UPS dying...

Lennart Sorensen lsorense-1wCw9BSqJbv44Nm34jS7GywD8/FfD2ys at public.gmane.org
Fri Sep 7 14:35:32 UTC 2012


On Thu, Sep 06, 2012 at 09:03:58PM -0400, Peter King wrote:
> My UPS seems to be dying.
> 
> It's an APC Back-UPS XS 1000, which I've had for several
> years. Recently it has begun to trip into "Overload" mode
> for no apparent reason (no particular load was being put
> on it), at random but ever-more-frequently occurring times.
> 
> The battery is probably no longer holding its charge, and
> hence the "overload" it reports.
> 
> So it's time to get a new UPS.

Why not a new battery?  It's possible that it won't help if it really
is having issues, but a bad battery can certainly make the UPS unhappy.

> I have a computer with a 650w power supply, a monitor, and 
> a few miscellaneous devices to run. Only the computer and 
> monitor need go through the UPS backup power, but it would
> be convenient to have surge protection for the other devices.
> 
> I don't need much time on the battery; a few minutes should 
> be enough for an automatic controlled Linux shutdown.
> 
> How "much" is enough -- is 1000w fine, or go for 1500w for
> the extra margin? I don't have a clue about these things.

Remember UPSs are NOT rated in watts.  They are rated in VA which is not
at all the same thing. a 1000VA (like you have) is probably around
700W. on the other hand it is unlikely your computer actually hits 650W.
Still you are probably rather close to the overload point for that UPS.
If that power supply has power factor correction (as it likely does
given its size), then a slight drop in the voltage on the line will
increase the current drawn to make up for it, and that could then cause
an overload to suddenly happen.

> Advice, suggestions, recommendations? 

Well if money is no object an APC SmartUPS 1500 is always great. :)

-- 
Len Sorensen
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