What can I plug into my UPS?

Forums › Off topic › What can I plug into my UPS?

Bananabob

512 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 119

ID Verified

Trusted

#289251 22-Aug-2021 19:37

I have a UPS that is rated as 260 Watts / 420VA

How do I find out what I can plug into it?

It has 3 outlets on the back.

I have 4 devices that I want to plug into it

An ONT

A Router

A Raspberry Pi 3

2 USB Hard drives that have their own power.

Can I use a plug board to plug in the 2 USB drives and RPi to the third outlet?

1 | 2

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2765047 22-Aug-2021 19:40

Just dont get one with a surge protector built into the powerstrip, they seem to have issues with some UPSs, and the UPS will have the same or better protection on its input anyway.

Richard rich.ms

MadEngineer

4591 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2570

Trusted

#2765051 22-Aug-2021 19:57

^ Bahahah oh so true. Hilarious when see someone’s PDU has a breaker and they’ve gone through all the efforts of installing a UPS only to have that breaker trip as the ups switches over :D

You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

Oblivian

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#2765127 22-Aug-2021 21:45

Had that at a customer last year after a power outtage.

UPS's all pretty much didn't stand up due period. Come power back time, 1 building level had some kit that was still out. Much cabinet searching. Oh look. Breaker (fused) go pop. Soz team, bypassed. Hope for the best, call ya sparky.

Oblivian

7345 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2117

ID Verified

#2765131 22-Aug-2021 21:49

Anyway.

Note down all the power consumption of the devices. Throw it in something like this

https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/Volt_to_Watt_Calculator.html

260 is on the lower side?. But might make it.

Just keep in mind, the more load, the shorter the offline power. The smaller ones are more mastered to allow soft-shutdown or emergency coverage for say a router. Load it up too much and you might only get 4-6mins uptime.

https://www.apc.com/shop/nz/en/products/APC-Smart-UPS-SC-420VA-230V/P-SC420I suggests max of about 6 at 230 :)

30mins @ 80w

howsitgoing

41 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2765143 22-Aug-2021 22:26

I've been trying this and other backup power devices out recently, and would add this - some devices take a long time to start, my ONT did, and some won't at all even if the rated power draw is low.

Also if you want to gauge backup time, then using "battery Ah" seems to be a good proxy.

UPS's typically use SLA batteries while lithium batteries seem poised to take over the market.

So far I've proven my car can power my landline, indefinitely :)

PolicyGuy

1820 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1769

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2765192 23-Aug-2021 08:06

If you have only an ONT and a router ("modem") to protect, you can't go past these guys: https://www.constantvigil.com/product/sentry-integrated/

My only relationship with this firm is as a very satisfied customer.
I have one of their products protecting my ONT & (Spark) router, as well as a separate 600VA UPS protecting my office. The Sentry has been still up and keeping my Wi-Fi going for quite a few minutes after the main UPS has shut down my computer. Thoroughly recommended

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

dt

1152 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 371
Inactive user

#2765244 23-Aug-2021 09:21

Oblivian:

Had that at a customer last year after a power outtage.

UPS's all pretty much didn't stand up due period. Come power back time, 1 building level had some kit that was still out. Much cabinet searching. Oh look. Breaker (fused) go pop. Soz team, bypassed. Hope for the best, call ya sparky.

I've had the unfortunate experience of exactly this and what made it worse is that the someone had the genius idea to mount this cabinet 10m+ up on a wall, we had to hire a scissor lift just to bypass the PDU.. sigh

Bananabob

512 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 119

ID Verified

Trusted

#2765300 23-Aug-2021 10:59

Oblivian:

Anyway.

Note down all the power consumption of the devices. Throw it in something like this

https://www.rapidtables.com/calc/electric/Volt_to_Watt_Calculator.html

260 is on the lower side?. But might make it.

Just keep in mind, the more load, the shorter the offline power. The smaller ones are more mastered to allow soft-shutdown or emergency coverage for say a router. Load it up too much and you might only get 4-6mins uptime.

https://www.apc.com/shop/nz/en/products/APC-Smart-UPS-SC-420VA-230V/P-SC420I suggests max of about 6 at 230 :)

30mins @ 80w

Thanks for this reply. I was really only looking to be able to shut down the RPi via ssh from my laptop, so something like 6 minutes would be fine. I guess I now have to work out the power each device uses. Cheers!!!

01EG

612 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2765353 23-Aug-2021 12:17

I do not want to start a new topic will try my luck here. What UPS you will advice/recommend for the following devices

2 x office desktops, will say average power(?)

1 x Synology NAS 4 HDDs

1 x Qnap NAS 4 HDDs

1 x wifi printer

and a few accessories

Thanks

Nate001

677 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 465

#2765380 23-Aug-2021 12:54

01EG:

I do not want to start a new topic will try my luck here. What UPS you will advice/recommend for the following devices

2 x office desktops, will say average power(?)

1 x Synology NAS 4 HDDs

1 x Qnap NAS 4 HDDs

1 x wifi printer

and a few accessories

Thanks

Do you want a UPS to enable safe shutdown of devices, or keep power on through an outage?

Going by listing a wifi printer I'm thinking the later...

Sideface

9649 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15596

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2765381 23-Aug-2021 12:58

01EG:

I do not want to start a new topic will try my luck here. What UPS you will advice/recommend for the following devices

2 x office desktops, will say average power(?)

1 x Synology NAS 4 HDDs

1 x Qnap NAS 4 HDDs

1 x wifi printer

and a few accessories

Thanks

No one device will do all this.

First, forget the printer - it uses way too much power, even for a high end UPS.

I have a similar setup to yours in my home office.

I use 4 UPS units :

1 x APC 1500VA unit for two desktops - will run for 30 minutes plus

2 x APC 700VA - one for each NAS, to allow a graceful shutdown.

1 x Constant Vigil Sentry Lite unit for the ONT and router - will run for 6 hours

Sideface

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

01EG

612 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2765392 23-Aug-2021 13:14

Sideface:

No one device will do all this.

First, forget the printer - it uses way too much power, even for a high end UPS.

I have a similar setup to yours in my home office.

I use 4 UPS units :

1 x APC 1500VA unit for two desktops - will run for 30 minutes plus

2 x APC 700VA - one for each NAS, to allow a graceful shutdown.

1 x Constant Vigil Sentry Lite unit for the ONT and router - will run for 6 hours

Oh, ok, will research the prices. The only problem is I cant remove the printer, have to think, my is Epson WF-3520

01EG

612 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 36

#2765393 23-Aug-2021 13:15

Nate001:

Do you want a UPS to enable safe shutdown of devices?

Yes of course

MarkM536

321 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 146

#2765416 23-Aug-2021 13:46

PolicyGuy:

If you have only an ONT and a router ("modem") to protect, you can't go past these guys: https://www.constantvigil.com/product/sentry-integrated/

This right here.

I have a standard APC UPS on my CCTV NVR.

It runs fine, but it's inefficient to run something off battery like a normal UPS does.

Inside these UPS's it takes 12v from a battery, inverts it to 240v and then my CCTV power supply takes it back down to 48v DC. Huge loss of energy in the process.

For the case of all your loads (Rasp Pi, ONT, Router); they all take low voltage DC. You'll get far better efficiency with a UPS device that stores and delivers DC.

^my 2 cents.

Bananabob

512 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 119

ID Verified

Trusted

#2765443 23-Aug-2021 14:06

MarkM536:

For the case of all your loads (Rasp Pi, ONT, Router); they all take low voltage DC. You'll get far better efficiency with a UPS device that stores and delivers DC.

I already have a Smartups 420 from APC.

1 | 2