printer types would be OK. Arcandeath it is not OK because the Inrush Current is very high. My desk lamp dims
for a bit when my Samsung kicks in and my wiring is good.

...Galvanized

 

[Ike0069]

I own ann OptiUS, Belkin, and Cyberpower and all have served me well. The OptiUS is small and doesn't have AVR, but it's only running my Sat receiver/TiVO so that when the power flashes I don't have to wait 5 minutes for it to reboot. Works perfectly for that.

Both the others have AVR and have kept my PC's running great, so I'm not really sure how they can be any better. It just depends on how long they actually last.

As far as quality, I believe APC is the best, but also the most expensive. That's why I don't own one.

 

[MWink]

I highly recommend APC. Tripp Lite is highly respected but I've had a lot of trouble with them. Opti-UPS is nothing special but they're not horrible either. Belkin is junk, I would not even consider one. As for the software I'm not particularly impressed with anyones software. I guess APC is the best but not perfect. I know APC does have software for both PC and Mac. Tripp Lite's software has a pretty terrible interface IMO.

 

[dhkkim]

i have apc. it should be nice. it sometimes turns off by itself. :6

 

[WalkingDead]

thanks much guys! I will get the APC then. I narrowed down to the RS800, the LS700 or the CS500

It seems like the slightly more expensive RS800 is the better deal with AVR in both boost and trim. The LS700 has only boost AVR but I like its angled plug surfaces. The CS500 has no AVR but it's the cheapest. I would only conside the CS500 if I can't get enough fundings for all the machines.

 

[ultimatebob]

The RS800 and LS700 look like good choices. Avoid the cheaper APC models, because the quality simply isn't there. The batteries and transformers fail quickly, and the voltage goes all over the place while they run off the battery. Hell... They seem to cause more power problems than they prevent! If you end up having to "go cheap", you might as well just get a Belkin or a Tripp Lite.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Like I said if you have a good enough UPS you can hook a laser printer up to one w/out issue, I have a 1000VA delltec UPS thats 10+ years old and works fine even w/ a 19"CRT, HP Laserjet 4 Plus and an Athlon XP system all hooked up even when you start the printer it just doesn't phase it, if you have sufficently high VA rating on the UPS its fine to put a laser printer on a UPS, the reason they don't rec doing this is because when laser printers startup they draw a very large amount of power all at once and you need a much stronger ups just to have the laser printer on it than to run an inkjet or some other types of printers plus a PC read the specs and power requirments of your printer and UPS's before saying it can't be done, just because its not "recomended" doesn't mean its not possible.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: WalkingDead
thanks much guys! I will get the APC then. I narrowed down to the RS800, the LS700 or the CS500

It seems like the slightly more expensive RS800 is the better deal with AVR in both boost and trim. The LS700 has only boost AVR but I like its angled plug surfaces. The CS500 has no AVR but it's the cheapest. I would only conside the CS500 if I can't get enough fundings for all the machines.

The RS800 is the best unit of those listed, however it does NOT have AVR trim (only boost). The specs on their website are wrong. If you want AVR trim you have to get the RS1000 or RS1200. Also due to the larger size of the RS1000 it has much better cooling which should give longer component life and longer battery life. If you can afford it, I would highly recommend going with the RS1000 over the RS800.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Like I said if you have a good enough UPS you can hook a laser printer up to one w/out issue, I have a 1000VA delltec UPS thats 10+ years old and works fine even w/ a 19"CRT, HP Laserjet 4 Plus and an Athlon XP system all hooked up even when you start the printer it just doesn't phase it, if you have sufficently high VA rating on the UPS its fine to put a laser printer on a UPS, the reason they don't rec doing this is because when laser printers startup they draw a very large amount of power all at once and you need a much stronger ups just to have the laser printer on it than to run an inkjet or some other types of printers plus a PC read the specs and power requirments of your printer and UPS's before saying it can't be done, just because its not "recomended" doesn't mean its not possible.

You're extremely lucky (and have extremely poor grammar).
You NEVER run laser printers from a UPS.

 

[mooseracing]

Yea on most it will void the warranty too. Only place on mine it recommends pluging it into is the surge side, not the battery side


I vote for APC we just purchased 10 of the 1500VA models with the plug in for extra battery modules. Best deal i found was 180 shipped but they are very nice quality. Unsure about the software as we are just running PC's. I like the cooling fan option.

 

[RaymondY]

The best UPS to get is Liebert, however their units are even more pricey than APC units. My second choice would be APC.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Luck has nothing to do with it.... if you read the power requirments for the laser printer even when it turns on it does not draw enough juice to exceed the capasity of the UPS so it does not cause an issue. This setup has worked for around 10 years the batteries were replaced in the UPS after 5 years and everything is still working fine to this day you can continue to belive you "NEVER" put a laser printer on a UPS but if you read the specs, know what you are doing, and plan for the proper strength UPS you'll be fine.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: Phil

You're extremely lucky (and have extremely poor grammar skills).
You should NEVER run laser printers from a UPS.

 

[WalkingDead]

Thanks much for the help everyone!

 

[SparkyJJO]

APC or Cyberpower are the ones I'd trust, I've seen some bad reviews about Tripp Lite and Belkin seems to make cheaper stuff.

I want to get a UPS here at some point. My bro has a UPS and he plugs just his comp and monitor into the battery backup plugs, everything else goes to the non-battery sockets.

 

[WalkingDead]

MWink,

So, the RS900 doesn't have full PVR either right? I may just get the LS700 then. The RS1000 is a little over our budget (...cheapass public school). I'm trying to keep it $100 or so for each computer station. I think I will get the RS1000 for my home computer instead. Thanks for the help.

 

[Robor]

IMO it's APC > * You plug them in and replace the battery when the unit starts beeping after a few years.

I had 3 Cyberpower UPS's fail just after a year and never had luck with Tripplite. I don't think I've had an APC die on me - just battery replacements.

Oh, here's a place to buy a refurb if you don't mind that. I've had good luck with them... http://www.refurbups.com

 

[FP]

Newb question...

I am looking at getting an APC unit as well but have never purchased one before. The RS800 is rated to 540W.

My PSU is rated to 480W by itself.

I realize the PSU doesn't draw 480W most of the time (if ever) but I was wondering how should I determine how large of a UPS I should get?

I will be plugging my computer (480W PSU), my monitor (2405FPW) and (if possible) my subwoofer into it.