Eaton UPSs - EOL Evolution vs 5P?

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SumnerBoy

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#171602 24-Apr-2015 15:58

Hi,

Oh the irony, I have just been doing some research into UPSs for my home/office network in order to preserve phone (VOIP) and shutdown my server gracefully in the case of a power cut, which is a constant threat living in ChCh with all those quakes, when another big one strikes! No power outage this time but it has certainly reinforced my desire to get this sorted!

So it seems like to get something decent it needs to be either APC or Eaton. I have found some old threads which talk about the Eaton Evolution being a good medium level UPS but it looks like they are EOL. I have managed to find one though (1550VA M68457) for $600. I can also get the latest 5P (http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=418094) for about $680.

So less juice, but later model, for an extra $80. Anyone got any advice for a noob in this field, choosing between the two?

I have a Draytek VDSL modem, Mikrotik router, SPA122 ATA, 2 Unifi APs, and a headless server running Ubuntu 12.04 that I would like to power. I would set the server to shutdown ASAP, after sending me notifications to indicate the power failure. So then it would just be the modem, router, APs, and ATA running, giving me voice and internet (via wireless battery powered devices).

I am planning to monitor the UPS using nut on the Ubuntu server, via USB.

Is there anything I am missing? Are these overkill for this type of use?

Quick replies would be welcomed, since another shake like that could cut the power at any stage!!

;)

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#1290929 24-Apr-2015 16:18

I suggest two devices. One that shuts down your server and one to run other gear.

http://www.elive.co.nz/belkin-surge-protector-backup-t13549.php is cheap and there is a larger 600va model as well. I have one at home on my home PC and another one in the garage where my NAS and a DVR is located. The devices keep running for 10-15 mins until the battery dies in the garage. The home PC shuts down when told by the UPS.

And then a UPS of more modest size for the server which will shut the server down and then power off itself.

Neither of your bits of equipment need to run for an extended period. If your power if off do you REALLY need to keep the wireless and broadband and VoIP running for more than 5 mins?

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SumnerBoy

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#1290958 24-Apr-2015 16:26

Thanks Dynamic.

I guess the main task I am trying to achieve is to protect my server from short power cuts. I was hoping that a half decent UPS (like the ones I mentioned) would allow me to gracefully shutdown the server right away, and then be able to run the other (low power) devices for quite a while. Having the ability to control individual outlets would be great, as I could shut the APs down for example to conserve power for the modem/ATA.

In reality, anything less than a few hours of up-time on the modem/router/ATA makes it fairly pointless IMO.

Jase2985

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#1290965 24-Apr-2015 16:32

just as an example i have one of these for my PC(box and screen), Router and Phone (standard cordless phone).
http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SMT750I&xtmc=smart%20ups%20750&xtcr=8

I have the computer set to turn off when the power in the ups gets to 80%, which takes about 5 or so mins, from there im unsure how long the phone and router will last but its longer than 4 hours.

Currently with everything running its all drwaing about 40% from the UPS, with the screen off its down to about 30%, and with the computer asleep/off it shows 0% on the LCD screen.

i also have 2 of the slightly older versions of the same one, which dont have the LCD screen, but i havent used them. they all run the same 12v 12ah battery so i would suggest they would get similar performance.

something to think about is what battery do they take and how much to replace them.

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#1290967 24-Apr-2015 16:33

also the big question is how long will the telco gear last in a power outage?

Dynamic

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#1290969 24-Apr-2015 16:34

Good as gold. In an ideal world I would all have a UPS on our TV so we could watch a movie in the dark while waiting for the power to come back on, but my budget does not allow this.

For me there is value in having my important gadgets protected from short outages and surges with these small UPS devices. If there is a long power outage, we go to bed with the sun. :)

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SumnerBoy

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#1290972 24-Apr-2015 16:38

Yep - that is definitely a consideration - having lived thru the ChCh quakes of 2011 and going without power for over a week, the analogue phone lines were remarkably resilient. But being on VOIP that is obviously irrelevant. What we did find was that the authorities were pretty quick at getting generators out to mobile towers and and exchanges to try and keep the communication networks up.

But yes, I think if I could get 4 hours of up-time I would be more than happy, as after that it is anyones guess as to what will still be running.

I will have a look at that APC - good to know you get that sort of up-time with 750VA.

Still interested to hear what people with experience in Eatons think about the 1550 Evolution v the 5P 850?

SumnerBoy

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#1290973 24-Apr-2015 16:42

Jase2985: just as an example i have one of these for my PC(box and screen), Router and Phone (standard cordless phone).
http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SMT750I&xtmc=smart%20ups%20750&xtcr=8

You don't happen to know if this model plays nice with Linux nut?

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Jase2985

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#1290975 24-Apr-2015 16:43

we use eaton stuff at work but its a bit bigger 1500-6000w stuff. they are alright but works power is a little dirty and fluctuates a bit, (old ship on generators) so we have had a few crap out (1 specific circuit), but i think thats more a function of the power being supplied to them than the product quality. the rest have been fine, especially with a fresh set of batteries.

oh BTW one of those APC750, with a new battery could power a dummy load of 200w for almost 35 minutes when we tested them. the lowest we got was about 14 mins but i would suggest from looking at said ups it was pretty damn old, new battery would fix that.

SumnerBoy

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#1290979 24-Apr-2015 16:45

Yeah nice - can pick one up from Elive for $600 including shipping. Will definitely add it into the mix.

Jase2985

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#1290981 24-Apr-2015 16:49

SumnerBoy:

You don't happen to know if this model plays nice with Linux nut?

no idea, i originally used the supplied software and program to set the ups to turn the computer to turn off but it didnt do what i wanted to to, ie turn the computer off and leave everthing else running, so i set the computer up (win 7) to think its running on a battery, like a laptop does, and then just created a power plan around that, that way it doesnt affect the other devices connected to the UPS and the UPS will just shutdown when it gets low on power.

have a look at the APC powerchute software, it seems to suggest it works on linux but weather it does what you want is a different story.

Aredwood

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#1291224 25-Apr-2015 10:01

Have you considered a 12V UPS setup? should be alot cheaper on a run time vs cost basis. I have 2x 100Ah deep cycle batteries as a backup for the ONT, router, network switch, wifi ap, RFID door lock. And a few other things. Means I should get a full day or two run time. And in longer power cuts I can run my generator.

kiwifidget

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#1291228 25-Apr-2015 10:19

Does anyone in the whole wide world make a UPS that does not beep?! I have 3 UPs's in my house, an APC Smart UPS for my server, a cheapo BlazerII for 2 desktops, and an Eaton 3S for router and switch in a cupboard. When the power goes out in the middle of the night, sleep is impossible. I suspect the 2 UPS's connected to computers might have some software configuration thing, but the Eaton is closest to the bedroom.

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SumnerBoy

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#1291229 25-Apr-2015 10:22

Aredwood: Have you considered a 12V UPS setup? should be alot cheaper on a run time vs cost basis. I have 2x 100Ah deep cycle batteries as a backup for the ONT, router, network switch, wifi ap, RFID door lock. And a few other things. Means I should get a full day or two run time. And in longer power cuts I can run my generator.

Hadn't considered it but open to suggestions. Know your expertise you probably built your own? Anything off-the-shelf you can point me towards? I did read some other threads where you were talking about them but it sounds like it is more of a DIY approach? Happy to get my hands dirty but electronic circuit design is something I haven't done since my days doing my BE...

Suggestions for a good place to buy decent deep cycle batteries?

huckster

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#1291303 25-Apr-2015 14:20

kiwifidget: Does anyone in the whole wide world make a UPS that does not beep?! I have 3 UPs's in my house, an APC Smart UPS for my server, a cheapo BlazerII for 2 desktops, and an Eaton 3S for router and switch in a cupboard. When the power goes out in the middle of the night, sleep is impossible. I suspect the 2 UPS's connected to computers might have some software configuration thing, but the Eaton is closest to the bedroom.

Been thinking of getting a CyberPower BR650ELCD. Through the Windows software it appears you can disable audible alarms.

Disable Alarms at all times: This setting will prevent the CyberPower UPS from beeping in response to adverse power conditions.
Disable alarms when this computer is shut down: With this setting selected, the CyberPower UPS will only beep when your computer is turned on.
Disable alarms between: Can be adjusted to specify additional times when the CyberPower UPS should not beep

Jase2985

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#1291320 25-Apr-2015 15:11

My APC's give me the option to turn the beeping off after an initial beep, or just to turn it off permanently.

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