brad@huey.Jpl.Nasa.GOV (Brad Hines) (01/26/91)
We are getting ready to buy an uninterruptible power supply for our network server. Please let me know your experiences, especially which ones to stay away from. I have heard horror stories like ups's that decide to deliver 80V when you plug too much into them or the like. In particular, we're looking at supplies from Tripplite, Minuteman, and Clary. Please e-mail and I'll summarize. -- Brad Hines Internet: brad@huey.jpl.nasa.gov Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena, California
josephc@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Joseph I. Chiu) (01/27/91)
brad@huey.Jpl.Nasa.GOV (Brad Hines) writes: >We are getting ready to buy an uninterruptible power supply for our >network server. Please let me know your experiences, especially which ones >to stay away from. I have heard horror stories like ups's that decide to >deliver 80V when you plug too much into them or the like. Of the two UPS's that I've had the pleasure of owning, a Tripplite and a Knapco (I think it's another company's UPS with a Knapco OEM label, however) I have never had problems of 'undervoltage'... Well, not quite... There was a time when I absent-mindedly connected a laser printer to the UPS's outlet. When the engine 'warmed up', the UPS immediately cycled itself to prevent damage to itself (this was with the Tripplite). Tripplite, apparently, has a very good reputation. I know they've been in business for a long time. SIMPLE RULE OF THUMB: Buy a UPS that is rated at LEAST for the total wattage of power you need to supply your equipment during an outage. Usually, that would only be the computer (Approx. 160 watts) and the monitor (varies, but usually not more than 60 watts). 250 watts usually will "suffice". When I talked to a sales-rep at Knapco (this was a few years ago), he informed me that the ratings can usually be exceeded by an extra 10-20%, but I would rather be on the safe side and underload the UPS. UPS's are nice - when the whole block is dark because of a power outage, it is nice to be the only house with the living-room lights on... >Brad Hines >Internet: brad@huey.jpl.nasa.gov >Jet Propulsion Lab, Pasadena, California -- Joseph -- -- josephc@coil.caltech.edu ...Just another lost soul in the universe