Boom Boom - Out Go The Lights...
UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply. AKA: Battery Backup Power or Battery Backup Unit (BBU). These units are an essential; yet often overlooked, computer system peripheral.
If you are running an AC powered system without the benefit of UPS protection you're playing Russian Roulette with your data and hardware.
Lightning, brown outs, black outs, power surges, service interruptions ALL wreak havoc with electronic equipment right down to the component level.
This threat risk includes your data!
Most systems have some means of protection from hackers, phishers, and other malicious individuals. Anti-virus software, spyware stoppers, firewalls, etc.
But what about acts of God, or Mother Nature?
CPUs, hard drives and memory chips are very sensitive electronic components. If your system is "plugged in" it needs protection. Only a good UPS system can provide this protection for connected devices.
What Can UPS Do ?
in a word: protection
1 - The primary function of any UPS system is to provide a constant source of clean, conditioned, AC power to the protected device.
2 - A good UPS unit will also filter and protect every connection point between the outside world and your computer system. (power line, cable connection, telephone / fax line, etc.)
3 - Provide adequate run time which either: (A) Exceeds the length of the power event. (B) Allows enough time to safely shut down the system, or (C) Automates a safe, unattended, shutdown process in the event of a lengthy power outage.
4 - Sacrifice itself in the event of a direct lightning strike, thus saving the protected system.
How Do I Use UPS ?
Simple as 1 - 2 - 3 (well 5, actually)
It's easy! Shut your system down, then...
1 - Just unplug ALL your system power cords.from the wall.
2 - Next plug those cords into the outlets on the UPS. *
3 - Plug in the UPS power cord.
4 - Turn the UPS "ON".
5 - Restart your system.
Your done!
* optional - If you will be using UPS management software install the communication cable / card / etc. at step 2.
When you restart your system, new hardware will be detected and you will be prompted to install your UPS driver / software.
Check out these UPS units:
APC Back-UPS ES 8 Outlet 650VA 120V
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $88.32 (as of 11/23/2008) 
List Price: $99.99
Used Price: $59.99
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Belkin F6C550-AVR 550VA Battery Backup with Surge Protection
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Amazon Price: $65.99 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $69.99
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Cyberpower CP685AVR UPS - 685VA/390W AVR 8-Outlet RJ11/RJ45 Compact Design EMI/RFI USB
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $72.24 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $84.95
Used Price: $82.55
Usually ships in 24 hours
Which UPS Do I Need ?
How much is enough?
When it comes to power protection bigger really is better. Overkill is a term that has no meaning in this instance. You should get the most protection your budget will allow.
Plain and simple: You can never have too much protection. Too many backup watts, too many power outlets, too tight of voltage regulation, etc.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Every electrical appliance has a label displaying its power consumption (usually near the power cord). This information will also be listed in the specifications section of the owners manual. Find this information and make note of the wattage used by each component. Add them all together. The total amount will yield the bare minimum wattage your UPS will need to provide in the event of a power event.
UPS Wattage > Load Wattage Total
The greater your UPS rating exceeds this minimum requirement, the longer your useful runtime will be. Also... Exceeding the recommended minimum UPS wattage requirement allows for system upgrades and heavier system loads.
TIP: UPS protection is not just for computers. Home Theater Systems, Aquariums, Freezers, nearly anything that requires constant, clean AC power...
Surge Suppression
Surge suppression absorbs / filters sudden spikes in the supplied power.
If the specifications for a particular UPS do not include surge suppression, including lightning arrest, then you'll need it... Look for a Joules rating, the higher the better.
To preserve the product warranty and insurance policy, the UPS & Surge Suppressor should be from the same manufacturer. Check the fine print in your UPS owners manual.
APC PF11VT3 11-outlet SurgeArrest with Tel2/Splitter and Coax Protection
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Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $33.81
Used Price: $39.95
SurgeMaster Gold Series w/Tel, 9 Outlet, 2950 Joules, 10' Cord, 360 Rotating Plug, (Unlimited CEW & Data Recovery)
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Amazon Price: $35.24 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $74.99
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Cyberpower 1010HT 10-Outlet Surge Suppressor 4200 Joules 15A RJ11/Coax(3)/RJ45 EMI/RFI Right-angle
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Amazon Price: $46.24 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $69.95
Used Price: $55.66
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
WATTS vs VA Rating
What's a WATT?
Power, Apparent Power & Power Factor (Comparing Apples to Oranges?)
The unit of measurement for electrical power is the Watt [W]. Named after Scottish inventor James Watt (1736 - 1819) it is calculated by multiplying the [voltage supplied across a load, measured in volts V] x [the current flowing through that load, measured in amperes A] with the load [offering resistance measured in ohms R] being the device drawing the power from the power source. So, mathematically... W=VxA or W=(AxA)/R
But it's not that simple. This calculation is accurate only for purely resistive loads. [R]
With AC circuits the total load is both resistive [R] and reactive [Xc, Xl]. This property is referred to as impedance [Z].
Because load impedance interacts (reacts) with the AC power, the actual power consumed will not be the same as our simple Volts x Amps calculation would indicate. This difference can be expressed as the ratio: W/VA This ratio is known as the power factor of the device or circuit. Power factor has a range from 0 to 1.
Manufacturers of consumer electronics typically don't list the power factor specification of their products, so we are left to approximate this value.
In the technical community 0.6 is accepted as the approximate power factor of the typical desktop computer, yielding an equation : 0.6 = W/VA
As a general guide, we can determine our UPS VA rating needed by using this calculation:
UPS VA Rating >= Load Watts Total / 0.6
This calculation may not be accurate in every situation. It represents an approximation, and should be considered as such.
In English: Your UPS VA Rating should equal or exceed: your load wattage total (calculated from the specification labels on your equipment) divided by 0.6
EXAMPLE:
If Joe adds up all of his system power consumption label information and calculates a total of 700 Watts, then Joe needs a UPS with a rating of 1166VA or greater. (700 / 0.6 = 1166) Joe buys his UPS (here of course) rated at 1500VA. Joe is Happy :) His computer is protected with room to grow!
Watts / 0.6 = minimum VA Rating Approximation
(Remember, this is a starting point. The greater your UPS exceeds your minimum requirement the better!)
My UPS Experience
credibility
I have over 2 years of hands on experience working on computer power supplies and battery backup power systems. Performing trouble shooting and repair work (to the component level) on power supplies and battery backup units for use with commercial/corporate strength IBM servers.
But, I also signed a confidentiality / non-disclosure agreement! So I won't be telling you any more about this project. (code named: IBM MAX)
I can read (and understand) electronic schematics. Then, using sophisticated test equipment, track down, remove and replace, faulty components on a circuit board.
I know my way around a high tech electronics lab. I also understand the "hows & whys" of computer power supplies and UPS battery backup systems.
I use UPS units on every system I own.
I always have, I always will.
You should too...
APC UPS on Amazon
Shown at right:
APC Smart-UPS XL 1000 VA USB/Serial 120V - 1000VA/800W, Input 120 V/ Output 120V, Interface Port DB-9 RS-232
Smart-UPS protects your data by supplying network-grade battery backup when power fails. With PowerChute plus software this UPS will safely store data and shut down your network operating system before the battery is fully discharged, whether you?re there or not.
APC Smart-UPS is the perfect UPS for fileservers, minicomputers, UNIX CPU?s, internet hubs, telecommunications systems and other mission-critical applications. Smart-UPS XL models allow for expanding runtime by simply plugging in additional battery packs.
More APC UPS units:
APC BR1500 Back-UPS 1500VA for Home/Office Computers
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $224.96 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $303.15
Used Price:
Usually ships in 24 hours
APC BR1500LCD 1500VA 865 Watts 8 Outlets BACK-UPS
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Amazon Price: $163.79 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $282.73
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Back-ups Rs 1300VA LCD 120V
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Amazon Price: $179.95 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $255.65
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
APC SUA1000XL Smart-UPS XL 1000 VA 120 V UPS with USB and Serial Interface
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Amazon Price: $504.91 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $830.36
Used Price:
Usually ships in 24 hours
APC Smart-UPS 3000VA USB with AP9617 - UPS - 3000 VA - UPS battery - lead acid ( SUA3000R2X180 )
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Amazon Price: $1,506.99 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $1,535.41
Used Price: $991.06
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Belkin UPS on Amazon
Shown at right:
Belkin 8-Outlet PureAV UPS - 1200VA/640W AVR & 5500 Joules Surge Suppression
This battery back-up system is intended for home theater systems. It maintains constant power delivery to your components to ensure that the memory, settings and recordings on all of your equipment will be saved in the event of a blackout, brownout or other voltage fluctuations. Product Features Protects from coaxial cable line disturbances Features broadband Ethernet protection to protect digital media receivers and other network devices Safeguards Pay-Per-View, DSL and telephone lines from power surges with built-in splitter Offers rack-mountable convenience with included hardware Dimensions - Height 3-3/4 x Width 17 inches x Length 13 inches Length of Cord 10 feet Weight 31 pounds
More Belkin UPS units:
13-OUTLET UPS SYS HYBRID
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Amazon Price: $731.26 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $1,277.21
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Belkin Regulator Pro Gold - UPS ( external ) - AC 220 V - 625 VA - 8 output connector(s)
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Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price:
Used Price:
Belkin PureAV Home Theater Battery Backup with AVR Technology
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Amazon Price: $189.95 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $231.11
Used Price:
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Cyberpower UPS on Amazon
Shown at right:
Cyberpower PR1500SWRM2U UPS - 1500VA/1000W PureSine AVR Boost/Buck 6-Outlet RJ45 2U Rack/Tower USB/2xSerial
Part of The Professional Rackmount Pure Sinewave Series. Unique design allows it to either be tower or rack (2U) mountable. The PR1500 can support mission-critical equipment and applications, Full AVR Buck/Boost technology, microprocessor-based digital control through software.
The PR1500 comes with 4 (four) 12V/7Ah batteries, which are maintenance-free and user-replaceable. All your network/DSL/ modem connections are protected with a 1796-Joule rating. 2 serial communications ports allow for the control of 2 PCs or servers.
More Cyberpoer UPS units:
Cyberpower OL3000RMXL2U UPS - 3000VA/2100W Online Dual Conversion 2U RM/T Puresine 5-20R/L5-30R
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Amazon Price: $1,010.47 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $1,299.95
Used Price:
Usually ships in 24 hours
2200VA 1500W UPS w AVR
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Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $673.95
Used Price:
1500VA/1000W SINE WAVE UPS
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Amazon Price: (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $508.95
Used Price:
Cyberpower PR3000SWRM2U UPS - 3000VA/2200W PureSine AVR Boost/Buck 7-Outlet RJ45 2U RM/T
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $688.63 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $889.95
Used Price:
Usually ships in 24 hours
Cyberpower OL1500RMXL2U UPS - 1500VA/1050W Online Dual Conversion 2U RM/T Puresine 5-20R 3YR
Avg. Customer Rating:
Amazon Price: $559.88 (as of 11/23/2008)
List Price: $749.95
Used Price:
Usually ships in 24 hours
UPS on eBay
UPS on eBay:
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UPS Use & Care
Congratulations! Welcome to an elite group - Those with peace of mind:
Now that you've protected your system, don't just forget about it. There are a few things you should keep in mind.
1 - Read the fine print. Most UPS units offer an insurance policy covering the properly connected system. Properly connected is the key phrase here. Read and understand the literature included with your UPS unit.
2 - Test the UPS periodically. Similar to a smoke alarm, dead batteries means NO BACK UP POWER! Does your smoke alarm work? Testing is easily performed with either a button on the UPS unit, or through software. Refer to your UPS owners manual.
3 - Recycle / Replace Batteries as needed. Battery lifespans will vary, typically a few years of reliable service can be expected. Some UPS unit manufacturers / vendors offer battery exchange programs. Consult your owners manual and vendors policy first, then your local waste management / recycling agency for proper battery disposal procedures.
4 - Read The Manual! Already stated in # 1, but it merits repeating. You should familiarize yourself with, and understand ALL of your equipment before there's a problem.
Replacement UPS Batteries:
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What Do U Think ?
Share your UPS comments here:
Excellent and wonderful report. Your description on UPS is great and attractive. This is what an information by which any visitor get educated.
Thanks for the tutorial.
Posted April 04, 2008
kathysart wrote...
~~*~~
Wow...I had no idea1 Great Lens here 5 HUGE STARS!
Who is Basquiat
http://www.squidoo.com/basquiat/
Aloha, Kathy
~~*~~
Posted November 15, 2007
Karendelac wrote...
I have just rated you 5 stars. I would not consider buying computer accessories without consulting your site and using it. I will also be passing it on to friends.
All the Best, Karen at Karen's Kinkade Art Store
Posted July 19, 2007
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