Very disappointed witht the 'Belkin 500VA Superior Series Emergency Battery Backup'

Richie1509 · 4 Mar 2006 at 14:44

Hi there Eliminos, just run a quick test of my 500VA Belkin ups using a desk lamp fitted with a 100W bulb, nothing else connected to the ups. When switching off the power to the ups the bulb flicks off for a very short fraction of a second, it does not at any time run at a reduced brightness.

Zarniwoop · 4 Mar 2006 at 16:10

I tried the 'lamp test' with mine and guess what... The lamp went off immediately and there was a clicking noise.

I really does seem as though this product is a load of rubbish.

Serves me right really, I should have bought a proper UPS rather than being seduced by the low price of this.

Eliminos · 4 Mar 2006 at 16:43

I think we all were seduced

Belkin said they would replace mine personally, so if OCuk are selling dodgy ones (not pointing any fingers) then perhaps I will get some that work.

The more possible thing is, the actual Superior Series of Belkin 'UPSs' are just generally bad, and the ones I get back will behave the same as these.

Phil2008 · 4 Mar 2006 at 16:44

Richie1509 said:
I have one of those meters that you can plug equipment into for measuring how much energy they draw from the mains.

Where do you get one from, and what are they called?

malccy · 4 Mar 2006 at 16:50

The cost of returning the item puts me off doing it - unless that is repaid by overclockers?

Zarniwoop · 4 Mar 2006 at 17:34

malccy said:
The cost of returning the item puts me off doing it - unless that is repaid by overclockers?

If you return something and it is found not to be faulty (i.e. functioning correctly but just useless), I think you have to pay £10+VAT, and more if you want it back.

I think I will either use it as an incredibly bulky surge protector (on the assumption that it is not as useless as that as well) or just dispose of it so that it does not remind me of what a sucker I have been!

Phil2008 · 4 Mar 2006 at 17:49

drop it, and clam on the house insurance..lol

Phil2008 · 4 Mar 2006 at 17:50

NOT...LOL

Eliminos · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:02

Could be a possibility

It's weight would make for an effective explosion on contact with the floor. Or the garden path outside my window...

Richie1509 · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:21

Hi there speedy2004, the piece of kit in question is called a 'Plug-In Mains Power & Energy Monitor' it costs £25. Unsure if i'm allowed to name the shop because they could be regarded as an OCUK competitor, google whats in the quotes and you should be able to find it. Hope this helps.

malccy · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:23

Will it be safe to presume that it will still give the pc 'clean' power as in prevent spikes etc as i'm living in a very old house with poor electric; if this is the case then all is not lost.

Trigger · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:44

Haha, I was in Overclockers today and saw at least two people return their units

Bet they wish they'd never stocked them now...

Zarniwoop · 4 Mar 2006 at 18:44

malccy said:
Will it be safe to presume that it will still give the pc 'clean' power as in prevent spikes etc as i'm living in a very old house with poor electric; if this is the case then all is not lost.

Presumably, however it was also supposed to power a PC in the event of a power failiure.

sl33pyhead · 4 Mar 2006 at 19:13

Zarniwoop said:
If you return something and it is found not to be faulty (i.e. functioning correctly but just useless), I think you have to pay £10+VAT, and more if you want it back.

If the item is clearly not fit for purpose (which would seem to be the case from what has been reported) then the retailer should refund any costs to return the item.

HEADRAT · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:25

Zarniwoop said:
Serves me right really, I should have bought a proper UPS rather than being seduced by the low price of this.

Agreed, I will be trying the "lamp" test with mine tomorrow, I guess this really could be a case of "too good to be true" and "you get what you pay for" :mad:

HEADRAT

malccy · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:32

Surpised as thought Belkin were a reliable make - mine seems to be just an expensive extension cable then.

Phil2008 · 4 Mar 2006 at 23:54

Belkin must think where still in the olden days, when we had the athlon/intel 800 - 1200 cpus and 240watt psu's... Give me strength.

fini · 5 Mar 2006 at 00:03

I've had one of these for over a year now - was tempted to post when everyone was buying them saying mine worked with my old system about twice and then just doesn't - but presumed that my specific one was faulty if OcUK had started selling them. I'm pretty suprised that OcUK started selling them based on the above - apart from a certain PSU of death they normally only sell relatively ok stuff.

fini

G00SE · 5 Mar 2006 at 00:11

lordedmond said:
yes i did read it
no i am not saying your lamp is drawing 300 w ( but it could if it was a big un )

in the lamps case it is a resistive load thefor w= v*a

a resisive load has a pf of unity ie 1

your unit is faulty , K for not working or kaput RMA it asap

Yes but,

Eliminos - £ + *#"% product = :mad:

* p+p/ more *#"& from belkin = :mad:

+

LMAO

Eliminos · 5 Mar 2006 at 00:13

Belkin admitted the unit sounded faulty when I rang them (I mentioned the lamp test). I'll ring them next week and see if they will arrange for the 4 to be collected. As the delivery to send them all back is probably worth more than the units themselves.