Unusual power cables

squiffy · 10 Oct 2006 at 13:48

I'll be buying a UPS sometime, but realized I'll need different types of power cable.

Male IEC to female IEC- around 3M each for two PC PSU's and TFT monitor.
Male IEC to female male 3 pin UK - for the TV.

Any idea if these are available, or would I have to DIY?

kitten · 10 Oct 2006 at 14:45

They are available, best googling for them. I have APC smartups. I think there was one or two supplied with the UPS, sorry I cannot remember for sure. And yes if need be they can be made by your own fair hand

rpstewart · 10 Oct 2006 at 15:27

The IEC to IEC ones I would have thought that the UPS would be supplied with, not sure how many you'd get though. The TV one though, a) should it not be IEC to 3 pin socket rather than male? and b) why would you need the TV on the UPS?

squiffy · 10 Oct 2006 at 15:38

I do have two or three "PSU to monitor" IEC to IEC's (those used with XT PSU's) but they're too short, as the PC's are a few meters apart with the UPS in the middle. Also want a bit of slack so cases can be moved forward without unplugging IEC mains cable (currently gaming PSU cable has no slack)

HTPC will be connected to the UPS, so a display is needed when the power fails so I can shut it down. Unless the PC will automatically shut down with the UPS software? In that case the TV won't need to be connected to the UPS, if the battery level drops to say 15% it'll shut down the HTPC. HTPC will be connected to the USB data cable. The gaming rig will be connected to the UPS as well, but only the IEC not the USB data line (unless UPS can communicate with both PC's?)

kitten · 10 Oct 2006 at 15:46

I don't know about other UPS, but APC UPS will shutdown the PC that the monitor cable (serial or USB) is connected to, gracefully via software. Other hardware connected to UPS will power down abruptly once the UPS battery is drained. An UPS cannot gracefully shutdown a PC it is not monitoring. Even though it maybe powering it.