What UPS do you use?

[R-T-B]

Looking at the "USB port" thread, I can see that a lot of us use UPS systems. I'm curious what you use, why, and how you decided it was the right UPS for you.

I don't have a lot of knowledge but I do have incredibly shaky electricity with frequent shorts and micro-outages. This unit here has never failed me:

I have two, one backing a heavy duty X58 build for my brother, and one backing my X99 system. The usb monitoring functions don't work well on X99, no idea why (It's HID battery doesn't show).

Things I considered that led me to buy this model:

Price, has AVR, reviews, runtime, and user replaceable batteries:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16842111461

 

[Recca29]

Not Used a UPS for more than 2 years. Directly plugged my system into the inverter.

 

[m4gicfour]

Cyberpower CP1500AVRLCD. Got two of them on sale.

Works fine, for all intents and purposes; definitely a low-end unit though. Pretty limited software, "Simulated Sine". AVR only kicks in IIRC below 90v and above 140V - and isn't really AVR, just engages the battery and inverter. Power supplies (PC PSU and TV, for example) buzz noticeably when running off the battery - likely a straight square wave with no stepping.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

I have three CyberPower CP1350PFCLCD units:
1) CyberPower is a good company.
2) Batteries are easy to replace.
3) Pure Sine Wave (all my computers have active PFC). I think it has cut down on the number of dead power supplies quite significantly.
4) LCD has a lot of useful stats like input voltage and draw.
5) They have 0.5 amp dedicated USB ports for charging (wish it were higher than 0.5 but it is what it is).
6) Very affordable especially considering point #3.

Why? Because even on ordinary days I can get dips in power sufficient enough for them to fill in the gap. Power here has always been finicky.

 

[AsRock]

CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP1500AVRLCD 1500VA 900W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=cyberpower_1500-_-42-102-048-_-Product

There is a newer model now although not sure if it's actually better, but the one i have has served me very well and get about 28 minutes run time on 207w usage. Battery been well cared for in the unit as if the power fails i turn the game of if running wait 2 minutes as a lot of the time the power be back on before then typically.

I like the options that come with their higher price model's as the software gives more options.

 

[MrMilli]

I have the Eaton Protection Station 500.
I also have shaky electricity with frequent shorts and micro-outages causing my computer to shutdown or to bluescreen.
But I had none of that since I installed this a year ago.

 

[rtwjunkie]

2 CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/pfc-sinewave-series/CP1500PFCLCD.html for our two main PC's.

Also a Cyberpower CP1000PFCLCD for the server http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/products/ups-systems/pfc-sinewave-series/CP1000PFCLCD.html

I live in South Louisiana, where frequent violent thunderstorms are as common as sunshine in Phoenix, Arizona is, thus leading to power outages, even if only for a few minutes. I can't imagine NOT having a UPS!

 

[Slacker]

I use an old Tripp Lite Omnipower 1200. Its super huge and heavy but it gets the job done. Its similar to the pic but it says omnipower instead of battery backup system. Same wattage and design.

 

[Easy Rhino]

APC 1200VA/780W. Nothing but the best.

 

[EarthDog]

Never used one... Not needed (for me).

 

[Easy Rhino]

Never used one... Not needed (for me).

Nobody needs an UPS until they do.

 

[EarthDog]

Nobody needs an UPS until they do.

Indeed! My luck must be running out after decades without using one.

I use power strips, like server type power strips from Tripp Lite, but... that isn't remotely the same.

 

[dorsetknob]

Never used one... Not needed (for me).

Use Parcel force when required

Oh you mean Back up power supply well again do not feel the need so far the UK power grid is good and Stable mind you with global warming and the predicted energy crisis maybe time to invest in one within the next 50 yrs

 

[Solaris17]

APC-UPS XS 1500 RBC 109

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BX1500LCD

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I never felt the need to get one and never in all my years with computers have i ever lost anything important through power failure.

i am in the UK, occasionally a tree might bring down a local power line but power cuts/surges/instabilities arent common at all.

 

[dorsetknob]

When your power comes from systems like this

your generally pretty safe with a steady secure power supply on the other hand if your power supply looks like this

Buy buy buy an UPS or your own Generator

 

[Red_Machine]

Along with dorsetknob, I live in the UK. Our national grid is so robust, that I can't even remember the last time we had a powercut. I have never entertained the notion of buying a UPS, because the need for it has never arised.

 

[rtwjunkie]

When your power comes from systems like this

your generally pretty safe with a steady secure power supply on the other hand if your power supply looks like this

Buy buy buy an UPS or your own Generator

Even the first picture won't stop power loss from violent thunderstorms (we have nice poles and line as well, but lots and lots and lots of trees. Big trees), or even a system that get overloaded from too many people in exreme heat and humidity cranking their air conditioning. That's a brownout at least, for sure! We're regularly at 96-98F (35-36 Celcius) for 6 months a year.

 

[AsRock]

Use Parcel force when required

Oh you mean Back up power supply well again do not feel the need so far the UK power grid is good and Stable mind you with global warming and the predicted energy crisis maybe time to invest in one within the next 50 yrs

LMAO global warming, sorry in the UK it rains you better be ready for it chances are you'll freeze ya ass of else, in the US it rains it's AWESOME except when it stops then it's humid as hell.

 

[Disparia]

Another Cyberpower user, though I think I'm the first with a BRG1500AVRLCD. Biggest difference between it and the CP model would be the USB charging ports on the front. Besides that it has a couple more outlets. I also think it looks better, but that's subjective.

- Main computer
- 24" monitor
- Home server
- 50" TV
- Router
- Modem

About 50% when gaming and all devices on.

Something common to the reviews I read (mostly user, but some professional) was that the biggest difference between it and a comparable APC would be the uptime. Since 99% of the problems I'll experience are brownouts that's not much of a concern. Just need something to ride me through those quick drops - which it has done a handful of times since I got it about a month ago.

Not that I don't like APC which I use a lot of work, just that Cyberpower more than meets my home needs.

 

[SetsunaFZero]

i notice most of u gays who use UPS are form US. Im not surprised the US electricity net is pretty much bullshit.

 

[rtwjunkie]

i notice most of u gays who use UPS are form US. Im not surprised the US electricity net is pretty much bullshit.

And this is based on what knowledge? Please do share!

EDIT: Here in the U.S. we have a very large number of weather extremes that Europe doesn't.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Sadly, those of you who think you don't need an UPS are misinformed. Understand that backup power during a full power outage is only the icing on the cake. It is the AVR - automatic voltage regulation that is the bread and butter of a "good" UPS. And to suggest because you don't live in the US that your grid is free of power anomalies is simply wrong too.

And it is also wrong to assume that all power anomalies that may hit your computers (or big screen TVs or home theater audio equipment) come off the grid. Many originate from inside the home - for example when a refrigerator, AC, MW oven, or toaster cycles on and off, surges and spikes, dips (opposite of spikes) and sags (opposite of surges) can be introduced onto the line.

Do not assume that $15 1500W hair dryer made in some obscure factory in China with forced, possibly underaged labor, using parts from a sister factory upriver is properly suppressing anomalies.

Any appliance or electrical device in your home can be damaged and/or fail on their own and introduce destructive power anomalies into your house wiring. Circuit panels can fail or be damaged (or miswired).

PSUs are designed to handle normal power anomalies, but the more frequent and the more extreme they are harder the PSU's (and motherboard and other devices) regulator circuits must work to smooth out those anomalies. That increases wear and tear and thus aging of your device. If you don't keep your computers and other electronics until they die, may not notice they are aging faster, but they are.

And as noted above too, like car insurance, nobody needs an UPS until they do. But unlike car insurance, you reap the benefits of a "good" UPS with AVR, even if you don't think you do.

Your computer PSU is required to "hold-up" voltage for just 17ms, should the line in voltage drop below 90VAC for 115VAC households and 180VAC for 230VAC households. 17ms is much quicker than your eyes or mind can detect. If you have ever experienced a time when your computer suddenly shutdown or was turned off for no apparent reason, it could be because you lost power or the power dipped or sagged (the lights flickered - though faster than you could detect) for mere 20ms or so. A "good" UPS with AVR would have easily detected that drop in voltage in time to compensate by boosting output voltage, or cutting over completely to backup power.

I have several "good" UPS with AVR in my home from Cyberpower and APC. One on each computer and one on my home theater system. For, this, my main computer, I have the APC Back-UPS Pro XS 1500.

 

[Red_Machine]

You seriously have no idea how robust our grid is. I've never even heard of power spikes happening here, neither dips or sags, let alone experienced them myself. It's been almost forty years since we had any power problems in this country, and that wasn't due to a bad grid, it was due to strikes leading to insufficient coal to burn in the power stations. I only have surge protected power strips for my equipment because they're just as cheap as the non-surge protected. In my 26 years on this planet, none of our electronics have been killed or damaged by power glitches.

 

[dorsetknob]

In the last 12 months i have experienced 1 ( one ) power Cut here and that was in the middle of the night
the Biggest Danger here to Electronics is local Lighting strikes they are as rare as Rocking horse shit
local lighting strike's powerfull enough to fry equipment here in the UK are rare
A UPS or even a surge protector would be next to useless as most of the electrical power would be delivered via the copper phone line not via the AC distribution network

whats the maximim power/voltage/amperage they can handle and whats the average power/voltage/amperage of your average lighting strike

whats the cost of running one over a year when it MAY ONLY BE NEEDED ONCE
HOW GREEN IS THAT?

UPS are not cost effective for most of the UK (rural areas yes they may and probably are of benefit)