UPS Options/Suggestions

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DravidDavid

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Topic # 114406 19-Feb-2013 01:08

Hey guys,

I'm moving to a semi rural area where the electricity sucks just as hard as the 1.5Mb/s sync does in the area. I don't want my 2000 dollar gaming machine to go poof because of a surge or something like that.

I am a 3D animator/sound designer. I get angry enough when an application crashes and I need to start from scratch. Loosing the drive would be horrible, so I'd like a UPS that will beep when there is no more power to be had so I can save and shut down.
I also would not mind running my little Netgear and phone off it while the power is out. I have an 850W power supply in my computer, I would be running an LED monitor, router, phone and that is about it off it.

What kind of UPS am I looking at? A 200 dollar one or a 600 dollar one? Any recommendations.

Requirements:

- It needs to last more than 5 minutes.
- It needs to be VERY LOUD when the power goes off.

Money is not really an issue, but I don't want to spend mega bucks on something I don't need.

Cheers!
David

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naggyman

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Reply # 765531 19-Feb-2013 07:14

Most UPS' do beep when loosing power. Our cheapo one purchased from Dick Smith lasts for about 1 hour and 30 minutes whitest powering a router. We never actually tested how long it ran when it was connected to a desktop, too late now!

I have heard people saying here on Geekzone that their UPS wakes them up during a power cut, I personally haven't had a powercut overnight - so I wouldn't know.

Morgan French-Stagg

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cyril7

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Reply # 765545 19-Feb-2013 07:58

You can configure most UPS's via USB or RS232 to shut your system down once it gets to X% of battery, for your application a 600-750VA unit should be fine, APC is a good brand.

If you are really paranoid about this then an online unit rather than the more common standby offline unit provides superiour protection from surges, but cost way more.

Here would be a suitable offline/standby unit, http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=9343611

And here an online http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=391884

Cyril

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Reply # 765552 19-Feb-2013 08:09

And remember, UPS or no UPS you need to have a backup strategy in place.

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timmmay

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Reply # 765584 19-Feb-2013 09:08

APC are the most popular, and I think a decent sized active unit is required to run all of that. Don't put printers on a UPS, especially lasers.

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bagheera

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Reply # 765612 19-Feb-2013 10:17

cyril7: You can configure most UPS's via USB or RS232 to shut your system down once it gets to X% of battery, for your application a 600-750VA unit should be fine, APC is a good brand.

if i remember right - you can also configure it to hibernate the pc instead of shutdown, that way keeping unsaved, none network apps in there current state on power up, ie not lose unsaved changes to your 3D animator/sound designer. Does not work so will with network apps tho.

Zeon

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Reply # 765614 19-Feb-2013 10:19

You want an online rather than line interactive UPS to really protect against surges.

Bowering

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Reply # 765623 19-Feb-2013 10:38

I've had an APC Back-UPS 650MI since March 2001 and only had to replace the battery once. Also have had an BM UPS 1500THV for a few years and had no problems with that either (make sure you vacuum the fans and vents regularly though).

Cheers, Gary