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Questions about UPS units

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  • D Dario Solera

    The problem with PFC PSUs is that they don't like non-sinusoidal waves and they usually shut off. Moreover, they interact with the inverter of the UPS causing heavy distortion of the generated wave, thus reducing the effective capacity of the latter down to 30%. I'd be interesting in knowing what PSUs yo have. On a side note, I also suspect that things work differently with 110V or 220V ratings (I'm in Europe, so my equipment runs at 220V/50Hz).

    If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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    realJSOP
    wrote on last edited by
    #19

    An Opti 1500C, three APC BackUPS XS 900, and two APC BackUPS 650 All but one of my machines use PFC PSUs

    "Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
    -----
    "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001

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    • C cjb110

      Try this[^] to estimate your PSU requirements. But with a highend graphics card pulling ~200w, 2 10k rpm drives and 12gb you were never going to be anywhere near 400W! 800 is more likely.

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      Dave Parker
      wrote on last edited by
      #20

      hehe the draw on my server is only about 17W with monitor switched off. It's an extremely low power system though with an Intel Atom CPU.

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      • D Dave Parker

        hehe the draw on my server is only about 17W with monitor switched off. It's an extremely low power system though with an Intel Atom CPU.

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        G Offline
        Gary Wheeler
        wrote on last edited by
        #21

        You're using a netleaflet as a server?

        Software Zen: delete this;

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        • D Dario Solera

          Emil - Gabriel wrote:

          The software for my APC ups

          Is that UPSilon 2000? At any rate, how can I be sure that the APC works with a PSU that has active PFC (see my other replies)?

          If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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          Gary Wheeler
          wrote on last edited by
          #22

          Contact their tech support. I've had good luck with APC.

          Software Zen: delete this;

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          • G Gary Wheeler

            You're using a netleaflet as a server?

            Software Zen: delete this;

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            Dave Parker
            wrote on last edited by
            #23

            I'm using one of these: [^][^] At least I think thats the model I got. It doesn't need a lot of CPU power and the 2GB RAM is plenty for my exchange server, domain controller, backup jobs, remote access, various virtual machines etc.

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            • D Dario Solera

              The power supply is a Corsair 750W (it's a bit too powerful for my config it seems, but there were no "smaller" models, so...) At any rate, I'm reading some stuff on the interwebs and it seems that power supplies with active PFC usually don't work with UPS units that generate a pseudo-sinusoidal output wave. :doh:

              If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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              Dan Neely
              wrote on last edited by
              #24

              Yes and no. The problem as I understand it, is that at startup, or following a brief interruption (eg the time your ups takes to switch to battery) causes the PSU to briefly draw its maximum power to recover and that if you've got an UPS with more output power than your PC can draw you'll be fine. Remember that your PSU is rated in terms of output power, not input power (which will be higher due to conversion losses). It's probably on the box or pamphlet somewhere but your PSU should be at least 80% efficient.

              The European Way of War: Blow your own continent up. The American Way of War: Go over and help them.

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              • D Dario Solera

                My main concern is about compatibility with active power factor correction (PFC) PSUs. And, I'd also like to avoid UPS units with cooling fans.

                If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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                Dan Neely
                wrote on last edited by
                #25

                I've got a big 1300VA model from APC. The fan either runs silently or not at all except when its on battery power. There's not much you can do about it, once you run enough power through something passive cooling just can't keep up unless you make the device huge.

                The European Way of War: Blow your own continent up. The American Way of War: Go over and help them.

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                • D Dario Solera

                  The problem with PFC PSUs is that they don't like non-sinusoidal waves and they usually shut off. Moreover, they interact with the inverter of the UPS causing heavy distortion of the generated wave, thus reducing the effective capacity of the latter down to 30%. I'd be interesting in knowing what PSUs yo have. On a side note, I also suspect that things work differently with 110V or 220V ratings (I'm in Europe, so my equipment runs at 220V/50Hz).

                  If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

                  D Offline
                  D Offline
                  Dan Neely
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #26

                  Dario Solera wrote:

                  On a side note, I also suspect that things work differently with 110V or 220V ratings (I'm in Europe, so my equipment runs at 220V/50Hz).

                  afaik the only difference is that your PSUs run one or two percent more efficiently and can get marginally more DC out before overloading.

                  The European Way of War: Blow your own continent up. The American Way of War: Go over and help them.

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                  • D Dario Solera

                    I recently purchased a cheapo UPS, 400W/700VA. It turned out to be undersized for my PC*, as it simply shuts off when unplugging the power cable. Also, when the PC is at full load, the UPS unit goes overloaded and the beeper starts shouting. How do I know how much power my PC uses without using a watt-meter (which I don't have)? I calculated that it should be within 400W, but I'm lost at this point. When the UPS is overloaded, the software says it's using 154% of its power rating, which would be more than 600W... *) Intel Core i7 920, nVidia GTX275, 2x WD Velociraptor, 12GB 1,333 MHz DDR3

                    If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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                    John M Drescher
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #27

                    Dario Solera wrote:

                    cheapo UPS, 400W/700VA

                    Do NOT buy any unit less than 800VA or less than 22lb or 10 KG in weight. These are crap and generally not suitable for a computer. The battery is probably already worn out. The weight restriction ensures that there are 2 batteries in the unit instead of 1. I recommend powercomm 800 to 1500VA units that sell for around $100 USA. Or shopping on ebay for a used APC model. I have a dozen or so powercomm king pro units with (dual 8AH 12V batteries) at work and they last about 30 minutes for a dual core development machine. At home I have a 1250VA powercomm I bought 8 to 10 years ago. It powers my core2 quad q9550 with 5 hard disks for 1 hour. I have replaced the batteies on this 2 or 3 times with batteies bought onlone. These are generally $17 to $20 each shipped and are the same batteries that many APC models use. I recently upgraded this and got an APC smart UPS 1400 used from ebay for $185 shipped. With its 2 12V 18AH batteries and (30KG+ weight) I can get over 2 hours of power out of that.

                    John

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                    • D Dan Neely

                      Yes and no. The problem as I understand it, is that at startup, or following a brief interruption (eg the time your ups takes to switch to battery) causes the PSU to briefly draw its maximum power to recover and that if you've got an UPS with more output power than your PC can draw you'll be fine. Remember that your PSU is rated in terms of output power, not input power (which will be higher due to conversion losses). It's probably on the box or pamphlet somewhere but your PSU should be at least 80% efficient.

                      The European Way of War: Blow your own continent up. The American Way of War: Go over and help them.

                      D Offline
                      D Offline
                      Dario Solera
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #28

                      dan neely wrote:

                      Remember that your PSU is rated in terms of output power, not input power (which will be higher due to conversion losses). It's probably on the box or pamphlet somewhere but your PSU should be at least 80% efficient.

                      Now, I have to admit that I completely forgot about that aspect. The efficiency should be 87%.

                      If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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                      • D Dave Parker

                        I'm using one of these: [^][^] At least I think thats the model I got. It doesn't need a lot of CPU power and the 2GB RAM is plenty for my exchange server, domain controller, backup jobs, remote access, various virtual machines etc.

                        D Offline
                        D Offline
                        dandy72
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #29

                        Nice. I have an Acer EEE Box B202 hooked up to an old UPS, along with my modem, 2 routers and a switch. The whole thing draws 27 watts altogether, and the software reports that the nearly-dead battery can keep it going for 80 minutes.

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                        • D Dario Solera

                          I recently purchased a cheapo UPS, 400W/700VA. It turned out to be undersized for my PC*, as it simply shuts off when unplugging the power cable. Also, when the PC is at full load, the UPS unit goes overloaded and the beeper starts shouting. How do I know how much power my PC uses without using a watt-meter (which I don't have)? I calculated that it should be within 400W, but I'm lost at this point. When the UPS is overloaded, the software says it's using 154% of its power rating, which would be more than 600W... *) Intel Core i7 920, nVidia GTX275, 2x WD Velociraptor, 12GB 1,333 MHz DDR3

                          If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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                          urbane tiger
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #30

                          I've used several from here Eaton UPS[^], including data centre, rack & personal models - they cost a bit more, but they're ultra reliable and support's good too. My rule of thumb for personal stuff is to get a UPS that exceeds requirements by at least 50% - ie if you're drawing 500W then get a 750W UPS at minimum

                          Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur.(Pliny)

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                          • D Dave Parker

                            I'm using one of these: [^][^] At least I think thats the model I got. It doesn't need a lot of CPU power and the 2GB RAM is plenty for my exchange server, domain controller, backup jobs, remote access, various virtual machines etc.

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            Member 4480474
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #31

                            The thing runs off 12V. Get an old car battery, hook a battery trickle charger up to it, and run the thing off that. It will probably run for several days off that. Heck - go green, buy a 40W solar panel and hook that to the battery, and go off grid! :wtf: :^)

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                            • D Dario Solera

                              The power supply is a Corsair 750W (it's a bit too powerful for my config it seems, but there were no "smaller" models, so...) At any rate, I'm reading some stuff on the interwebs and it seems that power supplies with active PFC usually don't work with UPS units that generate a pseudo-sinusoidal output wave. :doh:

                              If you truly believe you need to pick a mobile phone that "says something" about your personality, don't bother. You don't have a personality. A mental illness, maybe - but not a personality. - Charlie Brooker My Photos/CP Flickr Group - ScrewTurn Wiki

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                              feanorgem
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #32

                              So assuming your 750W supply is heavily loaded divide by 0.65 to get the rating on the UPS (to correct for the way they are overrated). Also, never plug a laser printer into a normal UPS, they can't handle the fusion heater load unless they are specifically rated for a laser printer (VERY few are). As a general rule, get everything running and pull the UPS plug from the wall, if nothing reboots or dies you may be ok, if anything fails or reboots you just have a surge suppressor. Most (aka cheapP UPSs that people buy are offline and switch online when needed. The problem with this that they also have slow switchover times, often 8ms or longer so many glitches in your power will result in the UPS doing nothing. If you really want, APC has some nice white papers on sizing and the types of UPSs (online and standby). Jay

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