A UPS Question Belkin v APC

Richie1509 · 19 Nov 2006 at 18:39

Hi there, my pc (spec as in signature) is currently protected by a Belkin 650VA superior series emergency battery backup. Using the Belkin software, at idle my pc shows a 24% load on the ups, and when my pc is working (Folding@home and/or gaming for example) it shows a load of about 35%.

Following some recent problems with our electricity supply momentarily failling, i find that the Belkin ups appears unable to function correctly when under the higher load level. Therefore, i'm looking to buy an altrnative ups, and am considering the APC Back-UPS ES 700VA 230V UPS. Will one of these be capable of protecting my pc when it's under load ? (I only need the ups to protect the pc, not a monitor or other equipment)

Thanks for any help.

thefishdude · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:21

what do you mean by your last one dont work properly ???? that unit can put out 390watts max. the apc one can do 400w

a ups if working properly will protect you providing you are not using over 100% of its output.

so what is happening to your old one when you are using more of the power? is it an old unit it maybe battery has gone.

V|per · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:22

I souldn't see any reason why it wouldn't protect your pc under load, the UPS's are really for safe shutdown though, ie, if the power goes off, it'll give you enough time to shut your pc down safely, or in the event of a short power cut, the pc wont 'die'

I've been using APC power supplies for years, love them, but then again, i haven't actually used other UPS's, so i can't really compare. The 700va (as far as i can remember) should give you around 20 to 30 mins of uptime in the event of a powercut, assuming you only have the pc and not any other peripherals attached to it. (don't plug laserjets into them... they dont like em

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Richie1509 · 19 Nov 2006 at 21:54

Thanks for the replies folks.

Hi thefishdude, my 650VA Belkin ups was purchased in March of this year. Seeing as it's not able to provide backup power when at only 35% of it's maximum load capacity, do you thinks it's faulty ? I also have another Belkin ups rated to 500VA, providing backup for my second pc & monitor, which via the Belkin software is under around 40% load, and this seems to be working ok. Thats to say it was able to keep that pc powered up during the very brief power outages.

Hi Viper, thanks for those comments on the APC ups. I fully understand that a ups is only there to provide power whilst the pc shuts down properly, or during very short power cuts. The only equipment i have connected to the power backup side of the Belkin's are my pc's and a single 19" tft monitor.

I think i'll get in contact with Belkin and see what they have to say about it. Thanks again for the input.

Regards, Richie.

thefishdude · 19 Nov 2006 at 22:30

yes it deff sounds faulty to me it should still give back up power at 100% load.

not used a belkin one myself but there isnt some sort of setting you need to change is there ?