PVR - surviving load-shedding with UPS??

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FlashSA

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Hi all

Does anybody have their DSTV PVR on a UPS in order for recordings to continue during eskom load-shedding? I would like to know what sort of UPS I would need to keep the PVR running for 2 1/2 hours so that I don't miss important recordings... any ideas? Would a 1KVA do it?

All input appreciated.....
 
A standard PC UPS would not help - too much of a draw, would maybe last only 15-30 minutes. Your best bet would be an inverter/deep-cycle battery/charger combo - will give you around 2-8 hours easily from a 300w or 600w unit. Have a look at Back-Up Home Power for some ideas.

I got me two Tedelex IntelliPower units a few months back - an IntelliPower2 (1x12v battery - 600W) and IntelliPower4 (2x 12v batteries - 1200W) unit.
The Intelli2 powers my 74cm CRT TV, 2x 8w lamps, standard DSTV decoder and LG DVD recorder - laptop also plugged in when it needs a charge.
The Intelli4 powers my server (900W PSU - 420W draw) and my wife's PC (450W PSU - 210w draw) without any problems - I have a 1000vA and 700vA UPS respectively between the Intelli4 unit and PC's to regulate any spikes and dips.

The longest loadshed we've had so far was 4 3/4 hours, and both units were still running strong - I actually left the Intelli2 unit unplugged from the power for a further 30 minutes after the power came back on, and it was still going. I highly recommend these units, or similar... :)

I've just ordered a 3000W inverter from the US for running all other items in the house - i.e. microwave, small kettle, home theatre system, garage door, clock radio, a few lights, etc.
 
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Your basic UPS will be able to power your decoders/PVR for about 4-5 hours. But not with the actual CRT TV Monitor ON, or the LCD TV ON.

Basically setup all the shows to automatic record, and if there is a power break etc, your decoder/pvr will still record.

your tv doesn't need to be ON physically to record shows.


Decoder/PVR doesn't use alot more power than a normal DVD player or even Video machine. The sucker that draws all the power is the actual TV itself.

If you actually wanna watch TV and record and do other stuffs while there is a power outage. Then you will need a very strong UPS and it all depends on the TV Size and all the equipment that draws power from the UPS.
 
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Thanks for the replies - very informative!

I have also been reading up on the Tedelex IntelliPower units - they seem amazing and well priced too when compared to generators which need constant refuelling and are noisy (apart from expensive silent gensets)

I am seriously considering purchasing one of the Tedelex units - the Intellipower2 for a light or two and my LCD and PVR...... plus they can be wheeled around the townhouse to power different items!
 
howardb said:
A standard PC UPS would not help - too much of a draw, would maybe last only 15-30 minutes. Your best bet would be an inverter/deep-cycle battery/charger combo - will give you around 2-8 hours easily from a 300w or 600w unit. Have a look at Back-Up Home Power for some ideas.

I got me two Tedelex IntelliPower units a few months back - an IntelliPower2 (1x12v battery - 600W) and IntelliPower4 (2x 12v batteries - 1200W) unit.
The Intelli2 powers my 74cm CRT TV, 2x 8w lamps, standard DSTV decoder and LG DVD recorder - laptop also plugged in when it needs a charge.
The Intelli4 powers my server (900W PSU - 420W draw) and my wife's PC (450W PSU - 210w draw) without any problems - I have a 1000vA and 700vA UPS respectively between the Intelli4 unit and PC's to regulate any spikes and dips.

The longest loadshed we've had so far was 4 3/4 hours, and both units were still running strong - I actually left the Intelli2 unit unplugged from the power for a further 30 minutes after the power came back on, and it was still going. I highly recommend these units, or similar... :)

I've just ordered a 3000W inverter from the US for running all other items in the house - i.e. microwave, small kettle, home theatre system, garage door, clock radio, a few lights, etc.
Click to expand...

One question - can you disable the Intelli2's "power-off" beeping? I have a baby 600VA running my ADSL router at home currently and the beeping drives me nuts....... This is the only concern I have with the unit.

I would also think that as long as my earth leakage and mains is down on the mainsboard - and I turn my geyser off... I would be able to plug the OUTPUT side of the Intelli-unit into one of my wall plugs and this should then power my fridge and roof\wall lights around the house just like a generator does. Obviously trial and error to avoid over-loading the UPS

Thoughts?
 
Sent PM...with all the specs and details.

flashsa said:
One question - can you disable the Intelli2's "power-off" beeping? I have a baby 600VA running my ADSL router at home currently and the beeping drives me nuts....... This is the only concern I have with the unit.
Click to expand...

If the UPS has a push power button (like a VCR power button), then you should be able to press it once when the power goes off or starts beeping - this disables the beeping on many UPS's.

There is no "power-off" beeping like a PC UPS - the only sign that it's kicked in is the cooling fan (which is a low whir similar to a CPU cooler sound, but you tune out eventually) - the fan is on during a blackout to keep the unit cool, and remains on for approx 1-2 hours (depending on how long the power was off) whilst the battery is re-charged - once fully charged, it automatically switches off the fan. There is a switch-over response time of approx. 5-30 milliseconds and you don't even notice...

flashsa said:
I would also think that as long as my earth leakage and mains is down on the mainsboard - and I turn my geyser off... I would be able to plug the OUTPUT side of the Intelli-unit into one of my wall plugs and this should then power my fridge and roof\wall lights around the house just like a generator does. Obviously trial and error to avoid over-loading the UPS

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

This unit is a stand-alone one, meaning that you don't hard-wire it to your mains - it simply has a input power plug that plugs into any regular power socket, and 2 standard output power plugs on the top of the unit - I have two 2-pin extenda-plugs plugged into mine, with the TV and DSTV plugged into one adapter and the VCR, DVD Recorder and two lamps plugged into the other. The unit fits neatly behind the side of the couch next to the wall, and all the wires/cabling are behind the TV unit - very neat. Shout if you want some pics of my setup.

Cheers
 
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Bought 5 Tedelex Intellipower 4 units ( 2 for me, 3 for family ) a few weeks ago

They work wonderfully

One runs my TV, CFL lamps, DSTV, DVD ect ect
One runs 3 Computers, CFL lamps ect ect

No beeping or anything from mine, unlike my old computer UPS
Ony way you know the power if off is the LED light changes, and the small cooling fan kicks in

4,5 hour blackout earlier this week and they were still running strong

They are well worth it
Got a nice discount for taking a couple
 
Wow- well it seems that is definitely the way to go. Tired of noisy generator and expensive fuel. Can't wait to get my hands on one of the units. Thank you all for the feedback- more welcome!
 
UPS for DVD Recorders and TV

flashsa said:
Hi all

Does anybody have their DSTV PVR on a UPS in order for recordings to continue during eskom load-shedding? I would like to know what sort of UPS I would need to keep the PVR running for 2 1/2 hours so that I don't miss important recordings... any ideas? Would a 1KVA do it?

All input appreciated.....
Click to expand...

Hi FlashSA

Inorder for your DVD not to lose time it is imporatant to use True Sine Wave instead of Modified Sine Wave ( Current Tedelex IntelliPower units ) UPS units. Your DVD uses the incoming power to oscillate its internal clock to keep time and modified sine wave units lose or gain time quit rapidly.
A 600 watt unit is about the smallest you can get away with.
I have a portable 800 watt unit from Home Power UPS Sustems
and as I stay in the Plotlands East of Pretoria, I get frequent power outages excluding our beloved Load Shedding ( which I can only see returning in the near future ). The UPS unit with one sealed maintenance free battery allows me to watch or record TV for approx 5 hours without Eskom power.
 
My Intellipower 4 is working very well - however I think I have noticed that my video machine is gaining time - I have had everything connected for just over a month now - and I would say the video machine has gained about 7 minutes since I set it - so what you said is very true...

I am not too fussed - true Sine Wave is lank expensive - and the Intellipower 4 cost me enough as it is!

Regarding load-shedding - I couldn't agree more - I just don't see Eskom having the capacity to get us through Winter without some form of loadshedding
 
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