Ups?

**doctor15** · 09-21-2003, 12:26 PM

Hi!

After the hurricane the power in my dorm room flickers every once in a while (I dont think they've completly fixed everything yet). Anyway I figured I should buy a UPS after I tried to run my computer through the hurricane and it got shutdown three times. I dont know too much about them, but I've heard APC is the way to go. I was looking at the ES-725 and the RS 800 (cant find info on APCs site, but looks similar to the RS1000). I dnt want to spend too much money, and I'm looking for something that will power my computer, monitor and speakers through breif power outages/ spikes, adn safely shutdown my computer/ protect it during storms and power outages.

The main difference between those two im looking at (i think) is the Voltage Regulation. Is that something I need? If not I'll probably just go for the cheaper one.

What other ones should I consider? Anyone know of good deals on any (I saw the ones at dell).

**ua549** · 09-21-2003, 01:45 PM

Automatic voltage regulation (AVR) is a big plus because of things such as spikes and sags.

**doctor15** · 09-21-2003, 02:16 PM

well what i dont understand is if I dont have it, and the voltage drops, is it gonig to pass to my computer and possibly damage it, or just switch to battery? If its just going to switch to battery, then I dont see a huge advantage to it since the spikes dont last long and the battery can than recharge.

Also does anyone have experience with those two particular models. I'm a little worried because the RS800 doesnt appear on APC's site.

**ua549** · 09-21-2003, 03:03 PM

You can have long term (other than momentary) power sags and spikes that can damage your system without causing the unit to switch to battery. I have several APC 1kva and 1.5kva units but not the smaller models you are considering. The units I have work very well.

There are several APC models that do not appear on the APC website. They are models distributed by certain retailers such as CompUSA, Office Depot, Staples, . . .

**doctor15** · 09-21-2003, 03:05 PM

alright thanks. I think ill spend the extra $20 on the rs800 w/ the voltage regulator (Dell has it on sale for $93 w/ tax and shipping).

**Isezumi** · 09-21-2003, 04:25 PM

yeah regulators are clutch...

I have a cheapo APC unit...*crawls under desk* ES 500.

The way that parallel UPS's or non regulated ones work is not too flattering. They have a little circuit that monitors the line voltage...once it goes below like 94v it kicks over to the battery. The only problem with that is that starting at about 97v, 110v electronics start to pass out from lack of juice.

They few times that I have had my APC kick on, I usually had to turn my monitor back on and/or my comp had restarted.

**BernieDD** · 09-22-2003, 11:12 AM

My computer's connected to an Opti UPS that has a built-in voltage regulator. I can sometimes hear its relays clicking from time to time without tripping over to battery power, so I know they are due to voltage sags or surges. I've had it for 2 years now with nary a complaint.

After our clinic's ultrasound machine (I'm a doctor) blew its power supply and needed some expensive repairs, I installed a same model UPS between it and the mains. It turned out that the voltage feeding into the building was 15% higher than what it should be. The Opti UPS brought it down to safe levels, and it's now been 3 trouble-free years since the incident.

**Isezumi** · 09-22-2003, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by BernieDD
My computer's connected to an Opti UPS that has a built-in voltage regulator. I can sometimes hear its relays clicking from time to time without tripping over to battery power, so I know they are due to voltage sags or surges. I've had it for 2 years now with nary a complaint.

After our clinic's ultrasound machine (I'm a doctor) blew its power supply and needed some expensive repairs, I installed a same model UPS between it and the mains. It turned out that the voltage feeding into the building was 15% higher than what it should be. The Opti UPS brought it down to safe levels, and it's now been 3 trouble-free years since the incident.

Dude...you should be talking to an electrician about that...

that much overvolt is going to eventually damage more components then just an ultrasound.

**ua549** · 09-23-2003, 08:13 AM

Over voltage is common where I live as well. 130 vac is my most common reading - 8% higher than normal. One cannot correct the voltage fluctuations from the electric utility for an entire building without spending big bucks.

**BernieDD** · 09-23-2003, 11:06 AM

Originally posted by Isezumi
Dude...you should be talking to an electrician about that...

that much overvolt is going to eventually damage more components then just an ultrasound.

He can't do much about it, except complain to the power company. Our building is very very near the company's 3-phase step-down transformer from a 40,000 volt feed.

Funny thing though, the ultrasound unit was the only one in our clinic to have suffered from the overvoltage condition. Maybe it's because, if memory serves me right, I recall that most electrical equipment are designed to withstand a 15% overvoltage safely.

**tituswolf** · 09-23-2003, 01:36 PM

Every computer user should have an AVR it helps with spikes and brown outs which can be caused by just about anything (air conditioner, Refrigerator, etc..) anything kicking on and draining power quickly. The brown outs have a cumulative effect on your hardware and will decrease the lifespan of components. An avr will also make your computer more stable as allot of computers errors are do to voltage problems. They are not cheap, but if you are a college student or anyone who has mission critical task then they are a must. By the way... I use to work at Best Buy... so I may be full of crap.

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