UPS Recommendations: was Re: Power supply recommendations

[Matthew Carpenter]

David Bandel wrote:

>Personally, I stick to the APC SmartUPS series, although I believe the
>APC BackUPS are similar, just don't have all the functionality.
>
>The important things I look for when buying a UPS is surge protection,
>especially clamping time.  This is the amount of time it takes for the
>circuitry to recognize a rising voltage and "clamp" it.  A direct
>lightning strike will go through anything, but the more protection you
>have, the better.
>
>UPS's that are constant battery (where you're running off the battery
>all the time, not just switched over) are better because the batteries
>are huge capacitors and will help dampen spikes.
>
>Also, most houses in the US have good grounds, but it's important to
>check from time to time.  Your house ground should be as close to 0
>ohms as possible, but definitely not more than 10 (the phone/electric
>companies usually say 20, but that's way too high).  Make sure all
>your systems are well grounded to the electrical ground.
>
>In my radio shack, I have 3 grounds (electrical and RF), an isolation
>transformer, APC SmartUPS on the computers, and I strap everything
>with not less than 3" wide copper straps.  This is overkill for homes
>with computers, but I have several antennas, one a loop skywire 53
>feet in the air with no trees for over 500 meters (real lighting rods,
>but all well grounded). The steel poles I use are higher than my
>verticals, so they don't usually see direct strikes, but I'm prepared
>anyway.
>
>Ciao,
>
>David A. Bandel
>  
>
If I'm not mistaken, the Smart-UPS has become the Back-UPS Pro.
I just picked up a Conext (own APC) 900VA/500W "Battery Back-Up 900AVR" 
from CompUSA for $30 after MIR ($99 original).
I just got it home, be'll see how well it does.   Supposed to do a 
Computer with 15" monitor for 53minutes.