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Electronics Repair (sci.electronics.repair) Discussion of repairing electronic equipment. Topics include requests for assistance, where to obtain servicing information and parts, techniques for diagnosis and repair, and annecdotes about success, failures and problems. |
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#1
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their
products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex |
#2
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
"00_DotNetWarrior" wrote in message
... I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex Alex Don't worry about it, just replace it. ( with another brand if it makes you happier) Going on your figures you have 60 - 70 time on years (525,000 - 613,200 hours) of use out of your APC's. I recon that's pretty good reliability for one blowup. Cheers Paul. |
#3
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
"00_DotNetWarrior" wrote in message ... 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. Doubtful. I have seen the insides of car stereos that look a lot worse than this. Alex |
#4
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
00_DotNetWarrior wrote:
I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex And how many pieces of electronic equipment do you own that will never and can never fail? Was the UPS supplying a computer controlling, for example, your life support system? I'd say that if the UPS failing didn't damage your computer, and given that the UPS in question is about the cheapest model that APC makes, things worked out pretty well all things considered. By all means, go and buy some other manufacturer's UPS if it makes you happy but if you continue to buy from the bottom rung you probably shouldn't expect any better experience and may well do far worse. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com |
#5
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
Since you say the unit was not overloaded, please post exactly what was
plugged into the backup portion and the wattage of each unit. The failure probably was just a normal electronics failure. So far you have had pretty good luck in terms of hours and use of the APC backup units. You do realize that the one you had in the picture was the cheapest bottom of the line UPS you could have been using? Where I work paid $3200 for a real UPS power converter for a situation where power interuption could be life endangering. It was a 3KVA ONEAC with full power conversion. |
#6
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
These things happen even with hardened and redundant military/aerospace
systems. |
#7
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
In article . com,
" wrote: Since you say the unit was not overloaded, please post exactly what was plugged into the backup portion and the wattage of each unit. The failure probably was just a normal electronics failure. So far you have had pretty good luck in terms of hours and use of the APC backup units. You do realize that the one you had in the picture was the cheapest bottom of the line UPS you could have been using? Where I work paid $3200 for a real UPS power converter for a situation where power interuption could be life endangering. It was a 3KVA ONEAC with full power conversion. "You do realize that the one you had in the picture was the cheapest bottom of the line UPS you could have been using" And that is the lesson to be learned here. In a sampling of 100 units of this class of product, roughly 10% did not function correctly. None failed in the fashion yours did, but the lesson I learned from that purchase, is these cost-reduced designs do nobody a favor. When the UPS companies fight one another on lowest price, the loser is the consumer. I use a 650VA for the computer I'm typing on, and it was the biggest one I could get at my local computer store. I cannot imagine what the shipping would cost, to order a decent one from the Internet. Paul |
#8
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
In article , 00
_DotNetWarrior says... 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, The burning is **** all. There wasn't any burning. The lacquer on the PCB has got hot. it can actually cause fire. Again bull****. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. On the sayso of one over dramatic knobjockey? -- Conor I'm so grateful to the USA for their contribution to the war on terror. After all, if they hadn't funded the IRA for 30 years, we wouldn't know what terror was. |
#9
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
I have TWO APC Back-UPS 450s in use, one for the monitor, one for the
computer. The combined monitor and computer put the 450 in an overload condition. Given the computers 400 watt power supply and the monitors 200 watt rating, no wonder the UPS was overloaded. No sense paying shipping for a UPS over the internet with Batteries Plus, and others, around. They can special order in many real commercial grade UPS units and have it come in with the next truck of batteries so you pay no shipping. So far the price has been within 10% on most units as the best online price from a reputable type of company. Staples, Office Depot, etc also have reasonable selection of UPS units that are better than the bottom of the line available and they also will get them into the store. How many people actually test their UPS regularily? How many people inspect the UPS batteries once a year, they generally last 2 to 4 years in most non-high grade units? |
#10
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire.
I see no signs of burning on the board as it is not bubbled up at all, just blackened. Looks like the regulator IC failed and got hot and sent the casing plastic and magic smoke out. There is very little chance of any fire from a failure like that. The "burning" as you called it was local to the internal structure of the 3 leg regulator ic. Even as it was very hot, there might be some signs of the heat on the plastic case. You can put a propane torch to the plastic case and it will burn only while the external flame and heat is applied, the case has fire proofing material in the plastic. I do wonder if the UPS was sitting on a carpeted floor, which is not in accordance with the normal installation APC recommends. |
#11
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
00_DotNetWarrior wrote:
I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex Looks like that voltage regulator blew up, it happens sometimes with any piece of electronics. It's very rare for one to actually start a fire but it will give off lots of horrid smelling smoke if a power semiconductor craters like that. My guess in this case is that it was simply a defective part, probably shorted internally and overheated. Replacing that one part might even get the unit back online. |
#12
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
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#13
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
How old was the UPS ? When did you last check it's battery runtime ? When did you last replace the battery ? What was the total load connected to the UPS ? APC UPSs are no worse and somewhat better than the rest of the lot. Failure is one I have seen before. Charging circut overheats because of a failed shorted battery cell. As others have mentioned don't buy the low capacity bottom feeders. Hugh |
#14
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
For home use, the maximum wattage that could be used by a device should
less than the maximum wattage output of any UPS. If the UPS is rated in VA, then multiply it by a nice round 0.7 for the absolute maximum wattage it can handle. Then you really want some extra room for error and longer ups on battery run time, so always allow some spare capacity. Since most 400watt P4 power supplies do not use quite that much current, as James Sweet noted, having a single computer on a 400-500VA UPS is about right in most cases. If there is any question about the power used by the computer, then size the UPS based on the maximum wattage the computer could be pulling, 400/0.7 = 571, so a 600VA or larger should be used on just the computer. |
#15
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
00_DotNetWarrior wrote: APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? How do you know the Back-Ups didn't protect at all? Even when the backup fails, the surge protection still works. I'd blame an inadequate heatsink causing device IC3 overheat and short. Replacing IC3 and installing an aluminum heatsink will probably prevent a repeat of this (steel heatsinks conduct heat terribly), but don't attempt repair unless you know what you're doing since this device works at high voltage, even when it's unplugged and running from its internal battery. Don't let the heatsink touch the transformer behind it. don't know what IC3 is, but IC12 looks like a # UC3526AD pulse width modulator and may drive IC3 (judging by the fact both have burn marks around them). Replace any capacitors connected to these devices since they're often the cause of failure. This is not an expensive repair if the labor is free (any electronics tech or real computer tech can do it). 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. Circuit boards are made of fire-resistant resin that don't burn much, and while it's possible the plastic enclosure doesn't meet UL flammability standard V-0, I doubt it. |
#16
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
On 4 Jan 2006 19:23:53 -0800, "
wrote: For home use, the maximum wattage that could be used by a device should less than the maximum wattage output of any UPS. If the UPS is rated in VA, then multiply it by a nice round 0.7 for the absolute maximum wattage it can handle. Then you really want some extra room for error and longer ups on battery run time, so always allow some spare capacity. Since most 400watt P4 power supplies do not use quite that much current, as James Sweet noted, having a single computer on a 400-500VA UPS is about right in most cases. If there is any question about the power used by the computer, then size the UPS based on the maximum wattage the computer could be pulling, 400/0.7 = 571, so a 600VA or larger should be used on just the computer. Generally one does not want to "size" an ups to a system like this, the UPS rating is a maximum, not a target. The typical low-end system might be fine on a 500VA UPS but with consumer grade UPS, it's $ well spent to go for at least 700VA or more, especially if one is trying to power a monitor too. Like anything else, run at UPS at it's max and it may not last so long. |
#17
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
Thanks a lot for all the comments, I think I will get a better one. I went
to tigerdirect, they carry APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA and they also carry Cyberpower CPS1500AVR (1500 VA) Is this Cyberpower any good? It said it's design for running server, it's like 30% less expensive than Smart-UPS... any idea? Thanks Alex. "John McGaw" wrote in message ... 00_DotNetWarrior wrote: I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex And how many pieces of electronic equipment do you own that will never and can never fail? Was the UPS supplying a computer controlling, for example, your life support system? I'd say that if the UPS failing didn't damage your computer, and given that the UPS in question is about the cheapest model that APC makes, things worked out pretty well all things considered. By all means, go and buy some other manufacturer's UPS if it makes you happy but if you continue to buy from the bottom rung you probably shouldn't expect any better experience and may well do far worse. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com |
#18
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
In article , "00_DotNetWarrior"
wrote: Thanks a lot for all the comments, I think I will get a better one. I went to tigerdirect, they carry APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA and they also carry Cyberpower CPS1500AVR (1500 VA) Is this Cyberpower any good? It said it's design for running server, it's like 30% less expensive than Smart-UPS... any idea? Thanks Alex. CyberPower CPS1500AVR 1500VA 950W 6 Outlets UPS - Retail $210 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Custra...82E16842102006 "Just make sure it's in a well ventilated spot cause this thing gets HOT" I hope the author of that comment is referring to operation on batteries... http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/CPS1500AVR.asp The specs are in the next doc. Transfer time 4msec (the ATX power supply hold up time must be greater than the UPS transfer time, and the ATX supply in your computer might be in the 16msec range or so. You can look those up, but I don't see a problem here). Simulated sine wave output. http://www.cyberpowersystems.com/dow...R-RM_Specs.pdf APC SmartUPS / 1500VA / 980Watt / SUA1500RM2U RackMount UPS $590 http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...8758&CatId=235 http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=165 http://www.apc.com/resource/include/...ku=SUA1500RM2U User manual. http://sturgeon.apcc.com/techref.nsf/partnum/990-1194/$FILE/990-1194_REV02_eng.pdf Specs (rack mount page). Transfer time 2msec plus detect time. I cannot find a statement about the quality of the sine wave output in terms of words like "simulated" or "true" sinewave. I expect either is good enough for computers. http://apcmedia.apcc.com/pdf_downloa.../996-1060i.pdf There simply is not enough info to make a clear decision. Perhaps seeing a picture of what is inside would help. I couldn't find any useful images via images.google.com or www.altavista.com/image/default One of the comments on Newegg was "Do not ship via UPS - product arrives destroyed" or the like. Perhaps part of the decision will be where you can get the thing, that adequate packaging and a good shipper will be used. This is one of the reasons that I didn't get mine over the Internet. (Too bad they don't ship the chassis and the battery or batteries separately.) I think I know which one I would buy, but I don't think you want any irrational input :-) And based on the criterion of unit weight, they are both heavy, so that trick won't help in this case. (ATX power supplies for computers, for example, have a correlation between unit weight and quality.) Another comment, and something I didn't ask in the first thread. You know you aren't supposed to connect inductive loads to this thing. Large motors (a bar fridge's compressor) are a no-no. Try to stick with computer components. The arcing and sparking of an inductive load could lead to premature failure of something inside the UPS, like when it is on battery. Paul "John McGaw" wrote in message ... 00_DotNetWarrior wrote: I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex And how many pieces of electronic equipment do you own that will never and can never fail? Was the UPS supplying a computer controlling, for example, your life support system? I'd say that if the UPS failing didn't damage your computer, and given that the UPS in question is about the cheapest model that APC makes, things worked out pretty well all things considered. By all means, go and buy some other manufacturer's UPS if it makes you happy but if you continue to buy from the bottom rung you probably shouldn't expect any better experience and may well do far worse. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com |
#19
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
Here's my 2 cents worth.
When it comes to Servers in a corporate enviornment, I get very very conservative. serves are meant to run 24/7/365 (excluding scheduled downtime for maintenance). You typically have a number (large or small) of users that are expecting that server to always be up. when considering equipment for servers whether it be a UPS, or tape backup, or drives, etc..... This is one place where you don't want to pinch pennies. In the long run it doesn't pay off. as far as the UPS issue at hand, whether to go with a brand name that's well know and that has been around for a long time such as APC, or another brand such as Cyberpower which I myself have never heard of (doesn't mean they're not a good product), I'd go for the brand name in a heart-beat, even if it costs a bit more. after all, if it ever does fail, and the server is down, how many min of lost productivity does it take to pay for the amount of money you saved when you chose the UPS.? BTW, It just so happens that probably 90% of the UPS's we use at work are APC. we've been using them for at least the last 16 years I've been here, and overall, they've served us well. A few things to remember as others have pointed out already. The batteries will not last forever. test them periodacally. I've lost count how many UPS's I've run across sitting next to someones desk that had red alarm lights lit indicated a battery failure. when I stop and ask the user if they knew the red light was on, they would just say, 'yep. been lit for a long time now' We now have a regular maintenance shedule now where we have a few spares and on a regular basis, we'll take a UPS out of service, replacing it with a spare then our electronics department will perform a complete checkout of the UPS replacing batteries where needed. UPS's are not meant to power you PC for any signifigant period of time. They are designed (when sized properly) to be able to supply enough power to run your system long enough for you to perform a controlled shut-down of the system. That's all. Typicaly we'll size a UPS to be able to handle the load of the system for roughly 20 min. If you want something to power your PC for a longer period of time, then you need to look at battery-backup systems. The higher rated/priced UPS's will also normally have a serial port on the UPS that can be connected to your server. using the software that came with the UPS and the serial cable, the UPS can automatically signal the server that it has lost AC power and to automatically signal the server to shut down gracefully. Using that same serial port and software, it will normally allow you to monitor the condition of the UPS and it's batteries. For the UPS's that we use on systems that don't contain a PC, we install the UPS software on a laptoptop. we then use the laptop and a serial cable to go around to all those UPS's on a regular basis to check the condition of the UPS, the condition of the batteries, etc. Also, most UPS manufacture's will have a wizard somewhere on thier web site that you can use to input what kind of equipment you want to hook up to the UPS and how long you want to be able to power the equipment, and it will tell you which model and size is best suited for your needs. "00_DotNetWarrior" wrote in message ... Thanks a lot for all the comments, I think I will get a better one. I went to tigerdirect, they carry APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA and they also carry Cyberpower CPS1500AVR (1500 VA) Is this Cyberpower any good? It said it's design for running server, it's like 30% less expensive than Smart-UPS... any idea? Thanks Alex. "John McGaw" wrote in message ... 00_DotNetWarrior wrote: I have been using APC products at least for 6-7 years and I have 10 of their products in the office and I am happy with them UNTIL recently. I have one of my regular desktops I left it on all the time protected by APC Back-Ups Office 500 VA, I went out for 2 hours and came back. The computer was off and the whole room got burning smell. I found that my APC was not working, So I examined my computer, monitor everything were fine when plugged directly to the elec outlet. Now, I opened up the APC, Look at the photos!! http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/1.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/2.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/3.jpg http://portal.aidmas.com/Temp/Customer/98712/4.jpg The unit was not overloaded, and I checked my log file from other APCs software, there wasn't any surge during the day. Now, the questions a 1. What caused this? anyone had similar experience? 2. If I am using APC for my servers (I do have several servers running 1000VA series), I am SO WORRIED this will happen and shut down by itself like this. How can I prevent this and WHAT'S THE POINT of having a backup when APC can't even function by itself? 3. See the photos? The burning is pretty bad, it can actually cause fire. I should think about APC product if I were to buy again. Alex And how many pieces of electronic equipment do you own that will never and can never fail? Was the UPS supplying a computer controlling, for example, your life support system? I'd say that if the UPS failing didn't damage your computer, and given that the UPS in question is about the cheapest model that APC makes, things worked out pretty well all things considered. By all means, go and buy some other manufacturer's UPS if it makes you happy but if you continue to buy from the bottom rung you probably shouldn't expect any better experience and may well do far worse. -- John McGaw [Knoxville, TN, USA] http://johnmcgaw.com |
#20
Posted to alt.comp.hardware,alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,sci.electronics.repair
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
00_DotNetWarrior writes:
Thanks a lot for all the comments, I think I will get a better one. I went to tigerdirect, they carry APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA and they also carry Cyberpower CPS1500AVR (1500 VA) Is this Cyberpower any good? It said it's design for running server, it's like 30% less expensive than Smart-UPS... any idea? I prefer APC. -- Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail. |
#21
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
00_DotNetWarrior wrote:
Thanks a lot for all the comments, I think I will get a better one. I went to tigerdirect, they carry APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA and they also carry Cyberpower CPS1500AVR (1500 VA) Is this Cyberpower any good? It said it's design for running server, it's like 30% less expensive than Smart-UPS... any idea? I've never heard of Cyberpower, but the name doesn't exactly reek of quality. Personally I'd get an APC or a Tripp-Lite and not the cheapest consumer grade one they make either, something mid-range intended for office use. |
#22
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APC Smart-UPS vs Cyberpower CPS1500AVR
I too have never heard of cyberpower.
For the most critical applications, ONEAC, for the not so critical applications, APC (and not the cheapest line). |
#23
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
"kony" wrote in message
... On 4 Jan 2006 19:23:53 -0800, " wrote: For home use, the maximum wattage that could be used by a device should less than the maximum wattage output of any UPS. If the UPS is rated in VA, then multiply it by a nice round 0.7 for the absolute maximum wattage it can handle. Then you really want some extra room for error and longer ups on battery run time, so always allow some spare capacity. Since most 400watt P4 power supplies do not use quite that much current, as James Sweet noted, having a single computer on a 400-500VA UPS is about right in most cases. If there is any question about the power used by the computer, then size the UPS based on the maximum wattage the computer could be pulling, 400/0.7 = 571, so a 600VA or larger should be used on just the computer. Generally one does not want to "size" an ups to a system like this, the UPS rating is a maximum, not a target. The typical low-end system might be fine on a 500VA UPS but with consumer grade UPS, it's $ well spent to go for at least 700VA or more, especially if one is trying to power a monitor too. Like anything else, run at UPS at it's max and it may not last so long. Actually this is exactly how a typical computer should be sized to the UPS. As MOST computers only draw approximately 1/2 the power supply rating 90% of the time, rating the UPS to backup JUST the computer (not the monitor also) is correct and standard recommendation. If an individual has not checked the typical current/wattage pull of their computer, and since very few computers draw near the full rating of the power supply, the later recommendation for typical home use still gives plenty of extra power margin. If longer run times are required, more than the expected 15-30 minutes, then make sure the UPS will actually run longer when it is not under a larger load. Most cheaper UPSs run x-minutes regardless of the load connected. |
#24
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APC Back-Ups Office - Doesn't protect at all
On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 20:59:21 GMT, "David Kuhajda"
. wrote: Actually this is exactly how a typical computer should be sized to the UPS. As MOST computers only draw approximately 1/2 the power supply rating 90% of the time, There is no relevance to what % of the power supply is used. The relevant parameters are amperage and uptime. rating the UPS to backup JUST the computer (not the monitor also) is correct and standard recommendation. Again, no. The UPS rating is a maximum. As with any supply (including the system power supply) you saw it was rated for MORE than the system used. Similarly the UPS should be rated for more than the PSU uses. "Uses", not what it's rating is in watts. If an individual has not checked the typical current/wattage pull of their computer, and since very few computers draw near the full rating of the power supply, the later recommendation for typical home use still gives plenty of extra power margin. Mentioning the full rating of the power supply as a means to pick the ups is simply invalid. It may be true that some marketing departments do it merely because they know the average consumer would not be expected to know the actual current of their system. However, even these UPS tend to have more than one outlet so it still can't apply. If longer run times are required, more than the expected 15-30 minutes, then make sure the UPS will actually run longer when it is not under a larger load. Most cheaper UPSs run x-minutes regardless of the load connected. Wrong, they run until the lower battery shutdown kicks in or the temp rises too high (if thermally protected). Any UPS that unnecessary shuts off after X # of minutes is a bad design- though certainly their software might be set to shut the system off after a period. |
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