Anyone got a UPS?

superscaper

bookduck wrote: »

Don't live around London or the Harrow area do you?

Not quite, near Blackpool.

This is all just hypothetical at the moment until I get my new PC built. No idea how long that'll take me, still not decided on components yet. Current one is on its last legs.

esbo

I prefer the unprotected 4-way adaptors from the poundshop, risky but cheap

esbo

Oblivion wrote: »

I use an APC Smart-UPS 750. Being retired and spending more time at home these days, my computer tends to get left on all day. The UPS has saved my setup on several occasions when either voltage surges or total power cuts have occurred. I wouldn't be without it.

It is quite interesting to use the APC software provided to monitor just how much the voltage does fluctuate in this location.

Dave.

I am not sure if your computer cannot protect you anyway if you have
hibernation mode on which saves a copy of the memory to the drive when unattended. I am not sure if it will be restored in the event of a power failure
thought, but it would certaiintly be theoretically possible I would imagine.

Oblivion

esbo wrote: »

I am not sure if your computer cannot protect you anyway if you have
hibernation mode on which saves a copy of the memory to the drive when unattended. I am not sure if it will be restored in the event of a power failure
thought, but it would certaiintly be theoretically possible I would imagine.

Well I do have hibernation mode on, but have it set to at least half an hour of inactivity otherwise it would prove an annoyance, and as a certain TV puppet show used to say "Anything can happen in the next half hour" :rotfl:

To be honest, it's the voltage 'trimming' done by the UPS that's the biggest asset for me because the voltage in this area of Surrey can vary alarmingly.

Dave.

TechTerry

I herd they can be noisy ( buzzing sounds ) is this true? Was thinknig of getting one myself.

Marty_J

Mine makes a very loud buzzing sound and beeps when it's being powered from the battery, but otherwise I can't hear anything.

bookduck

the big ones we have at work are V noisey, but the smaller ones you only hear the fan. There is a lot of ozone in the room too on these new large units

S0litaire

UPS's are great in area where the power is either not stable or prone to power cuts!

I'm in an area that has the odd brown out, it killed my comp last year just before xmas!

UPS's are great for regualting the power to your comp. You can get the small 4 gang consumer UPS for around £50 that will power your Box, monitor, lamp + ADSL modem for 10-20 mins, Long enough for you to say your goodbye's on your IM and stop all downloadsd before shutting down :D

And they maks a nice annoying Beep when running on battery just to let you know

isofa

amonra wrote: »

If it was a choice of a surge protector or a UPS, then the UPS wins hands down.
I dont care WHAT the manufacturers of surge protectors say in their brochures, I have seen the results of surges on mains supplies. At least with UPS you are two steps away from the mains supply and that form of isolation is usually sufficient to ride out the most severe surge. If yo are spending serious money on a new computer, then think UPS.........
PS. If you do decide to get one, then check it every week by switching off the mains supply. Too many people have one fitted and dont bother to check until after the bang !

Totally agree. A friend recently had a surge at home, everything on surge protectors, it blew 4 or 5 power bricks supplying a router and all sorts of other low voltage electronic equipment (none of which wasn't filtered also from the telephone lines). So it goes to show they aren't that good IMO.

Even if it gives you a few minutes run time, the true isolation from the mains is the best part about them, they also deliver a constant filtered voltage.

weegie.geek

A UPS will be my next purchase I think. Pain in the !!!! waiting for a raid set to regenerate after an unexpected power cut.