need some backup UPS/battery advice

waterprism

waterprism

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Hi guys,

Wouldn't mind some advice on UPSs if you've got one; been looking at some online and I'm a bit confused as I've read some people saying they don't get even close to the specs.

Okay, so we've started getting blackouts where I am already. Yay. I work online from home so definitely need a backup. What would you recommend for a Quad with a 550W power supply, HD6800, router and 24 inch monitor to get about 6 to 8 hours? Thanks a lot.
 
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I'd recommend any active UPS system (there's a difference between the Passive and Active ones, Passive are the cheaper models)

The difference basically is, with an active UPS, your PC is connected to the battery at all times, so when the power dips or goes out entirely, there's no "switch over" to the backup power since it's already running off of the battery, unlike the passive ones that needs to switch over from the power line to the battery (and is more susceptible to power dips/spikes/lightning and could damage your equipment)

So you're looking at spending at least R1200 on one. I think that should buy you a 1000 kVA system (haven't looked at pricing in a long time. And it should last you about 30 minutes.

UPS isn't designed to keep your PC on for longer than that really, it's there to prevent unnecessary outages and you losing all your work. You might want to compliment your setup with a generator. so with the UPS going, power goes out, you casually get up, get the generator started and plug your UPS into the gennie.

Now, the question as to what gennie to get.... well, you'd need to ask your hardware person :) Tell them you have an x kVA UPS running powering your PC setup and they should be able to tell you which load you'd need.

To me this is the cheapest option to go for. I know sometime back there was this solution from a company here in SA that built UPS to last 12 hours a day, but forking out R30k for it wasn't really an option for me.
 
Give the guys at UPSDirect a poke and ask for pricing on the Inverex units like this one. Will give you a good 5-12 hours dependant on the model you get,pricing isn't that insane either,last time i bought we forked out around 4k per unit.

I run 2-3 PCs off a single unit and we have a few powering things like Televisions,projectors and entertainment centers
 
Hi. Thanks, guys.

@Acid. Thanks. A genny did cross my mind, but I'm not so keen on it. It seems a bit of a mission and an expense from the experience I had with one where I used to work. Thing was big, worked crap and was noisy. I live in a complex, so I don't think it would be the best idea. Don't know if there's better genny solutions than the one they had where I worked, but that thing sucked.

@Psy. Thanks. Will definitely take a look at that link. I was originally looking at Inverex. I was pretty stoked when I came across it. But then I read -- here at mbb actually -- that people aren't getting even close to the spec 6-8 hours out of them, or any other make for that matter, and felt like I was back at square one. I wouldn't mind 4k at all if I can get around about spec juice out of them. Are you getting the 5-12 hours you mention in your post from the one you got?
 
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waterprism said:
Are you getting the 5-12 hours you mention in your post from the one you got?
Click to expand...

Getting 6hours from a 2k with 2 PCs and a 40inch Flatscreen+Amp+Decoder ^.^

Basically if our office has outages the workstations can run from 8 to 5 on backup power if the UPS is fully juiced
 
PsyWulf said:
Getting 6hours from a 2k with 2 PCs and a 40inch Flatscreen+Amp+Decoder ^.^

Basically if our office has outages the workstations can run from 8 to 5 on backup power if the UPS is fully juiced
Click to expand...

That sounds awesome. Thanks. So, the 2k, that's the one you linked to, right? The Inverex 2000va? It says there on that spec page 120 minutes though. Is that to do with something else?

edit: Oh... is that 120 minutes sans batteries?
 
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Yeah you can ignore that,no idea what those times are for tbh,always used the va to measure likely load times
 
Arb question, can one kill the audible alarm? Be really annoying trying to watch TV and it's going off every 2secs. Also is the battery seperate?
 
PsyWulf said:
The bigger units do have extra battery packs,gimme a shake i'll take a Pic

These things weigh a ****ton
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Then I believe you ;)

It's just that the OP would be lucky to get 1hr out of the 2000VA unit if it does not come with additional external battery packs.
 
Kosmik said:
Arb question, can one kill the audible alarm? Be really annoying trying to watch TV and it's going off every 2secs. Also is the battery seperate?
Click to expand...

They have internal batteries and for longer runtime you usually get external enclosed battery packs. All depends on the unit you get.
 
IMG012.jpg

Bottom box is the extra Battery pack for the 2k,single box solution is the 1200va units
 
PsyWulf said:
IMG012.jpg

Bottom box is the extra Battery pack for the 2k,single box solution is the 1200va units
Click to expand...

Appreciate the pic, Psy. Looks good. Okay, so you'd recommend the 2k and a battery pack? I was actually looking at this one at first before I got cold feet from bad reviews, but what you're telling me sounds pretty sweet. Food for thought. Thanks.
 
At least go for 1200 or even the 2k,the price increase isn't that bad for what you get :) they deliver too
 
Haven't had need to open the new Inverex units yet so couldn't say,each box has 2 behemoth batteries in
 
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