Battery Backup- How big?

[Hopalong X]

I bought a CyberPower 500va/300watt.

It has a 12A rating for items plugged into it.
I'm only using it for The PC, monitor and DSL box.
Usage will be to give me time to power down properly not to keep it running.

My CoolerMaster power supply is rated at 12A input.
Exact model is listed in my specs.

I realize it would only draw the 12A at full throttle but then you add the monitor which the tag on it says 0.7A.


The instructions with CyberPower unit state:

For optimal performance keep the load below 80% of the unit's rated capacity.

That takes us down to 9.5A actual usable power draw thru the unit.

Do I need to step up a size? I'm going to check out the specs online.

I'm thinking yes but useful input by all you experts out there that are actually using a battery backup will be appreciated.

Mike

Well it seems all of them up to around 1000W are 12A max.

 

[Mellon Head]

Backup PSU's can be a little deceiving. The required capability depends on the application. Basically, you want enough time to save your work and shut down. There is a formula for calculating just how much time the backup unit will give you based on load, and unfortunately, I have misplaced it.

Basically, your PC's PSU isn't going to draw 12A unless it's going full throttle (like you said) and powering everything but the kitchen sink. 12A is its absolute maximum.

Almost every backup unit will give at least 5 minutes, which is more than enough to shut down. If you really want to know, unplug the backup with the PC running and watch the clock. That will give you real world data on how much time you really have.

 

[Dixon Butz]

500VA is very low. You should be using 1000-2000VA. I use one 2000VA just for my PC. 1000VA for monitors, router, and modem.

 

[pparks1]

500VA is very low. You should be using 1000-2000VA. I use one 2000VA just for my PC. 1000VA for monitors, router, and modem.

What??????? How long are you trying to run your stuff for? Seriously, a 2000VA UPS while nice...is a bit overkill for just about any home user. Mine are all 550 to 750 and they are more than enough to run my computer for 5+ minutes and I have the machines set to automatically shut down in 2 minutes....so that's plenty.

 

[Dixon Butz]

long enoug to plug in my generator and hit the transfer switch.
I have another 2000VA on my 65" DLP TV. And a 1500 for the HTPC and audio equipment.
And many more UPS's on other PC's.

 

[pparks1]

long enoug to plug in my generator and hit the transfer switch.
I have another 2000VA on my 65" DLP TV. And a 1500 for the HTPC and audio equipment.
And many more UPS's on other PC's.

Well, you have more unique needs. Most people won't need a UPS of that size. In fact, I'm running my entire com rack at work on an APS 2200 and it can hold up that rack of switches, routers, firewalls, access points, a phone switch and stuff for well over an hour.

I've got 5 UPS's at my house. 1 on wife's laptop(550), 1 on my dekstop(700), 1 for my server (550), 1 for my linux box(500) and 1 for my com equipment (500)

 

[Mellon Head]

Mine's about 500 Watts, and it just looks after my networking equipment and server. I don't do much at home that requires that kind of backup, but the computers themselves are very well protected by surge arrestors.

 

[Hopalong X]

Thanks everyone.

We get a lot of power interrupts out here in the country side.
Power goes off 1-5 seconds right back on.
It might not happen for several weeks then it will happen 3-4 times in one day. You never know when.

It got me early last week while using Outlook and writing/checking mail. It messed the software up and I had to do a reinstall of Office. The repair feature in Outlook wouldn't fix it.

I'll try this UPS out and see how it does.

My wife says I need one big enough to run the coffe maker when the power goes off during winter storms.

I might be able to convince here we need a bigger one besides this one- for the coffee maker of course.:devil:
Actually not a bad idea. I have one of those cheapy $10 coffee makers for a backup.
Disconnect the hot plate and use just the coffee maker.
Make what you will drink while it is hot.

 

[pparks1]

I would not suggest putting a coffee maker on a UPS. Same thing with a laser printer. The power draw on these devices can be immense and they usually overload the UPS and instantly cause it to drop everything which is attached.

 

[thefabe]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted on this thread, as I'm looking for a UPS since we have been experiencing power outages almost on a weekly bases and It freaks me out everytime my system shuts off.
So far no major issues once the power is back up, but we're planning on moving to Texas soon and with their crazy weather I see it as a must.
Especialy if we end up in the Galveston area.

Fabe

 

[Hopalong X]

The coffee maker idea was just the coffee maker for brew only by itself no hot plate warmer on. Disconnect the hot plate completely.

It might be a good excuse for a bigger UPS to get my wife onboard with the idea!

I never said it would ACTUALLY be USED for this.:devil: