UPS Recommendations: was Re: Power supply recommendations

[Alma J Wetzker]

Matthew Carpenter wrote:
> 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.

It has been a while since I bought one, but I prefer the APC professional 
series.  The back-ups series ran a really bad modified sine wave that would 
toast my external amiga power supply.  The APC smart/pro series ran off the 
batteries and gave a good sine wave for power.  I haven't bought a new one for 
years.  I have replaced the batteries.  New battery packs tend to upgrade the 
UPS to a higher level than rated as battery technology gets better.

I know that there are other UPS manufacturers than APC, but they had the best 
power waveform when I was checking for such things.  (of course you paid for 
that extra "feature".)

     -- Alma