MKRD.info - Thorough articles on a variety of topics, and no ads!

How do I select a UPS (uninterruptible power supply)

Q: How do I select a UPS (uninterruptible power supply)?

A: The process is far from trivial. There are many issues to consider:

1) Power rating. The "watts" or "VA" rating is the maximum power that can be supplied by the UPS unit. For a large home computer with al large monitor, this should be about 1000W. Small computers can go by with half of that. Note: this much power by the UPS unit will only be supplied for a very, very short time. At the maximum power, the battery does very quickly.

2) Runtime. Runtime for most consumer UPS units is minutes at most, and at nowhere close to the maximum power draw. The bigger (and heavier) the unit, the longer it will power your equipment. I have a large computer with a 24" monitor. My "1000W" UPS lasts about two minutes.

3) Price. I recommend to buy UPS units refurbished or thru some other online deals. Do not buy one in a store, or a new online unit. Buy one with battery that is warrantied to last, or a unit with return policy. A UPS with a worn out or missing battery is worthless. Store UPSes are AN INSANE AMOUNT OF HYPE, and won't run your computer for more than a minute.

4) Software. You need to find a UPS that connects to your computer thru USB port and hibernates the computer before the battery runs out.

˅˅˅ Additional valuable information is available at one of the links below: ˅˅˅