#uninterrupted power supp
17 messages in this thread
I want to get a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for my system but I'm not sure
how to go about picking it out. The salespeople at places like CompUSA, etc.
are not always that knowledgeable.
Does one choose acording to the size of the computer power supply? Should it be
able to include peripherals, such as printer, external hard drive, cd-rom,
modem, monitor etc.?
Does one choose according to amperage??
I have an A2000, Idek 17 monitor, MicroR&D 14.4 modem, Sony 300 cd-rom, Iomega
150 external hard drive, HP Laser IIIP printer, and Epson ES-800C scanner.
Any help on this would be appreciated.
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
I only have one suggestion for you. Do not put the laser printer on the UPS.
Now on the Internet with Compuserve and PPP
Rick Green Via AP1.80
Why? Doesn't that mean that I'll have to turn the whole system off when I need
the printer?
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Some UPS products aren't made for laser printers.
The laser printer sucks too much power for a UPS, for one. It would not be
very efficient to get a large UPS so you could power your laser printer. Just
plug the laser printer into the wall. Then, if the power goes out, you just
can't print. All a UPS is supposed to do is give you time to shut down
properly.
Now on the Internet with Compuserve and PPP
Rick Green Via AP1.80
Thanks for the input, Rick!
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Good one!!! I didn't think about that! It is like an oven!
Rafa <Motorola Inside>
…via AutoPilot 1.80 from Berlin
Hank,
<I want to get a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) for my system but I'm not
sure how to go about picking it out.>
The easiest way is to add up the wattage of all the items you want to
connect to the UPS and get one that size. If your wattage adds up to 200, for
example, you'd get a UPS-200. That will give you about 5-10 minutes after the
power goes out. Slightly larger UPSs will give you extra time. Remember,
monitors really suck that power up! When I was trying to send mail out during
the flood, we needed two UPSs, one for the monitor and the other for EVERYTHING
else because mine wasn't rated high enough and I had only a few minutes of
power left in it….<g>
Skimming through the Redwoods on AutoPilot
Asha
Asha;
Since one can turn the monitor on and off without harming the computer (or so I
understand), I could probably just use a surge suppressor for it and turn it
off when leaving my computer unattended for any length of time. Right??
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Hank,
<Since one can turn the monitor on and off without harming the computer (or so
I understand), I could probably just use a surge suppressor for it and turn it
off when leaving my computer unattended for any length of time. Right??>
Sounds right to me! I needed my monitor on (when I was trying to send out
messages during the flood with only my UPSs) becuase the first time I tried
there was a problem with the connection and I had to SEE what was going on.
But for general purposes, turning the monitor off (and leaving the rest
connected to the UPS) works just fine.
Don't forget to disconnect the phone line from the modem if you're getting
lightning strikes as those can run up the phone through the modem and fry your
system even if the modem is connected to the UPS.
Skimming through the Redwoods on AutoPilot
Asha
Asha;
< Don't forget to disconnect the phone line from the modem if you're getting
lightning strikes as those can run up the phone through the modem and fry your
system even if the modem is connected to the UPS.>
Thanks for the advice.
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Hank,
I got mine from MEI/Micro Center 1-800-634-3478.
It comes in a 250w and 500w configuration, the latter running about $160.00
which is dirt cheap compared to replacing your CPU. It's state of the art, and
compact.
Good luck,
Michael,CyberGrafx.3D
Thanks, Mike, I'll call them.
What do you have connected to yours? How many in-puts does yours have?
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Hank,
<<<What do you have connected to yours? How many in-puts does yours have?>>
Everythings except the printer. No need to have it hooked up to a UPS, and
it's such a power hog I'm afraid it'll pop the circuit breaker in the thing.
Input wise, it's got four (4) UPS inputs and two (2) surge protected only
inputs.
I think it's about the best on the market for the money. I'd recommend the
500 watt version. It's not much more money, but a whole lot more power.
Good luck!
Michael,CyberGrafx.3D
Mike;
< Input wise, it's got four (4) UPS inputs and two (2) surge protected only
inputs.>
Thanks for the input.
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33
Hank,
the computer, monitor (!!), modem, CD-ROM, Iomega should all be on the UPS.
Add up their power draws and that should be the size of the UPS you should buy.
If they don't have straight wattage ratings, you can multiply 120 VAC by the
current ratings of the device (e.g. a modem that is rated for 120 VAC and draws
1/4 amps would be rated at 120v x 1/4 amp = 30 watts. A bit much, actually,
but that's the formula, volts times amps.
Don't connect the printer or the scanner to the UPS. _DO_ connect the
monitor. It is bloody difficult to shut down the machine if you can't see what
you are doing!
Generally, a 450 VAC UPS should do you just fine. That is what I'm using
here and it has saved me the two times we have had earthquakes that knocked the
power offline (and one of those times, I was online, which is why I added the
modem ;-).
Brian;
Thanks for the precise advice, just what the doctor ordered.
Pax Vobiscum! Hank
from northern N.J. running A2000 GVP'040@33