UPS Options

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#232179 3-Apr-2018 12:47

My current UPS, a 1500VA rack-mount APC Smart-UPS SC is failing to take the load during minor power interruptions, so I am looking at possible replacements.

While UPS units have come down in price quite a bit, a replacement rack unit currently starts at around 4x the price of the entry-level tower units of equivalent capacity, and I am wondering is these are worth considering instead? They would in theory allow me to increase run time for less money.

I recall 15 years ago, I thought my boss was nuts getting the cheapest units he could find (I had an APC Back-UPS Pro at the time), and my position seemed to be justified when they failed during a minor power interruption, while other computers not connected to a UPS remained running.

A lot has changed since then however. Even the cheapest units now claim to be line interactive models, and I'm not at all happy with my current APC unit. It likely only needs a new battery, but given it has never told me I needed to replace the battery, and was a replacement (when new) for a unit that constantly complained about the battery needing replacing, I'm inclined to treat it as faulty. Both units came with a very long printout of test results, all of which indicated they passed.

With the above in mind, can anyone recommend tower units (1500-2000VA)?

My main requirement is to be able to change batteries without disconnecting everything. This isn't included in documentation for the reasonably priced Eaton 5E range, so I suspect it's not possible there.

Dynamic

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#1987595 3-Apr-2018 13:01

I'm happy with the HPE T1500 tower UPS models. The front pulls off for easy battery replacement.

I'm very wary of cheapie no-name UPS models. I've seen and heard of too many fires or near-fires, and they are rubbish at looking after the batteries.

Ideally change batteries every three years.

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Jase2985

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#1987635 3-Apr-2018 14:03

have you changed the batteries? quick cheap simple fix. wholesale on those batteries, likely a few 7ah ones in parallel, is about $15 each.

my APC tower one (only a small 720VA one) i was able to change the batteries with out turning everything off.

Ive also replaced about 4 Eaton powerware ones with out disconnecting and each had about 10-12 batteries in there.

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1987641 3-Apr-2018 14:10

Jase2985:

have you changed the batteries? quick cheap simple fix. wholesale on those batteries, likely a few 7ah ones in parallel, is about $15 each.

I have not changed the batteries, but I intend to do so irrespective of any replacement.

The key point for me is that two of these units have failed to properly report battery condition.

Jase2985

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#1987647 3-Apr-2018 14:14

does the UPS have the self test set to be on? as it may not know the condition of the battery if its not able to test them regularly (mine does it weekly). and come power outage time its too late.

mine failed recently, with a connect battery warning, tested the batteries, they were fine voltage wise with 27.4v but as soon as you put a load on them they would fall below the acceptable voltage level. so replaced the batteries and all was good.

Jase2985

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#1987648 3-Apr-2018 14:15

what model was it?

SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1987653 3-Apr-2018 14:21

Jase2985:

does the UPS have the self test set to be on? as it may not know the condition of the battery if its not able to test them regularly (mine does it weekly). and come power outage time its too late.

Yes, the self-test is enabled. APC Smart-UPS SC 1500.

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1987713 3-Apr-2018 15:26

Jase2985:

have you changed the batteries? quick cheap simple fix. wholesale on those batteries, likely a few 7ah ones in parallel, is about $15 each.

On the subject of wholesale batteries, do you have any recommendations?

I used to buy replacement batteries for my old Back-UPS Pro from a place on the North Shore (I'm in south Auckland), but I can't recall the name.

Dynamic

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#1987784 3-Apr-2018 17:49

SirHumphreyAppleby:

I used to buy replacement batteries for my old Back-UPS Pro from a place on the North Shore (I'm in south Auckland), but I can't recall the name.

Possibly "IT Power"? Highly reputable APC service agents who supply batteries for all sorts of UPS devices. Not the cheapest, but with excellent service levels.

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ratsun81

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#1988180 4-Apr-2018 13:13

SirHumphreyAppleby:

My current UPS, a 1500VA rack-mount APC Smart-UPS SC is failing to take the load during minor power interruptions, so I am looking at possible replacements.

While UPS units have come down in price quite a bit, a replacement rack unit currently starts at around 4x the price of the entry-level tower units of equivalent capacity, and I am wondering is these are worth considering instead? They would in theory allow me to increase run time for less money.

I recall 15 years ago, I thought my boss was nuts getting the cheapest units he could find (I had an APC Back-UPS Pro at the time), and my position seemed to be justified when they failed during a minor power interruption, while other computers not connected to a UPS remained running.

A lot has changed since then however. Even the cheapest units now claim to be line interactive models, and I'm not at all happy with my current APC unit. It likely only needs a new battery, but given it has never told me I needed to replace the battery, and was a replacement (when new) for a unit that constantly complained about the battery needing replacing, I'm inclined to treat it as faulty. Both units came with a very long printout of test results, all of which indicated they passed.

With the above in mind, can anyone recommend tower units (1500-2000VA)?

My main requirement is to be able to change batteries without disconnecting everything. This isn't included in documentation for the reasonably priced Eaton 5E range, so I suspect it's not possible there.

I just realised i misread change batteries, with charge batteries. Ignore this post :)

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Jase2985

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#1988933 5-Apr-2018 17:46

could try Enirgi Power Solutions in Wiri

http://www.enirgipower.com.au/locations/new-zealand/

Tinkerisk

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#1988944 5-Apr-2018 18:17

I use an EATON ups as well and it does weekly self-test. Nevertheless it reports to the server and triggers actions via NUT (Network UPS Tools). There is an access door to the battery compartment which can be opened without disconnecting the plugs.

SirHumphreyAppleby:

My main requirement is to be able to change batteries without disconnecting everything.

I'm not sure if you like to change the batteries "online" (hot-replaceable) without shutting down the power sinks. That wouldn't work.

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SirHumphreyAppleby

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#1989026 5-Apr-2018 19:51

Tinkerisk:

I'm not sure if you like to change the batteries "online" (hot-replaceable) without shutting down the power sinks. That wouldn't work.

It's not absolutely critical that the batteries be hot-swappable, although that is my preference given the increasing amount of things that depend on the computers running (phones, television, security etc.). I do need easy access however.

Tinkerisk

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#1995834 14-Apr-2018 00:27

The open source NUT s/w is still great and works relable after some tinkering. Now the NUT server will inform all clients attached to the same USV before shutdown and re-initiate communication after power is back.

Tinkerisk

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#2000086 21-Apr-2018 01:08

Rule of thumb:

Take the real power announced by the UPS manufacturer, divide it by 2 and you have the real max. power you can pull without overstressing the battery too much (which reduces it's lifetime drastically). Each 10°C more than 25°C halves lifetime of the battery as well. At 35°C in summer or in a unvented cabinet, don't expect much more than 1,5-2 instead of 3-4 years.

i.e. if the UPS is rated at 800VA/500W, pull not more than 250W (safely available for 10-12 minutes). My system shuts down after 2 minutes power loss to have enough capacity for 2 additional power loss/overvoltage events during the recharging cycle of 8 hours (never mentioned in the logfile up to now).