Dyre Straits

I'm curious as to how many of our members are using a UPS on their systems.

With all the money invested in some expensive hardware, do you feel it's necessary to add the protection of a UPS?

If so, which one do you use and what is it's VA rating?

Do you even use more than one?

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Tipstaff

Um, Dyre, don't you mean "Uninterruptible Power Supply"?

As for which one, I have two APC Back-UPS BX 1200 units here at home (got them directly from APC, and you will have to look HERE for more on them as you can't actually find them on their site as they are a Canadian only model.. I think...). It has AVR (Auto Voltage Regulation), a VA rating of 1200, handles up to 750 watts, and both are connected to each of my computers via USB, so if the power goes down the computers automatically shut the systems off.

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RoyBatty

I used to use the APC Back-UPS Pro 420 VA with my old system, but it died some time after the warranty expired. Now I'm running without a UPS.

Tipstaff

If you can't afford the money for a new APC you might consider buying a replacement battery for the one you have. Most times it's anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 the price of a totally new unit (for that particular unit, something like $20-$25 shipped).

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Dyre Straits

I'm blaming it being 4 a.m. in the morning. LOL! Corrections made.

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Tipstaff

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BlueMak

I first (and only time) bought one when I bought my current PC, back in december 2005. Opened the box, said I would install, never did. Skimmed through the "manual" and was all this information about alarms that will go off and I didn't like the idea of a sound alarm going off while I was not at home and wake up the neighbours etc. So I never installed it and when I left that place I just left it there.
I use 2 surge protectors (you know, the good ones with the USB hub etc...) and I hope they will be enough if something bad takes place.
Oh, it was a 1000 units one IIRC.

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Grace

Nah, I mainly use a laptop, so it has one integrated!

RoyBatty

The UPS completely died. I remember it made some strange sounds like something was sparkling inside and now it doesn't turn on even with power connected for a few hours (the battery was almost new that time). When I removed the cover I found out that one of the stand-offs was completely melted, so it looks like something was broken and generating excessive heat there:



So I'm running without it since then, fortunately the power distribution is quite stable here

hackerx

i use one from APC
i lost one PSU due to not having a good quality UPS

Lowfat

I've never used one and likely never will. Where i live currently, the power has gone off once in the past 2 years.

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Matth

Power mostly reliable, though I usually start looking at UPS on the odd occasions when its gone out, or blipped three times in one evening.

The impression I get is that battery life can be quite a problem.

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Mary had a little lamb,
Her father shot it dead
Now Mary takes her lamb to school,
Between two crusts of bread

Vampyromaniac

No UPS, just a surge protector. On the job, I've encountered a few occasions when an APC's battery needs replacing, it would just shut off and cut power. I find it pretty amusing that a device which is supposed to keep your power going might instead cut it off... when if you hadn't had the device there, the power would have remained uninterrupted.

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Zelig

I have an OPTI-UPS GS1100B model. Rated for 1100VA.

It has a USB connection, which I don't use, since I doubt the software is Vista compatible. Would have got an APC one for the software if the price was comparable, but I picked this one up new for under $100 CAD shipped.

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CDsDontBurn

i'm connected straight to the wall!





lol, jk . i'm using a surge protector though

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ChaosMinionX

I love mine, it has a LCD panel on it that will tell you everything about what the UPS is doing, never had a problem with it on my rig. Highly recommend it.

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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.

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ChaosMinionX

Yep, I think alot of people overlook that. My UPS I use now the software with it warns you when its upping the voltage of the line, or decreasing it because theres some sort of spike or interference, pretty handy although not that I really care about it as long as the UPS is doing its job haha.

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BWX

I have this one- but I need to hook it up..

CyberPower CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W 8 Outlets UPS








http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16842102048

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zaim

700VA on my main rig
500VA on my htpc
500VA on my server
700VA on my lounge room entertainment unit/tv/dvd player etc

i'm kinda trying to minimise risk for when the stormy winters come =)

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ChaosMinionX

Same one I have, solid product you got there

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Dark Lord

got one laying in a box, ive had it for 4-5 years probably. the leads ripped off the battery connector when i was installing hte battery. i said screw it and threw it back in the box.

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mkk

Power really is excellent here so it's hard to make the investment worthwile. I use a surge protector at home and have one extra in the LAN bag. I've certainly been to a number of LAN's where a line interactive UPS would have made a difference, but not very often nowadays.

Dyre Straits

Thanks for all the votes and replies!

I've used a UPS for quite a few years myself. The main reason I started using one is because we live in an area where thunderstorms can pop up almost instantly and without warning. Also, our area is one of the fastest growing areas in the USA and we are constantly experiencing brief power outages while new lines get connected.

We've also had our share of power outages due to stupid/drunk drivers going off the road and hitting power poles and knocking out the power for a few hours.

The first UPS I got was a Belkin brand and it lasted me for quite some time. But, when the battery finally died, I discovered that a battery replacement for that model was no longer available. Even if I could have located one, the cost would have been more than a new unit of comparable features. So, I opted to get a new one of a different brand.

Since the overall main purpose for my using a UPS is to protect my PC, I can get by with lower VA rated UPSes and only plug the PC into it. I then plug my monitor into a very adequate Surge Protector.

Recently, I've gotten a more powerful UPS and can plug my monitor into it as well. So, I've moved the smaller one to another system now.

I've had to help others restore their systems due to power fluctuations so much in this area, I heartily recommend to them to invest at least in a small UPS just for their PCs. It's the least they can do and a very, VERY good investment for data protection.

I really feel I can't be without one anymore.

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Judas

Yes, i think it's one of the most important things, specially in my location, the power is completely unpredictable, and it never goes completely out, were usually loaded with brownouts.

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H3X4D3C1M4L

Confirmed that its Canada only, because I seem to be the only other person with 2x of those and I'm in Canada

I find it absolutely necessary to run a UPS. I mean come on.... its like buying an expensive high performance $100k++ car and putting in crappy regular fuel. Even if you get a midrange car or a total beater, you still want it to last.

I mean just this morning, we had a brutal wind/lightning/rain/thunder storm. First flash of lightning? Power out. AC voltages all over the place.

Yet my machines didn't skip a beat

I run two BX 1200's from APC (got a deal at Best Buy on them) and one BX1000 for my server machines in the crawlspace.

Yes

Judas

I've been having troubles lately getting APC products, however i've recently got UPSs from maurson, which are slightly cheaper, but are fairly straight foward, they seem to work quite well to.

For the highend users, i'd only recommend APC, for general normal users, these maursons work quite well.

I've currently got 2x VA1000's running my main and my display machines. They are starting to get old though now. Paid nearly 300+ each for them at the time.

I'd like to get the 2xxx's series APC... just one of them.

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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.

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BWX

I might get a UPS for my TV actually.. It will only need to be 300watts.. The TV consumes about that much.

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BWX

Yeah I definitely like it- I hooked it up to my home theater until the new one I ordered specifically for the home theater is delivered... I want to adjust the AVR (automatic voltage regulation) to come on at 100v instead of the default 90v but I can't do it in the software.

I called CyberPower customer support when it was hooked up to the home theater (before I hooked it up to the PC temporarily to try to adjust it) to ask them if I could adjust the AVR voltage and they said yes, and that the setting would "stick" after I unplugged it and then I could disconnect it from my PC and reconnect it to the home theater no problem.

In the "PPPE" software there is a spot in the configuration pages to adjust the voltage, but it is not possible to change. I tried the down-loadable current version and then tried the older version on the disc that came w/ the unit, neither worked. In the the "help" program it says some unit's voltage cannot be adjusted, but I read somewhere online that it could and the tech at CyberPower said that it could. I'll have to call back tomorrow or next week to see what they say.

Can you check yours and see if you are able to change the default 90v to 100v? If you can I will know something is up, if not, I guess I got bad information. Thanks...


I ordered a belkin F6C1000-TW-RK 1000VA TOWER UPS http://www.pcnation.com/web/details....08&item=F35433 for the home theater. After that gets here I will hook the CyberPower back up to the PC.


http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...uct_Id=186802#

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