UPS

[Richard]

DFB
We have them at the office. Our quote system is provided over phone line system that is plugged into the wall outlet. One day, power went out. Computer stayed on but quotes died and phone died. (Maybe Harv can impose one of his light bulbs here) Alas...a light turned on inside my head...

I went to back room where electronics are, unplugged phone system from wall and plugged it into back of UPS. That combined with my PC gave me quotes and phones the next time power went out. I guess the point is, if you have some other "mission critical" components, you might want to get enough horse power (or maybe PTO horse power) to run it.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Make sure your expectations are realistic.

One of the big problems that I have experienced with UPS systems over the years is that a UPS which has a long hold time also has a long battery recharge time (e.g. 25kVA with 1 hour hold time needs a room full of lead-acid batteries that take many hours to charge). This means that multiple failures close together can result in loss of power, even if none of the failures exceed the hold time. You should not plan to operate a system continuously during power failures without a generator that can feed your UPS. Even some otherwise very good UPS systems, unfortunately, do not do well on generator power because minor frequency fluctuations bother their specialized transformers. You need to do your homework before spending lots of money.

There is no surge protector on the market that will protect your system from a direct lightning strike. I have seen the remains of a whole room of computer and radio gear where lightning hit the 200' tower next to the building and apparently followed the waveguide down. Everything in the room was destroyed, and the microwave gear literally exploded. Fortunately, the fire suppression system worked.

 

[Thomas]

DFB,
This website may help.
www.apcc.com
The model 280 or 300 might fit your needs.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Wingnut]

DFB ... UPS' are wonderful critters ... but the ones priced for you and I are designed to supply enough power to a computer to shut down gracefully (or last through a short power outage). I have 2 under my feet at the moment ... each for 2 computers with the larger one also sized for the monitor (they suck a LOT of juice).
If you want one for your computer ... most will provide at least 20 minutes of power for a normal PC and monitor .. the bigger the monitor, the faster the drain.
If you want one for your house ... win the lottery!

too bad that common sense ain't

 

[Harv]

Richard -

<font color=blue>Maybe Harv can impose one of his light bulbs here</font color=blue>

Haven't had much need for it myself lately.

Maybe I'll make one with a dunce cap -- I can get more use out of that one. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[dmccarty]

I have had an APC UPS for years at home. I know it still works because CPL gives lots of test opportunities! Maybe that should be a 8-(

Anyway, check out the AMPS used by your PC AND monitor so you size the UPS correctly. Most power outtages, I can't remember the exact percentage but it was in the high .90s, only last a second or so. All you really need is something to last for that power blip. My UPS has the umph to run the PC and monitor for 15-30 minutes. More than enough time for the power to come back or for me to do a shutdown.

Hope this helps...
Dan McCarty

 

[DFB]

Thanks for all the responses guys, power losses were so infrequent at the the other place I never gave this subject any thought before. Just to reassess my needs I don't need to power the whole ranch./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I just want to make it thru that sudden momentary power loss that seems to be so common around here. Power comes right back up, phone lines stay on. Otherwise just enough backup to exit and shut down. Just for grins, during that 98 ice storm power was out for up to 2 weeks for most people around here. The price of firewood was nothing compared to what the generators were going for./w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

 

[heehaw]

nuthin is gonna stop a direct lightning strike!! i agree with that one whole heartedly; but lightning protection equipment is so much better than is use to be!!! i have even had a company pay off @ $4,000 when we lost a bunch of equipment that was protected by their surge protectors.
I'm not 100% sure about this one; but if you buy a UPS that will power your computer for 15-20 min; you probably could expand that time by just adding additional batteries??? unless the UPS is designed to run at that max and would overheat if it ran much longer. I do know the software program that comes with the APC units to take the computer down correctly works well..at least it has for us, without that, i'd be one of those shuteroffers, ya know, shut it all off everytime you sign off..
heehaw

 

[RobertN]

I know. I shipped them next day. I am very concentious about things like this, and hate the idea that some criminal could now hurt someone with my firearms.

It depresses me /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif They were also customized...

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

 

[DFB]

RobertN, this seems to be an all too common occurence. I've seen it reported in other forums of the so called "loss" of expensive motorcycle parts (such as complete engines and shortblock assemblies)