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Thread ID: 46917	2004-07-09 12:07:00	UPS Battery Back UP's	Murray P (44)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
251114	2004-07-09 12:07:00	Some help from you power genius's would be appreciated . Looking at UPS units to take 1 PC (275W PSU, AMD 1800+, 3 x HDD, CDRW, 1 x 90mm fan, 1 x 80mm fan), inkjet printer, scanner, adsl router, 4 port switch and soon a P111 500 or thereabouts (2 x HDD, CD, floppy) . Usage is work by day (mostly) and PF1, etc, by night . I've put an order for this APC UPS ES 500 ( . apc . com/resource/include/techspec_index . cfm" target="_blank">www . apc . com) uninterruptable power supply . It has 6 standard 3 pin outlets which is handy for being able to plug my bits and pieces straight in and for The order doesn't go through until Monday and now due to looking at too many UPS units without having the knowledge to sort the wheat from the chaff, I'm having second thoughts . The terms I'm getting tangled up with are: Line filtering (is this generic), Power conditioning and AVR (automatic voltage regulation) . Are these terms separate or have they been mushed up and spat back out by the marketing droids? There is this one APC UPS CS 500 USB-Serial ( . apc . com/resource/include/techspec_index . cfm?base_sku=BK500EI" target="_blank">www . apc . com) has "filtering" but only 4 320 C13 outlets . The outlets are a pain I could get around, but 4 outlets, could I/should I piggy back say, the switch and router (being non data and minimal draw) or is this a complete no no? It costs a little less the 500 ES I ordered but will have to get new leads/adaptors . APC UPS RS 800 ( . apc . com/resource/include/techspec_index . cfm" target="_blank">www . apc . com), this little baby has 4 320 C13 outlets and 2 IEC jumpers, what are IEC jumpers that they need battery backup, could not see anything about them on its PDF data sheet . It has filtering and the wonderful AVR, what's the advantage . Its a cool $730- that's more than 2 1/2 times the cost of the one I ordered with some add ins for leads plus the 4 x outlet issue again . Do I need the fancy extra's, are they, in fact, that fancy and considering the 500 ES will save my app's when it shuts down, hmm, around I go again?? Just a little info on the power supply here . Although I don't think I've had any major power issues, too much different to the rest of the country anyway, I have had the odd inexplicable reboot . This phenomenon happens a bit more to the family PC, a few room and a different circuit away . There are some decidedly dodgey lighting circuits in this place, some of the bulbs dont last more than a few weeks or months at most (these tend to be in the area where the family PC is) . There is a hodge podge of TPS, metal conduit with VIR, and Pyrotenax circuits in this place . Thankfully, I think, my gear is run off TPS extended from one of those metal wall mounted double outlets that is fed in turn by another outlet which is fed by 9mm (3/8) Pyrotenax . So, what do you think, should I stop worrying and keep the Warehouse/DSE power strip with the pop out surge protector, does the unit look to be ok for my equipment or should I bite the bullet a bit more? Cheers Murray P PS . I have looked at other UPS brands like the Belkin & Sola but decided on the APC .	Murray P (44)
251115	2004-07-09 12:25:00	If that is a 500W UPS Murray it will be overloaded with two PC's on it . It will be ok for one PC but don't expect it to run for any length of time . I have APC 420 and although it will hold up for about 10 minutes, I usually shut everything down just as fast as I can if the power goes off . Old Faithful is on a separate APC 250 . I doubt that you would get much more thsn 4-5 minutes from a 500W UPS with two modern heavily specced PCs and monitors on it, and you need the monitors to be able to shut down properly . I'd go for two 500s or one of about 1200W capacity for reliable protection, remembering that battery capacity slowly reduces over time and you don't want to get caught short . Cheers Billy 8-{)	Billy T (70)
251116	2004-07-09 12:32:00	Interesting, and timely. Our power here has been somewhat unpredictable in bad weather, quite a few quick small powercuts, enough to make the PC reboot, and longer cuts of about 10m mins. I am also looking for an APC, to provide a steady flow of voltage, protect from surges and have the ability to provide enough 240V to carry out a controlled shut down if needed. Will watch the thread with interest :)	Jester (13)
251117	2004-07-09 12:42:00	Cripes, I should have made clear, the second PC wont have a monitor attached, just the box, I'll browse to it from this one. It will be used as data file server (not apps) and firewall/router when I eventually get cable broadband. It could be a P200 I guess but I have the chance at a Dell P111 or Celeron 600 for not much. The one I'm looking at according to the website I'm ordering from has auto save of data when shutdown is imminent, can't sse that with the others but, the spec's seem to use different jargon which perhaps means much the same thing but I can't figure out the tech stuff enough to weed it out, if you get my meaning. But for a saftey margin you would suggest up spec'ing the wattage (VA). Or perhaps shifting the non data devices on pure power protection device without the battery backup. Ta for the reply BTW, I was hoping you were still lurking. Cheers Murray P	Murray P (44)
251118	2004-07-09 13:03:00	> Interesting, and timely. Our power here has been > somewhat unpredictable in bad weather, quite a few > quick small powercuts, enough to make the PC reboot, > and longer cuts of about 10m mins. I am also looking > for an APC, to provide a steady flow of voltage, > protect from surges and have the ability to provide > enough 240V to carry out a controlled shut down if > needed. > > Will watch the thread with interest :) Ditto Insofar as I can tell, you can't beat APC	andrew93 (249)
251119	2004-07-09 14:07:00	I have just been delving into the nether regions of my UPS (APC CS 500) It seems to handle most outages with plenty of time for a graceful exit. Due to a fault it developed recently I was contemplating a warranty claim (14 months to go) but the thought of shipping it back to the USA and waiting interminably for it's return didn't appeal. I took it apart and found a 12 v DPDT relay was failing to switch the output neutral leads to normal AC supply. When I pulled it out, I was horrified to find the relay was of appalling quality and had burnt one contact right away. The other side contact set was unmarked (phase), but when I tried to fire 3 amps at 12 v through it , it began to smoke and arc. The "no name" brand was hurled out, and an Omron equivalent (DSE p/no. P 8012) was painlessly installed to effect a cure. $12.95 beats the freight of around $70 one way, and an unknown delay. If anyone has one of these units, it might pay to check for the presence of one of these trash relays, so YOU can pick the time to replace it. I imagine they would not have used these relays very long A picture of the offending relay, HERE (sal.neoburn.net) if you think you may have one. The low grade relay has a white case, the Omron replacement may have either a black or clear case. The surrounding thunderstorms here strongly influenced my decision not to wait through a "UPS-less" stage. R2	R2x1 (4628)
251120	2004-07-09 14:38:00	Interesting R2 . Do you mind if I have a few minutes of your time to answer a few simple questions . It wont take long and it's for a worthy cause . Good . That UPS is amongst the ones I was looking at but I decided on the 500 ES due to the 2 additional outlets and that they are standard 3 pin sockets not the computer lead type . Was there much cost involved in getting your leads set up with the 320 C13 type so that you could plug everything in? How did you get around the lack of outlets (4 instead of 6) or is that all you require with your set up? Leading on to, what sort of loading are you putting on it and is the 500 adequate for your needs or do you adapt in some way? Apart from the dodgey relay, have there been any other issues with the unit? Did it come with auto backup/document save before shutdown software, is it capable of this feature? None of my business but, did you purchase it through a parallel import dealer? Just wondering because you should not have to pay freight to get it repaired nor wait an unreasonable time for it to be returned to you . The retailer should handle all warrantee and RTM issues . These things are also supposed to have a comprehensive warrantee and insurance cover against data lose if the unit fails, is that just hype with the reality being somewhat different? Never believe anyone asking to ask you a few simple questions BTW ;) Cheers Murray P	Murray P (44)
251121	2004-07-09 22:29:00	>Looking at UPS units to take 1 PC (275W PSU, AMD 1800+, 3 x HDD, CDRW, 1 x 90mm fan, 1 x 80mm fan), inkjet printer, scanner, what type of screen? if crt then a 500VA will be to small. you really need a 1000VA or more for everything your planning on connecting to it. a have 1000VA (equivalent) ruuning a 19" crt 1.4ghz t'bird 2 hd's 1 cdrw and run time on the batterys is only 10 minutes or so.	tweak'e (174)
251122	2004-07-09 22:50:00	I use a Micromaster 400 VA UPS, for my P4 and 2 x LCD screens. I get around 5 minutes of backup time on test, adequate for an orderly save and power down. Also the hub and router are powered from it. The outlet number is a non-issue, I use a power strip fed from it. Just replaced the 3 pin plug with an IEC one on the power strip and plug it in the UPS output socket. Mine has "buck and boost" AVR and appears to act as a reasonable line filter.	godfather (25)
251123	2004-07-09 23:30:00	I have an APC Back-UPS RS500. Can't remember why I chose it now, but I did quite a bit of research at the time... Without scruffling around the back of my desk, I think I have this attached - one desktop, a laptop, adsl router, LCD monitor, Laserjet printer. I may be wrong about the laptop. The APC utility estimates I have 8 mins of battery power to do the shut down (which it does automatically if the idiot on the other end of the keyboard is out of the office). I think. I hope. I have had it for over a year and it has done a graceful shut down once without loss of any data or fried bits. And the keyboard idiot was out of the office at the time. John	John H (8)
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