How is a UPS supposed to be set up?

obieone
obieone Posts: 5,077
edited August 2009 in Electronics
A little over a year ago, I built an HTPC, from an independent shop. Along with some of the parts, I bought an APC UPS unit(refurb.)
It was my understanding, that I should leave the UPS powered on all the time, and that it worked off a trickle charge.
Well, during the last 2 thunderstorms, it's not worked to keep the pc running?
It wasn't down for any significant time, just reset, like I would manually.

Is this thing NG, or am I doing something wrong?
Thanks
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2009
    I'm confused,, I have UPS's on my systems,,on some models there are 2 power "strips"..one for surge protection,and the other for surge/battery backup. Is that what you mean?
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited August 2009
    obieone wrote: »
    A little over a year ago, I built an HTPC, from an independent shop. Along with some of the parts, I bought an APC UPS unit(refurb.)
    It was my understanding, that I should leave the UPS powered on all the time, and that it worked off a trickle charge.
    Well, during the last 2 thunderstorms, it's not worked to keep the pc running?
    It wasn't down for any significant time, just reset, like I would manually.

    Is this thing NG, or am I doing something wrong?
    Thanks

    UPS batteries do have a 'fixed' life and need to be replaced.

    In our companies datacenter, we get notices to replace RAID batteries(as built in power backup) quite often cuz some of the units are old.

    You may want to check on APCs website what the battery life spec is for the UPS you bought.

    Just a thought....

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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited August 2009
    A good test is to pull the cord to feeds the UPS. On the other hand most UPS I ever seen have a battery indicator to show if it believes it's own batteries are ok. Not that a good indication would tell me the batteries are 100% if the UPS dies in under 5 mins up time running on batteries, but stating that the batteries are died then yes they are died. ;)

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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited August 2009
    I have an UPS set up on my home DVR and H/T PC, Basically what my UPS does is let my system shutdown in a normal fashion through software via the RS232 port. Each one of my UPS has a 12vdc 7A/H battery which will hold enough charge to let the PC(s) shut down normally...thats it. I have seen UPS that can run a PC for several hours, I just want my stuff to shut down normally in the event of a power outage. Hope this helps.
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited August 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    I'm confused,, I have UPS's on my systems,,on some models there are 2 power "strips"..one for surge protection,and the other for surge/battery backup. Is that what you mean?

    DOH!:eek::o Thanks everyone. I'm all set.:confused:

    (probably would have helped if I LOOKED at the damn thing, huh?):D

    The battery/ surge protection outlets were hidden underneath an overhang on my desk, with a BIG yellow sticker, that said "HEY DUMBASS, over here!":p
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited August 2009
    obieone wrote: »
    DOH!:eek::o Thanks everyone. I'm all set.:confused:

    (probably would have helped if I LOOKED at the damn thing, huh?):D

    The battery/ surge protection outlets were hidden underneath an overhang on my desk, with a BIG yellow sticker, that said "HEY DUMBASS, over here!":p

    Just curious..what Ups are you using?
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  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited August 2009
    You didn't see the sticker? Incidentally, most UPS systems come with the battery unplugged and you're supposed to connect it and plug it to the wall for a few hours BEFORE hooking stuff up to it so it can charge with no load. Make sure you did that too! :D
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    I've always preferred Fedex.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2009
    smarta$$ ;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2009
    obieone wrote: »
    DOH!:eek::o Thanks everyone. I'm all set.:confused:

    (probably would have helped if I LOOKED at the damn thing, huh?):D

    The battery/ surge protection outlets were hidden underneath an overhang on my desk, with a BIG yellow sticker, that said "HEY DUMBASS, over here!":p

    Good,, we have all "been there,done that",, most just won't admit it,,I once thought that I could replace the battery with the thing plugged in.:eek:
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Knucklehead
    Knucklehead Posts: 3,602
    edited August 2009
    Actually some models do have "hot swappable" batteries.
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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2009
    Well,, my "hot" swapping days are over,, I drove past that exit some time ago.;)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,270
    edited August 2009
    george daniel wrote: »
    smarta$$ ;)
    Nah! But I guess that extra birthday year added more miles that you'd think in Ricardo's case! :eek:
    Alea jacta est!
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