UPS Recommendations

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JZM

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#227510 9-Jan-2018 19:45

Hey,

What do you guys like in-terms of UPS recommendations. I am looking to use this in a business building as a contingency incase there is a power outage (They seem to be happening a lot).

What I need is 2x small slimlineish UPS to fit into a cupboard where the ONT box has been installed to keep that alive and a server cabinet lacking space

1x one that does not have to be slimline to power another cabinet

1x to run a computer, printer and eftpos

freakngeek

356 posts

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#1933153 9-Jan-2018 20:23

Online UPS's are my preferred UPS, as they basically run like an Inverter off battery(s) and in a powercut they are all ready running, no switching at all,
Mains on charges the battery
Not cheap though, but like everything in life you get what you pay for.

Offline UPS works other way round, switches to an Inverter (often not Pure signwave) when mains power is cut
There is a small delay in this happening (a few ms)
These start cheap and go up

What ever power you need, get a UPS at least twice the size, as at full power draw battery will drain in no time.

Aredwood

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#1933164 9-Jan-2018 20:44

What is the intended purpose you are trying to achieve? A full backup power system to allow the business to keep trading even if the power is off for hours? Or just enough backup time to complete the current sale and gracefully shutdown the computers and servers?

Sideface

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#1933173 9-Jan-2018 20:50

JZM:

<snip>

1x to run a computer, printer and eftpos

<<< DO NOT >>> attempt to run a printer with a UPS -

even the biggest UPS will be destroyed or rapidly discharged by the very high current drawn by a printer.

Sideface

JZM

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#1933284 10-Jan-2018 06:07

To allow to keep trading if possible again its going to be down to price

Regards,

Jess McKenzie

JZM Web Development

Jase2985

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#1933305 10-Jan-2018 07:29

my 750kva ups will allo my PC to run for about 20 minutes. i have it running for about 10 then shut it down so i can keep the broadband connection up for then nex 4-5 hours so i can use phones etc.

you will need a huge UPS if you you want to carry on running in an outage. and you will unlikely be able to use the likes of a laser printer.

you will be looking at a couple of grand at least to cover a 2h power outage.

jnimmo

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#1933353 10-Jan-2018 08:53

Bit hard to know from that level of detail i.e. server cabinet but don't know what is running in them

You could put in a Tesla Powerwall https://www.tesla.com/en_NZ/powerwall and power the whole office

For the ONT these units are really nice http://www.constantvigil.com/shop,shop,2,1,001.html

For everything else-

http://www.apc.com/shop/nz/en/categories/power/uninterruptible-power-supply-ups-/network-and-server/smart-ups/_/N-1h89yke

timmmay

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#1935376 10-Jan-2018 10:25

You need to specify exactly what equipment you want to power, and for how long. That will give you capacity, and you can start looking at options for UPS / generator. Can you keep selling if the power's off, the lights are off, air conditioning is off, etc?

This can get expensive if you want long runtime or high capacity.

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

JZM

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#1935381 10-Jan-2018 10:31

Thanks for your answers :)

I have 4 switches/router in 1 cabinet along with a modem and 1 security system set up that I would like to keep alive.

In another cabinet its just a switch

Then I would need something for the main desk 1x computer and eftpos

Ideally I would like it to be a good amount of time - also possibly need to look at generator too

Regards,

Jess McKenzie

JZM Web Development

MurrayM

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#1935391 10-Jan-2018 10:47

As a side-note, about 3 years ago I won a little APC UPS at an Ingram Micro Showcase (not sure of the exact model, but probably one of their smaller ones, a bit bigger than a shoebox). I've never used it, it's still sitting in the box. Should the battery still be ok or would it now be no good?

k1w1k1d

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#1935392 10-Jan-2018 10:47

My biased opinion for business or commercial situations.

The UPS is to provide power to selected equipment for a short time during a power failure to allow a safe controlled shutdown, or to allow time for the backup generator to come online.

Trying to run a business on a UPS is crazy!

Feel free to agree or disagree.

jnimmo

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#1935437 10-Jan-2018 11:46

Do you have room for a 2U rackmount UPS? That would be preferable as I'm assuming the batteries are much easier to replace

I'd imagine something like this https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSAPC2447060/APC-Smart-UPS-C-1000VA-2U-Rack-Mountable or https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/UPSAPC0231/APC-SUA1000RMI1U-1000VA-Rackmount-1U-Smart-UPS would be OK if you're just running switches and a router - but you need to calculate the load then look at the runtime charts to decide on the capacity. Again, no idea if they're 4x 48 port PoE switches etc or just some 24 port non-PoE.

Main desk computer and EFTPOS maybe a Smart-UPS 1000VA or 1500VA sometimes you can pick these up on TradeMe for an OK price and replace their batteries if hasn't been done recently

You mentioned considering a generator, that would be a huge investment and I'd certainly be investigating the Powerwall set and forget type options before looking at generators.

Really depends a lot on how long you want to run stuff for too. Would an hour be reasonable?

Aredwood

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#1935929 11-Jan-2018 02:59

Guessing this is for some sort of retail business. Could sales be rung up using a receipt book and calculator, if you can keep the EFTPOS working? (sometimes simple can be the best)

If the POS computer is essential, could the software be run on a tablet? As if the essential devices can be consolidated to just 12V devices, you can then run them via large AGM batteries, sized for a whole days use. And if the power cut lasts for multiple days, the owner can take the batteries home for overnight charging and bring them back the next day. A multi day backup system without the noise and hassle of a generator. Just make sure the owner has a high enough current battery charger at home to reliably charge the batteries overnight.

Also would a power cut also affect competitor businesses? Meaning if your client is able to continue trading, would he also pickup business that would normally go to the competitor's? Imagine being the only cafe or restaurant operating in Misson Bay during that 3 day power cut caused by the fire at the Penrose substation in Auckland.

webwat

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#1941427 17-Jan-2018 11:39

Sideface:

JZM:

<snip>

1x to run a computer, printer and eftpos

<<< DO NOT >>> attempt to run a printer with a UPS -

even the biggest UPS will be destroyed or rapidly discharged by the very high current drawn by a printer.

Oh yes, do NOT run a laser printer or any high-load devices on a UPS, its just a waste and kills both your UPS and batteries faster, its already enough drama replacing batteries every 3 or 4 years. A 500VA UPS is designed for probably around 400W of total load but the battery won't last more than a few minutes at max load so its basically intended to have computer connected to the USB output so the computer can be setup to automatically shut down when the powers out for more than a minute or two. You can get more expensive UPS that can take extra batteries so that you can size the batteries for greater run time.

It sounds like what you are looking for is a UPS that will keep the computer running while computer power automatically switches to your diesel generator, a more complicated system than you had envisaged.

Time to find a new industry!

fearandloathing

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#1941447 17-Jan-2018 12:04

Would you not be better off with a laptop and ‘mobile’ based eftpos machine?