UPS Protection

CPP

Active member
Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
5,213
Location
Ormond Beach, Plantation Bay CC
Anyone using UPS around their computer systems. We have been having some weird commercial power interruptions thanks to Florida Power and Light (FPL) :mad: and its giving my computer system fits with these 7-10 second interruptions. What occurs in those 10 seconds is my whole 22kW house backup generator after 9sec's transfers to generator power, and that last until its sensing circuit identifies commercial power, then it transfers back to AC. FPL said, yes we are doing some changes on the grid, I said can't you do these transfers when people are sleeping not at 8am . I've already lost one hard drive so I was looking at a UPS system just for my office.
 
Chris.......I am a firm believer in UPS backup for my computers as well as my satellite receivers, televisions, and music servers. I have a total of eight UPS backups in use. They keep my desktop computers (2) operating during momentary and short term outages, keep my hard drives in the music servers protected from power loss, and keep my DirecTV satellite receivers (4) from loosing their menu programming, as well as keeping the widescreen televisions from turning off. My utility power comes from a rural electric cooperative that is fed from Florida Power and Light. There are momentary outages nearly every time a big thunderstorm rolls through the area and tree limbs hit power lines. My UPS backup units are worth every penny. They do require new batteries about once every three to four years but that's the only maintenance issue required. Fortunately, my laptop computer backs itself up with its own battery.
 
I'm a APC fan! APC S20's in my audio systems! :audiophile:

+1, good batteries, well built, intelligent, does deep battery cycling and self testing periodically.

Great power down under, but the UPS does click during a momentary brown-out from time to time. Plus it constantly measures and reports your incoming voltage.

Works seamlessly with Synology NAS also.

I went straight for an APC 1500VA also. No mucking around.
 
FWIW, most UPS back ups do not put a pure sine wave during battery power. You can spend more and get that, but I decided to use power protection/conditioning provided by Furman for my best electronics.

A UPS is a must for recording devices, like PCs, DVRs, etc. anything with a hard drive. You don't want to interrupt a recording session until you can safely power everything off manually (during a prolonged outage). Mechanical HDD are most susceptible to surges.

I use the Furman because during over OR under voltage conditions, it produces the best electrical connection: OPEN! while absorbing powerline irregularities at other times. The better units also provide a temporary reserve for power amps.

I am not sayiing using a UPS is bad, just that there are other options that may match your specifc system as well or better.
 
Often the only places that pros use UPS units is with audio components that don't take kindly to even brief power outages. That wound be components that need to reboot after an outage or components that make nasty noises on shut-down.
Same goes for home theater rooms.
But most hi-fi set-ups don't need a UPS, nor will a UPS improve day-to-day audio quality for most of us.
 
I use an APC 750 for my main desktop computer. I use a SurgeX/XU115 battery backup for my media room projector, preamp, and SACD player.
 
Often the only places that pros use UPS units is with audio components that don't take kindly to even brief power outages. That wound be components that need to reboot after an outage or components that make nasty noises on shut-down.
Same goes for home theater rooms.
But most hi-fi set-ups don't need a UPS, nor will a UPS improve day-to-day audio quality for most of us.


Well where I live and with the horrid FPL service I have, an outage once a month is not uncommon. But I now use two APC units as a conditioner with battery backup during those odd electrical flickers and they have been working great since I started this post thanks to the advice of Mike Dan and Steve. And I do have a whole house generator and can last as long as the propane holds out which is great during hurricanes.
 
Back
Top