What size UPS?

carbon8ed

carbon8ed

carbon8ed

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The main on the house has a sensitive RCD (old style) and whilst this is not bad thing it always takes out my PC's which are on their own circuit (lights are OK but all sockets get taken down - quick flick of the switch and I'm back up.

Most of the OCs boot from an install on a single disk, but my main rig is on a RAID 0+1 with 4 x 250 GB Seagates, rest of rig is:

Q6600 @ 3.6
Nvidia 7900 GTO (MSI)
Sil 3114 PCI SATA card
6GB RAM
4 x 250 GB Seagates RAIDED
2 x 500 GB Storage
2 x 320 GB Storage
1 x 200 GB Storage
1 x 160 GB - well I couldn't leave an empty slot could I:D

All drives are SATA including a pair of SATA DVD-RW's
Cooling is water with DDC Ultra (18w), 9 120 Yateloons (PA 120.3 RAD, couple of cathodes and a multi car reader

All powered in main rig by a Corsair 620W PSU in a Lian-Li V2000

All I need is for the UPS to allow windows to shut down properly when the power trips out.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance:)
 
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I doubt that. At 400W the 700VA unit will last 4 minutes. The ES have tiny batteries. Since your PSU is rated at 620W, then add another 50W for a LCD, that's 700W (maximum) I'd look into the taller UPS.

My 1500VA with two computers, 7 x 7200 rpm HD, and 40" LCD lasted 24 minutes. I'd look into a 1000VA Back-UPS® RS
 
For a Corsair 620w PSU, I would recommend a UPS of at least 620w output, or you will find that when the UPS has to operate it will not be able to do its job..this is because when the computer shuts down the PSU can draw up to 620w from the UPS, and if the UPS is not supplying it, it will overload and the computer will simply reboot....this is what happened with mine...:)
 
Prevention > cure ;)

You can buy 100A RCCB's for £40 which would prevent your electrics from tripping out when minor power-surges are generated.

cmb10003slash2lr2.jpg
 
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Jolly_Jason said:
Prevention > cure ;)
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I'd agree here, sort your mains out first! :)

I wouldn't want a UPS in my house, we had some at work that failed and filled the building with hydrogen sulphide, it was really nasty, turned all the white-plastic brown and made people sick.

Just make sure you change the lead acid battery when it's due!
 
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What you might also find is that the UPS detects too strong a wattage draw and beeps at you when you ramp up the load, mine did that. Drove me nuts, it's currently acting as a 8 way surge protector at the moment and a means of powering a light bulb in the event of a power cut. :rolleyes:
 
For what it's worth. 800va Belkin model powering a 8800 GTX, 3 HD's, X2 4200, 3 Fans, 19" TFT, Router - Currently sitting @ 48% load and lasted about 25 minutes when new, it's getting on a bit now so proberly won't hold out that long anymore but it auto shuts down after 5 mins if power is not restored and keeps the router on for hours, which is handy as my IP profile dies a death if my router gets knocked out.
 
Cheers for the replies - all I want is for it to allow the PC to shut down manually - and to make the PC do this when the supply trips - it's very rare and I usually know (am) the reason for it. Not looking to power anything other than the manin box and only the 5-10 minutes it takes for vista to shut down.
 
OK found a site that converts watts in voltamps as most UPS's seem to be bnased on these.

My PSU is 620w so assuming this - the site translates to 953.85 voltamps
Using the extreme PSU calculator from another site, it claims my PC is using/needs 674w of power - again conversion to voltampos gives 1036.92.

Looking on Oc-UK I have two options:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=UP-015-BE&groupid=702&catid=55&subcat=

at around £110 for 1200 VA or

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=UP-005-AP&tool=3

Which at £212 for 1500 VA is a little luxurious.

Cheaper options closer to the numbers (and probably the only budget choice would be:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=UP-012-AP&groupid=702&catid=55&subcat=

which is £90.46 for an 800VA (approx 520w) but for the extra £20, the Belkin would be best.

Site for conversion (if permitted) was:

http://www.abyssunderground.co.uk/calculator-watts_voltamps.php

So there you go chaps and chapesses - looks like the belkin is the one.

Views and throughts please as I have never considered buying one of these before and no nothing about them. Cheers:)
 
APC Smart-UPS 1500VA
I've got that one. It has network/reporting features which the cheaper Back UPS don't provide. And it's line interactive, the Back UPS's aren't either. Remember you want a UPS higher than your PSU, as you'll be plugging in monitor(s) too.

I wouldn't touch that Belkin.
 
Jolly_Jason said:
Prevention > cure ;)

You can buy 100A RCCB's for £40 which would prevent your electrics from tripping out when minor power-surges are generated.

cmb10003slash2lr2.jpg
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The trip outs aren't due to voltage spikes or current draw, but rather the trickle going back through the earth - a sparky told me they are rated at something like 30 mA or less and so are quite sensitive. It happens when I plug a kettle lead into the POSU on the back of the PC - even expensive PSU's, this trips the system in the house
 
UPDATE

Managed to bag a Dell 1500VA USB 230v for a very good price.:D

Still in APC warranty and with the main rig running 4 x SETI is indicating 33% on the little LED things on the front.

When I turn SETI off, it drops to using just 16% as draw. Have decided am gonna also plug my E6600 into it - well just because I can LOL.

Incidentally, I'm running vista x64 home premium and it has detetcted that there is now a battery attached. But does anyone know how to view the icon in the corner - battery meter wotsit ? I have one on my laptop which is vista 32 bit, but can't find it on the x64 version.

Thanks in advance:)
 
carbon8ed said:
But does anyone know how to view the icon in the corner - battery meter wotsit ? I have one on my laptop which is vista 32 bit, but can't find it on the x64 version
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Right click-taskbar > Properties > Notification Area. Under System Icons, Power.

Set-up Vista to hibernate when UPS power is down to 20%. Quite handy if not around to initiate a shut-down & or if working on something which you'd loose if you shut down :)
 
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