If UPS is turned off, is it still protecting?

[Robert T.]

I'm in market for small UPS to my home, plan to protect my PC, two monitors and 5.1 speakers and it occured to me:
I can use on/off on this UPS to turn my comp on (BIOS option), but if it turn small home UPS off - does it still protects me from surges etc??

I plan to buy APC BACK-UPS ES - BE850G2-UK, any opinions on it?

 

[EsaT]

Turning UPS off is equal to using switch of extension cord in mechanically disconnecting equipment from wall.
(relay contact opens)
As for components whose job is to absorpt/divert overvoltage from load before relay can be opened when detecting surge, those are rated for lower energy than in higher model surge arresters.


And that particular UPS it isn't that powerfull for higher end gaming PC and other stuff.
Actual meaningfull output power is 520 watts despite of that 850 marketing number.
So depending on hardware especially with two monitors would look for something more powerfull.
If you have brightly illuminated room and monitors set to high brightness they they can eat 50W per monitor.

While despite of one small battery charging is insanely weak with 16 hour charging time. (when not using USB charging ports)
For perspective that's twice the usual time of consumer UPSes!
That stinks from serious skimping in design and components.
Practical meaning is that if blackout (or multiple short ones) reduces battery charge, you'll be waiting for eternity before you have full back up time available again.

Certainly if you have higher end gaming PC with expensive graphics card, that would be low end model.

 

[Robert T.]

Hi,
Too late, already bought it.

On your comments:
- relay contact - that was what I was looking for, thanks.. So I will actually use it as intelligent power switch for all equipment (subject to tests as below)
- meaningfull output power 520 - yes, that was roughly my calculation as well.
- 16h charging - it was one of my less looked at features and reason is I want more of surge protection. Where I live power grid is stable so I am looking only for very rare and short voltage and current spikes protection, not battery life..
- skimping on design - as I said, was looking not for battery life, but power delivery conditioning, initial thinking was to protect only monitors and speakers with it as my Corsair RM750i PSU is reasonably protecting itself anyway. Protecting PC will be subject of real-life review of how much power I actually draw with my 8700K (OC) and RTX2080 Super while gaming in what I game on, and if this is outside of working parameters of UPS can ditch protecting PC..

One more thing I've been drawn to this model is power sockets design.. They are normal UK sockets and not female connectors at back of UPS.. This means that my current cables will be connected without need to buy anything more, I will be able to just plug in whatever I have need for at the time and more importantly I will have space to spread them out.. Those tower-nice looking devices have really sleek design and I very much prefer it, but one of my monitors uses external power brick and I would have to search and buy female plug to figure-of-8 cable to be able to connect it up..

Taking your comments onboard, it is not best solution money can buy by any means, but for my scenario, with my targets for it and for reasonable budget think it'll do fine..