UPS advice

Forums › IT Pro and developers › UPS advice

Zeon

3404 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 399

Trusted

Topic # 93791 29-Nov-2011 16:20

Hey guys,
Our crappy little Dynamix UPS bit the bullet the other day:
http://www.elive.co.nz/dynamix-ups-600va-cd0277.php

I'm not sure what happened but it randomly turned off. I talked the guys throught aking it out on the phone and when i tried it myself it seemed to work OK. But I have ehard bad things about Dynamix UPSs so thought it was time for an upgrad eanyway.

After reading Freitasm's thread on Eaton UPSs in July:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=86&topicid=87353

i thought I'd try them out this time. I have my eye on this one Eaton Evolution EVLi650R:
http://pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=UPSPWR8451&name=Eaton-Evolution-EVLi650R-1U-650VA--420W-Line-Inter

It's for a 18u 450mm deep swing cabinet so its about the biggest that will fit. It will be powering/protecting:
1x 48 port 10/100 switch
1x 48 port 10/100 PoE switch 9with about 15 PoE devices)
1x QNAP NAS with 5x 2TB 7200RPM drives
1x Supermicro short server with Xeon e3-1240
1x AC cabinet fan

I estimate that equipment would be using 300w at peak so this should suffice.

Any comments? If you read this thread Freitasm how are your's going?

gregmcc

1594 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 327

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 551544 29-Nov-2011 17:54

At the end of the day you get what you pay for, dynamix are low end UPS's.

We installed 5 of the 600VA models on a site for a factory, this was 6 years ago, A few weeks ago we replaced them all, the batteries have failed in all of them, that was to be expected as because they are low end UPS's there isn't any battery conditioning go on and the battery just sits there been constantly charged.

So for about $90 each a 5 year lifetime is quite good, if you want something that is really good then you will pay big $$.

Saying that, last year we put in 2 x 10 KVA UPS's in a power station, now these do every thing, self battery regulation, timed load testing of the batteries, full comms support via the SCADA, $30,000 each, but they are mission critical.

I'm sure that you will choose something in-between those 2 examples.

Greg

rphenix

864 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 53

Subscriber

Reply # 552327 1-Dec-2011 16:45

As previously said. You get what you pay for. While choosing a good brand is one thing, if you want to do it on the cheap but not have too many hassles then a simple rule might be make sure its at least over 1000VA preferably at least 2000VA and a true "online ups" (not line interactive, and certainly not standby UPS); Regardless of brand its likely to work well.

APC etc.. usually require a particular battery shape but the cheaper ones (dynamix etc..) take generic AGM batteries so its nothing to pop the lid with the power off, and replace the two batteries inside them for these once every couple of years.

Maurico's recommendation of the Eaton brand is quite correct, most of the Eaton range are online ups you'll notice

If you go with a cheap model, make sure the device powers back on, when the mains comes back on very annoying to have to turn a UPS back on after an extended power cut,

rphenix

864 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 53

Subscriber

Reply # 552334 1-Dec-2011 16:57

Zeon: Hey guys,
i thought I'd try them out this time. I have my eye on this one Eaton Evolution EVLi650R

650VA + Line Interactive, so other than brand-name is it really much better than your existing? I would just replace the batteries on the existing unit, or stump up a bit more $$ for better.

gregmcc

1594 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 327

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 552343 1-Dec-2011 17:11

rphenix:
Zeon: Hey guys,
i thought I'd try them out this time. I have my eye on this one Eaton Evolution EVLi650R

650VA + Line Interactive, so other than brand-name is it really much better than your existing? I would just replace the batteries on the existing unit, or stump up a bit more $$ for better.

It's around $57 for a replacement battery, not including your time to remove and re-fit the replacement battery, only about $90 for a new UPS, for the sake of around $33 is it worthwhile just buying a new one rather than fixing the old one

rphenix

864 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 53

Subscriber

Reply # 552348 1-Dec-2011 17:27

gregmcc:
rphenix:
Zeon: Hey guys,
i thought I'd try them out this time. I have my eye on this one Eaton Evolution EVLi650R

650VA + Line Interactive, so other than brand-name is it really much better than your existing? I would just replace the batteries on the existing unit, or stump up a bit more $$ for better.

It's around $57 for a replacement battery, not including your time to remove and re-fit the replacement battery, only about $90 for a new UPS, for the sake of around $33 is it worthwhile just buying a new one rather than fixing the old one

I didn't actually look into the existing unit till just now but agree at $90 for a new equivalent may as well replace it.