Buying a UPS battery backup
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Buying a UPS battery backup
Does anyone use a UPS been looking at getting an APC. But not sure if they are power hungry to leave on all the time. Any advice?
Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
UPS' have an Energy Star spec as of Aug. 2012. It boils down to requiring ~97% efficiency. So, look for the energy Star label if you are a US consumer. I have a couple of the APC Back-UPS from several years ago. Upside is they are fanless. It looks like the new models got rid of what was an awesome feature - master/slave switching. I have my PC in the master outlet and secondary peripherals (like my external audio amp) in the slave outlet, so it turns on/off with the PC sleeping/waking up.
Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
I have had very good exprience with 4x CyberPower Intelligent LCD CP1500AVRLCD Uninterrupted Power Supply, APC is also a very good brand, only own one but been great also.
Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
Thinking of getting the APC Back-UPS Pro 550. Didn't realise they were quite that efficient. ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
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Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
This is anecdotal but I haven't had good luck with the cheaper APC units like the Back-UPS Pro 1500VA. We had a couple of these around the offices to keep some important PCs running in case of power outages. We had more issues with the UPS than with the power. I feel like one of them would randomly reboot the PC and I think another just died. Not the battery but the system itself. We have a couple of the larger rack-mount APC units and those have been running great for many years. We also have an old Smart-UPS 2200 that has probably been in service for 15 years now and is still rock solid.
I've been very happy with my CyberPower that I run at home. I used to have it on my PC but I've found that mostly unnecessary so it's protecting my server and internet equipment which is more important in the case of any power issues.
I've been very happy with my CyberPower that I run at home. I used to have it on my PC but I've found that mostly unnecessary so it's protecting my server and internet equipment which is more important in the case of any power issues.
Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
There are a couple of factors to consider:BillyBuerger wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:10 am... I haven't had good luck with the cheaper...
... one of them would randomly reboot the PC and I think another just died.
1. What's the output waveform from the UPS?
Many UPS deliver a saw-tooth instead of pure sine. That's good for efficiency and production cost, but some PSUs can't handle it well.
2. How does the UPS operate?
There are two main types of operation:
a) (Most common.) While the main power is okay it's delivered straight to the output, after some filtering.
The batteries are kept charged, but not used to feed the output until needed.
When the UPS switch from mains to battery operation there's some disturbance on the output that must be handled by the PSU.
b) Mains feed the batteries, battery power always feed the output. Less efficient and more expensive, but also most stable output. Also need more cooling.
My own experience with UPS (from work, since I don't need it at home) is that most/all have noisy cooling fans running constantly...
Re: Buying a UPS battery backup
Thanks for the advice, will probably purchase online so the fan noise which is a concern as it will be under my desk will be guess work. Not sure what is considered to be quiet. Most of the ones I have been looking at say they have mains filtering built in.