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Thread ID: 23178 2002-08-09 06:31:00 UPS Heather P (163) Press F1
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69643 2002-08-09 06:31:00 Any recommendations for an Uninterruptable power supply to run a couple of computers?

Have lost the power briefly TWICE this afternoon - whilst actually doing some work - and once last night.

My daughter's spitting because she hadn't saved for a while. This is becoming tedious...
Heather P (163)
69644 2002-08-09 06:46:00 They're pretty much commodity items now . I've got one "name" brand one which I picked up as a non-worker --- it had caught fire internally -- so high price doesn't guarantee perfection . A primitive test for quality is the weight . Some will not have a transformer, which will cut the price considerably, but is probably "just as good" . I see that most inverters don't have 50Hz transformers now . They seem to work as well .

Its just for the CPU and monitor -- especially don't hang a laser printer on the UPS .

A 300-500 VA should give you enough time to shutdown . Some do give you software, so the shutdown can be automatic . But don't pay lots more for that capability (it usually need to have access to a serial port, and some extra hardware in the UPS) unless you're running servers unattended .
Graham L (2)
69645 2002-08-09 07:09:00 if you have a powerfull pc and exspecialy a big crt monitor you will need a 1000va ups or better. my own (1000va) gives around 10-15 min run time, but if the monitor is switched off it dosn't have enough power to turn it back on.

ther is also 2 main types. i forget the terms but one is very basic, just a simple switch from power to battery when the power fails. the other has full voltage regulation, which constantly maintains constant voltage output regardless of input. obviously once the input voltage gets to low it switches to battery. this is vital for those in bad areas that suffer from brownouts and overvoltage.
tweak'e (174)
69646 2002-08-09 07:20:00 Maybe i'm missing the point of something... but if you had an UPS set up with auto shutdown, then what would be the point of running the monitor through it anyway???????? Chris Wilson (431)
69647 2002-08-09 07:29:00 1st computer: 17" monitor, Celeron (600 or thereabouts?)
2nd computer: 17" monitor, AMD Duron 800MHz processor

Dick Smith have a 500VA UPS
here ( . dse . co . nz/cgi-bin/dse . storefront/3d535ee903e48d5e2740c0a87f9906ed/Product/View/M7618" target="_blank">www . dse . co . nz) for $429 incl GST

Any comments?

Is there a better place to look for one?

Currently running surge suppressors on the meter board and power sockets but it doesn't work with full failures .

Being near the top of a hill there can also be the odd lightening that gets close . (Closest was a tree about 20 m from the house . A couple of years back it caught a transformer down the road - with a rather loud BANG)
Heather P (163)
69648 2002-08-09 07:31:00 One day I'll master that link button!!

DSE UPS (www.dse.co.nz)
Heather P (163)
69649 2002-08-09 07:33:00 Other way round, Chris. If you are running a server, unattended, you need the auto shutdown capability. It just shuts evertyhg down in an orderly fashion. If you have a look at /etc/inittab, you will see the provision for powerdown and powerup.

But someone using a computer interactively could be doing anything, so just needs the continuous alarm, and can then decide what to save and where. So the auto shutdown might be harmful.
Graham L (2)
69650 2002-08-09 07:36:00 Have a look at Jaycar ... or Altronics. Seems to be roughly a $ a VA anywhere. There are specials fairly often. See what "UPS site:nz" gets you on google. Graham L (2)
69651 2002-08-09 07:39:00 power cut normally don't last to long so most of the time i work straight through the power cut, hence the need for monitor to stay working.(o yes i'm rural and our power is better than in town, go fiqure)

heather, guess what i have ;-) one of those with extra battary pack(which makes it 1000va) and pc connection. downside is the pc connection is serial and the standard software sucks. have a look at mastec.co.nz i think they still wholesale those.
tweak'e (174)
69652 2002-08-09 07:40:00 With our occasionally flaky power - although it's been pretty good in the last few years - just the odd series like today - I have definitely learnt to SAVE as I go. If leaving the computer to, say, go get a coffee, then work is saved before going downstairs.

If I'm inside then an audible alarm and 5 minutes power would be fine, if I'm outside it'll probably crash - but there should be no unsaved work in progress.
Heather P (163)
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