Quiet mains UPS recommendation

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timmmay

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#319414 23-Apr-2025 11:47

I've been looking for a DC UPS to power a Pi4, but I've come to the conclusion there's no good products easily available. I guess I'll get a standard 230V UPS.

The UPS will go into a cupboard in my sons bedroom, and will run the Pi4, and potentially the ONT and a Fritzbox 7590. I'd like something quiet, ideally no fan noise during normal operation, doesn't matter if it makes a noise during a power cut. Ideally $200 or below.

I had an APC UPS once that made an annoying high pitched noise, so bad I returned it. It would be good to avoid that sort of thing. I'd also like a UPS that doesn't beep when there are power problems.

Looking at:

Eaton 5E Gen 2 around 480W for $153 - but it beeps regularly if there's poor power quality or running on battery
Dynamix Defender 390W for $180 - smaller battery for more money, and reviews say it beeps regularly if there are power problems

Any suggestions?

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#3366721 23-Apr-2025 11:59

I've got a Eaton 5E Gen 2 1200va

Quiet as. Sits under my office desk don't even know it is there. +

Edit:

Using the Eaton UPS Companion software you can disable Audible Alarm

Tinkerisk

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#3366723 23-Apr-2025 12:03

There is a silence mode for the Eaton 5E by simple operation of the on/off push button accordingly.

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notesgnome

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#3366726 23-Apr-2025 12:11

I've got a Dynamix defender 1200 (so slightly bigger).

It's also a quiet device (sits under my desk too - not the best place for them, but I suspect it's where a lot of us put them).

Again, it has an alarm disable option:

HTH

timmmay

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#3366734 23-Apr-2025 12:53

Thanks very much all, especially @djtOtago and @notesgnome about the quiet option, sounds good. I'd put it up in a high cupboard that you need a ladder to reach, so pushing buttons wouldn't work.

Any opinions on Eaton vs Dynamix?

Looks like the batteries are around 9AH regardless of the brand at this price point, with no external 12V input. ChatGPT says that should run a R.Pi for around 20 hours, but if running the Pi / ONT / Router then only for about 3 hours. To go up to 2x9AH batteries there's the Dynamix ECO @ $226, but I wonder what the difference is between that and the other range. That's probably overkill for what I need anyway, which is to keep the R.Pi running during a short outage or for a more extended time during an emergency. It would be nice to be able to charge a 12V battery to run this stuff with my 80W solar panel to keep things running in an emergency, or maybe even with one of the big panels on the roof. When I start looking at $450 power stations I know that is overkill! I might be better off with a power bank that supports passthrough charging and I can charge from my solar panel.

Tinkerisk

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#3366863 23-Apr-2025 16:48

timmmay:

I'd put it up in a high cupboard that you need a ladder to reach, so pushing buttons wouldn't work.

It’s manual programming. I don't know of anyone who wouldn't read the manual and press the button before putting the UPS in an unusually special place. But I also don't know of anyone who wouldn't use a UPS via USB with NUTS or Home Assistant itself if they had a Raspberry Pi 5 or 4 available. But you could have simply read in the manual. Too easy. 😁

tweake

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#3366867 23-Apr-2025 16:57

timmmay:

Any opinions on Eaton vs Dynamix?

for what little its worth, my old eaton worked fine until the batteries failed and they cost more to replace than a new unit.

the replacement dynamix blew up (and destroyed the pc psu) when the power plug got knocked out. tho both got refunded under warranty.

Tinkerisk

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#3366872 23-Apr-2025 17:07

tweake:

timmmay:

Any opinions on Eaton vs Dynamix?

for what little its worth, my old eaton worked fine until the batteries failed and they cost more to replace than a new unit.

the replacement dynamix blew up (and destroyed the pc psu) when the power plug got knocked out. tho both got refunded under warranty.

If you buy the batteries from EATON, sure. But they are one or more ordinary, inexpensive standard batteries - at least for 5E Gen1 (I don‘t want to check for Gen2) I swap mine for two UPS regularly at a fair price. However, you have to choose the long-life batteries, but you probably already know that.

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tweake

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#3366875 23-Apr-2025 17:19

Tinkerisk:

If you buy the batteries from EATON, sure. But they are one or more ordinary, inexpensive standard batteries - at least for 5E Gen1 (I don‘t want to check for Gen2) I swap mine for two UPS regularly at a fair price. However, you have to choose the long-life batteries, but you probably already know that.

they where some weird odd size i could not get locally.

Tinkerisk

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#3366881 23-Apr-2025 17:26

tweake:

they where some weird odd size i could not get locally.

That's right, you won't find them in a supermarket. But they are still the industry standard (even for alarm systems). The companies re-label them so that they cost three to four times as much as ‘special batteries’. I was able to peel off the labels - and underneath were well-known manufacturers. The whole warranty circus is just business tactics. So I ordered them directly from the distributor of the real manufacturer. Even in a version that lasts 5-6 years, the normal ones last 2-3 years (guess which ones are fitted when you buy a UPS?). Plug’n‘play - fire‘n‘forget.

tweake

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#3366887 23-Apr-2025 18:09

Tinkerisk:

tweake:

they where some weird odd size i could not get locally.

That's right, you won't find them in a supermarket. But they are still the industry standard (even for alarm systems). The companies re-label them so that they cost three to four times as much as ‘special batteries’. I was able to peel off the labels - and underneath were well-known manufacturers. The whole warranty circus is just business tactics. So I ordered them directly from the distributor of the real manufacturer. Even in a version that lasts 5-6 years, the normal ones last 2-3 years (guess which ones are fitted when you buy a UPS?). Plug’n‘play - fire‘n‘forget.

not in nz at the time. they where not a standard type at all. probably had other uses overseas but not here.

Tinkerisk

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#3366889 23-Apr-2025 18:14

Then don't tell my UPSs here, otherwise they might stop working. 😉

But my message is actually: you should find out the battery type BEFORE you buy a UPS. Good luck!

tweake

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#3366900 23-Apr-2025 19:22

Tinkerisk:

Then don't tell my UPSs here, otherwise they might stop working. 😉

But my message is actually: you should find out the battery type BEFORE you buy a UPS. Good luck!

agreed, learn from my mistake!

Tinkerisk

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#3366901 23-Apr-2025 19:27

Take a look at the EATON „Ellipse“ ECO (off-line) series. AFAIK they still use re-labeled industry standard batteries.

timmmay

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#3366921 23-Apr-2025 21:21

Interesting, thanks. I'd rather pay for a more expensive battery and have an online UPS.

According to Perplexity "Yes, the battery type used in the Eaton 5E Gen 2 UPS is a generic, industry-standard size that is widely available. These 12V 7Ah SLA/VRLA batteries are commonly stocked at electronics stores, battery specialists, and online retailers in New Zealand and globally. When purchasing a replacement, ensure the physical dimensions and terminal type match your UPS, but in general, these batteries are designed for easy replacement and broad compatibility."

SpartanVXL

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#3367043 24-Apr-2025 10:38

I have a dynamix defender 1200 and have been using these 12v 9ah replacements.

https://waveinverter.co.nz/shop/deep-cycle-battery/sealed-agm/e2battery-9ah/

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