Do You Use a UPS? (Uninterruptible Power Supply)

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 3, 2007, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

There's only about 5 or 6 places that seem to sell that BX1200 unit, and Best Buy seems to be the cheapest place to get it: $150. Staples also sells it, but for $169 - $189 (depending on their mood), while Futureshop sells it for $209 (total F'Heads!).

I still can't believe Best Buy sells them for that price. Hell, my cost price would be more than that, so they must be taking a loss on them.

Well.... I don't know I got it for $99 shipped from BestBuy. About the only deal I ever got out of that infernal place.

lol @ "Staples also sells it, but for $169 - $189 (depending on their mood), while Futureshop sells it for $209 (total F'Heads!)."

BWX · Jun 12, 2007, 10:08 PM

This is about the minimum steady voltage being used- at idle on the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS...

It goes up to 370 or so with hard drive activity/ GFX processing/ games, etc.. I have a 21" and a 19" CRT, a cable modem, a router, the PC, a phone and some other assorted small things hooked up

procupine14 · Jun 13, 2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tipstaff

While not everyone needs a UPS, most don't base their decision on needing one correctly. Even if you have stable, always on power, it may not be clean (where the voltage is steady). Any sudden spike or drop in voltage will directly hit the PSU. But the real threat isn't the power coming into the house, but rather how things are routed/distributed within it that could be the worst culprit. Not every electrical outlet in your place is running on a straight line from the power box. Most run box to box directly from your fuse box, and some lines even share others within the house, such as the front room with maybe some of the sockets in the kitchen. I have one room here where for some reason I get feedback whenever someone turns on the switch for the fan in the bathroom. I only found out it was there because I had my computer hooked up to that line, and everytime someone hit that switch I'd hear a pop on my speakers. Suffice it to say, that kind of feedback is bad for a PC.. or any electrical equipment for that matter.

So just remember, it's not just the power coming into your house that you are protecting your computer from, but the way power is distributed within the house, and how things are drawing power from your fuse box that really counts.

I used to get horrible feedback from the intercom system in my house when I would turn offf my computer and unplug it for maintainance. I finally had to move it across the room. But i do not use a UPS just some good quality surge prevention.

Gaijin · Jun 13, 2007, 11:56 PM

Got an older APC Back-UPS ES 500 (500VA/325W), think I might have to upgrade to something with a little more juice in the near future.

Tipstaff · Jun 14, 2007, 12:20 AM

Just to let people know, Dell sells the Belkin F6C1500-TW-RK 830watt 1500VA battery backup for $169US ($189 Can), or the F6C1250-TW-RK 1250VA version for $159US. Very good battery backup, btw, along the lines of the APC BX1200 (although the software can be a bit tricky). 2 reasons I mention it: 1) if you catch it at the right time, say during 'Dell Days', or you have a discount code or something, you can probably get this for around $100, and 2) these particular battery backups come with a 3 year warranty (1 year more than APC, and 2 years more than most others).

Dyre Straits · Jun 14, 2007, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Got an older APC Back-UPS ES 500 (500VA/325W), think I might have to upgrade to something with a little more juice in the near future.

I tried a 500W UPS for a while and found that it would overload if I hooked up everything to it. So, I reduced the connections to just the PC itself and plugged my Monitors into a good surge protector. At least the PC wouldn't lose power suddenly or get fried during brownouts (which we occasionally have here).

Until you can get a better one, you might want to consider this option.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Jun 19, 2007, 05:19 PM

You could also just plug in one monitor, and the smaller one will draw less power than the bigger one too, so you can at least shut down the system in the event of a prolonged power outage.

Having no monitors sucks when the power goes out... it may seem like a good solution but when the power goes out you'll regret it

Trust me....

Jun 12, 2007, 10:08 PM	#32
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	This is about the minimum steady voltage being used- at idle on the CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W UPS... It goes up to 370 or so with hard drive activity/ GFX processing/ games, etc.. I have a 21" and a 19" CRT, a cable modem, a router, the PC, a phone and some other assorted small things hooked up __________________

Jun 13, 2007, 11:56 PM	#34
Gaijin DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Finland, Europe Posts: 101 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Got an older APC Back-UPS ES 500 (500VA/325W), think I might have to upgrade to something with a little more juice in the near future. __________________ [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]In Vino Veritas ... [/COLOR]

Jun 14, 2007, 12:20 AM	#35
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 190 System Specs	Just to let people know, Dell sells the Belkin F6C1500-TW-RK 830watt 1500VA battery backup for $169US ($189 Can), or the F6C1250-TW-RK 1250VA version for $159US. Very good battery backup, btw, along the lines of the APC BX1200 (although the software can be a bit tricky). 2 reasons I mention it: 1) if you catch it at the right time, say during 'Dell Days', or you have a discount code or something, you can probably get this for around $100, and 2) these particular battery backups come with a 3 year warranty (1 year more than APC, and 2 years more than most others). __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jun 19, 2007, 05:19 PM	#37
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	You could also just plug in one monitor, and the smaller one will draw less power than the bigger one too, so you can at least shut down the system in the event of a prolonged power outage. Having no monitors sucks when the power goes out... it may seem like a good solution but when the power goes out you'll regret it Trust me....