UPS recommendations?

[Max]

I have 2 notebooks and a higher end desktop and need recommendations for
UPS. It seems these things just stop working after awhile. I don't know what
the deal is, I get red lights, funny noises, and sometimes it will just shut
off without warning. I guess it's due to battery wearing out. Happened on 2
different brands. One is 6 month old Belkin and it just doesn't turn on
anymore, makes a buz when I try to.

So I'm not sure if I should spend $200 for better ones or just keep buying
these cheap $50 to $80 ones that fail every year.

-Max

 

[Vanguardx]

I have 2 notebooks and a higher end desktop and need recommendations
for UPS. It seems these things just stop working after awhile. I
don't know what the deal is, I get red lights, funny noises, and
sometimes it will just shut off without warning. I guess it's due to
battery wearing out. Happened on 2 different brands. One is 6 month
old Belkin and it just doesn't turn on anymore, makes a buz when I
try to.
So I'm not sure if I should spend $200 for better ones or just keep
buying these cheap $50 to $80 ones that fail every year.

-Max

I have a Tripp-Lite 400VA BC-450 Pro (for the cable modem and NAT
router) and a BestPower 2kVA Fortress (for the computer). I would have
had to throw them away and get new units except that both can be
dismantled. You can get the replacement batteries at Batteries Plus for
a LOT cheaper than buying a whole replacement unit. The TrippLite's
battery died after 4 years (but it also wouldn't keep as good a charge
as it approached the end of its life) and cost $26 to replace. The
BestPower batteries lasted 6 years and cost $170 for the 2 new batteries
(a lot better than spending thousands on a true-sinusoidal UPS with a
huge current capacity with isolating transformer; the 2 batteries weight
60 pounds and the unit w/o batteries weighs 65 pounds).

I don't have experience with the Belkin UPS so I don't know if the
problem is the battery, circuit failure, or exceeding its amperage
capacity. My Tripp-Lite BC450 Pro started beeping at me and would
eventually not turn on. The BestPower Fortress actually displays an
error code along with a beep code to tell you there is a problem with
the batteries.

 

[Jerry G.]

Most of the failures in these UPS's are the batteries. It is a worth while
decision to invest in a very good UPS, that is adequate for the application.
The higher the wattage rating the better. The batteries generally last about
2 to 3 years in a descent UPS.

A true sinewave UPS is fairly expensive, but will give best performance, and
be least hard on the power supplies of the loads. We have some true sinewave
UPS's here that are more than 10 years old. The batteries are changed about
every 2.5 years on the average.

When someone invests a few thousand dollars in computer equipment, it is a
very wise decision to make some type of investment in a good UPS. One
brownout, or power surge can do a lot of damage to a computer, and also make
some expensive down time.

--

Jerry G.
==========================


I have 2 notebooks and a higher end desktop and need recommendations for
UPS. It seems these things just stop working after awhile. I don't know what
the deal is, I get red lights, funny noises, and sometimes it will just shut
off without warning. I guess it's due to battery wearing out. Happened on 2
different brands. One is 6 month old Belkin and it just doesn't turn on
anymore, makes a buz when I try to.

So I'm not sure if I should spend $200 for better ones or just keep buying
these cheap $50 to $80 ones that fail every year.

-Max

 

[Max]

I know spike protection, rated in joules, used to use components that wear
out overtime and no longer become effective against spikes. Is this true
now? I don't want to spend $300 on a true sine wave UPS to find it loses
effectiveness.

I also see some UPS's will go to battery when the power is too low or high,
while better ones will actually increase or decrease power and only use
battery if those 2 methods fail, or when of course the power goes out
entirely. Either way seems ok to me though. lol!

-Max

 

[w_tom]

Buying a UPS for transient protection is nonsense. They use
the same protectors circuit found in power strip protectors.
Obviously since both are measured in joules. Manufacturer
does not even claim to protect from the type of surge that
typically damages electronics. Manufacturer does not mention
that different type of surges exist - to make the sale. He
wants you to assume it protects from all types of surges -
even though manufacturer never makes that claim.

Hyped in sound bytes is that internal MOVs wear out. Then
they forget to provide other, essential facts. A surge
protector that wears out or "sacrificed itself to protect my
computer" is grossly undersized or ineffective on day one.

The UPS protects data from extreme brownouts and blackouts;
not for hardware protection. But to appreciate this, one must
first learn what a surge protector does. Those who promote
plug-in protectors - something adjacent to the electronics -
assume a protector stops, blocks, or absorbs surges. Let's
see. 3 miles of non-conductive sky could not stop, block, or
absorb that surge. What is the silly little plug-in UPS or
power strip protector going to do? Do you now appreciate the
myth?

Again, first learn what a surge protector does. Appreciate
the difference between surge 'protector' and surge
'protection'. These are different and separate components in
a surge protection 'system'. Ineffective 'protectors' have no
connection to 'protection' and therefore avoid the
discussion. But a 'protector' is only as effective as its
connection to 'protection'.

Details previously posted in a discussion entitled "Pull the
wall plug or not?" in nz.comp on 7 Sept 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/5ttwl

 

[Max]

Thanks for the info, I wasn't sure if there were any major differences in
technology. I went with an APC 1000VA model for $150 at Staples. A nice
upgrade from my 350VA Belkin which blew out in 6 months and has no
replaceable battery (BUNK!), and an Opti-UPS 420VA which has lasted 5 years
with only one battery replacement. Already I feel much more comfortable with
the 600 watt APC and easy to replace battery.

-Max

Buying a UPS for transient protection is nonsense. They use
the same protectors circuit found in power strip protectors.
Obviously since both are measured in joules. Manufacturer
does not even claim to protect from the type of surge that
typically damages electronics. Manufacturer does not mention
that different type of surges exist - to make the sale. He
wants you to assume it protects from all types of surges -
even though manufacturer never makes that claim.

....

 

[kony]

Thanks for the info, I wasn't sure if there were any major differences in
technology. I went with an APC 1000VA model for $150 at Staples. A nice
upgrade from my 350VA Belkin which blew out in 6 months and has no
replaceable battery (BUNK!), and an Opti-UPS 420VA which has lasted 5 years
with only one battery replacement. Already I feel much more comfortable with
the 600 watt APC and easy to replace battery.

-Max

You're sure it didn't have a replacable battery? That is,
you did open it and found the battery welded in there, not
just a couple connectors like every other ups on earth?

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> kony

You're sure it didn't have a replacable battery? That is,
you did open it and found the battery welded in there, not
just a couple connectors like every other ups on earth?

I had one with soldiered batteries... I don't feel upset though, the UPS
was about $50CDN to begin with and I'm not sure if it was even that
powerful -- It was probably cheaper to replace the whole unit then the
battery even if I could get a replacement.

I'm running on a number of APC 1200-1500 units now. It sure is nice
having the 21" monitor and server room lighting on UPS as well when
needed.