Recommend a UPS for UFB modem, router, switch

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timmmay

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#130795 28-Sep-2013 10:45

I'm after a UPS for my UFB setup. The primary aim is to have internet and communications during a power outage or a natural disaster. The UPS will only power the UFB modem (or whatever it's called), router (Fritzbox probably), and perhaps a gigabit switch if I end up putting one in. Ideally it will have eight hours of run-time, so I can turn it on and off as needed. I don't know the power consumption of any of those devices so it'd be difficult for me to calculate.

I'd use it with my phone other other portable devices, not a PC. I have a separate recharging facility for those devices - a high capacity battery designed for photography, not a generator.

This will all be located in my ceiling cavity initially, which gets quite warm in summer. I realise will shorten the lifespan of all electronic equipment and batteries, I will consider how to keep things a little cooler.

Initial candidates:
- Digitus 1000VA line interactive.
- CyberPower 850VA LI.
- Perhaps an APC unit as they're meant to be good quality, but they're significantly more expensive.

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#904093 28-Sep-2013 11:49

My home security system is monitored via the ADSL line as we have no phone line now.

The alarm company installed a UPS and clever box of tricks that re-boots the modem after power out and so on.

Would that be the kind of thing you had in mind? I do not know how long it would power things though - maybe you need a Honda genny not a UPS!!

timmmay

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#904113 28-Sep-2013 12:14

Not sure I need anything too fancy, just a UPS. I can manually reboot if required. No idea of power usage, but I could for example plug my power meter into one of my routers to get a real world measure. That wouldn't help with the fiber modem thingy though as I don't have one yet. Anyone know real world power consumption?

Mostly looking for recommendation of UPS brand and capacity.

Jemahl

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#904173 28-Sep-2013 14:40

Normally a UPS is used for disaster prevention and to allow a computer or server to be powered down safely when you lose mains connection to prevent data loss. As such they are rated in minutes rather than hours, and come with auto-shutdown software for when the batteries are critically low etc. Basically, they're not designed to be a long-term power supply.

Having said that, getting a suitably big one and only using a small amount of low power devices on it will extend up-time significantly or just install additional battery banks up to the capacity you need - but at a rather hefty cost. SLA batteries aren't cheap.

If you want 8 hours of run-time I would suggest a generator hooked up to a small UPS, otherwise settle for maybe 1-2 hours out of a mid-size UPS.

timmmay

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#904184 28-Sep-2013 15:17

UPS's are rated for minutes with computer levels of power consumption, little devices should last quite a bit longer.

If I can figure out power usage of the devices I can work out the UPS requirements. I could always just put UFB in then measure the power usage... that's probably the best option.

Geektastic

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#904189 28-Sep-2013 15:22

I have a UPS in my office for the Mac etc.

It does not interface with Mac software well at all - the Mac knows it is there but any functions (such as charge levels etc) are not available.

I have noticed that if the Mac is off, then the peripherals powered by the UPS do indeed last a long time. The Mac runs around 12 minutes on it.

It cost perhaps $250.

webwat

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#904191 28-Sep-2013 15:41

Geektastic: I have a UPS in my office for the Mac etc.

It does not interface with Mac software well at all - the Mac knows it is there but any functions (such as charge levels etc) are not available.

I have noticed that if the Mac is off, then the peripherals powered by the UPS do indeed last a long time. The Mac runs around 12 minutes on it.

It cost perhaps $250.

I have an APC BackUPS 500 that powers ADSL modem, router, IP phone, and 1 PC. Don't know how long it lasts with the PC off, but that all depends on battery condition anyway. If theres a surge or other power fluctuation it simply switches to battery, unlike the more expensive ones that are more complicated. For just the fibre ONT and router/switch I would say the cheaper 300VA model would be plenty, and probably has the same battery.

Time to find a new industry!

chevrolux

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#904208 28-Sep-2013 16:22

For the home situation I would just get a Dynamix UPS. The only gotcha with Dynamix is their batteries are a bit rubbish. They last for a couple of years and then stop holding charge. Then, naturally, the power goes out there you go. Can all be avoided by just chucking some new batteries in every year or so. The replacement batteries are quite cheap so not really a problem.
In terms of VA per dollar Dynamix is top.
At home I have a Dynamix 1200VA UPS with, DV120, VMware Host, 24-port GigE switch, ATA and 3xPoE injectors running off it and the 'load' meter only has one out of four bars lit.
I have never actually tryed running it down flat but I have had it running off battery for at least an hour and it barely drained the battery.

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timmmay

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#904227 28-Sep-2013 17:07

chevrolux: For the home situation I would just get a Dynamix UPS. The only gotcha with Dynamix is their batteries are a bit rubbish. They last for a couple of years and then stop holding charge. Then, naturally, the power goes out there you go. Can all be avoided by just chucking some new batteries in every year or so. The replacement batteries are quite cheap so not really a problem.
In terms of VA per dollar Dynamix is top.
At home I have a Dynamix 1200VA UPS with, DV120, VMware Host, 24-port GigE switch, ATA and 3xPoE injectors running off it and the 'load' meter only has one out of four bars lit.
I have never actually tryed running it down flat but I have had it running off battery for at least an hour and it barely drained the battery.

They're a bit more expensive than the Digitus - 1000VA line interactive is $200, $180 for non-line-interactive. A Digitus to compare is $136 for line interactive.

Does line interactive matter for this application? I don't really need to protect the devices, I just want the battery backup.

Can I just add another battery in parallel to increase capacity? That could overload the charging circuit though. I probably will have to replace more often due to the heat, but the burglar alarm up there seems fine, it's only been there a year though.

mrphil

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#904233 28-Sep-2013 17:14

i have a Liebert 1500VA for my marine fish tank and it works great

richms

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#904239 28-Sep-2013 17:22

If you are going to add batteries in parallel on a UPS, check that it is actually isolated from the mains. Most of the cheap ones have the battery sitting somewhere around half mains voltage, so it is not safe to take any connection from it to outside the plastic case of the UPS.

Richard rich.ms

timmmay

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#904251 28-Sep-2013 17:51

Thanks for the tip. I probably wouldn't bother, too much hassle.

richms

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#904253 28-Sep-2013 17:55

Also watch the standby power usage of the UPS's, old APC ones are still going because they are bulletproof, but suck down 25-30w of power before you even add a load to them. That will be noticible on the power bill, and a newer better standby load one will pay for itself in a short time.

Richard rich.ms

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#904256 28-Sep-2013 18:03

chevrolux: For the home situation I would just get a Dynamix UPS. The only gotcha with Dynamix is their batteries are a bit rubbish. They last for a couple of years and then stop holding charge. Then, naturally, the power goes out there you go. Can all be avoided by just chucking some new batteries in every year or so. The replacement batteries are quite cheap so not really a problem.
In terms of VA per dollar Dynamix is top.
At home I have a Dynamix 1200VA UPS with, DV120, VMware Host, 24-port GigE switch, ATA and 3xPoE injectors running off it and the 'load' meter only has one out of four bars lit.
I have never actually tryed running it down flat but I have had it running off battery for at least an hour and it barely drained the battery.

Yes mine is Dynamix and seems fine. We get a lot of 10 second powercuts here in the Wairarapa because the electricity network is worse than Cambodias. (not joking - I spend 4 weeks a year in that part of the world at least and almost never have any power cuts!)

Used to drive me mad several times a week until I got the UPS.

timmmay

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#904309 28-Sep-2013 20:28

Interesting about the standby current usage, thanks Rich. I'll try to look at that.

I'm a believer in buying quality. If Dynamix is rubbish and is likely to give me problems I'll avoid them, but if they're ok then I'll get one as it's the cheapest. I'd rather spend $250 now than spent $130 now then $250 later.

Jemahl

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#904482 29-Sep-2013 13:44

timmmay: UPS's are rated for minutes with computer levels of power consumption, little devices should last quite a bit longer.

Yup, that's essentially what I said.

But again, you are going to be using a piece of equipment for a purpose other than what is was intended for, so it's going to be difficult for anyone to provide a useful recommendation.

I guess the value for money thing is to grab a good mid-range UPS and just see what sort of mileage you get. If it isn't enough for you, it can easily be on-sold while the batteries are still at their peak.

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