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Questions tagged [ups]

A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a device used to provide instant backup power to critical systems for safe shutdown in the case of a power outage.

297 questions
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When do I need a pure sine wave UPS?

I would like to buy a rack UPS that would support all the IT related electronics in a SOHO room. This include switches, routers, PCs, servers, NAS. During my research I found out that there are different types of UPSs and the ones that generate pure…
totymedli
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Identify an Unusual USB Port

The back of our APC Smart-UPS 2000 has a USB port so that it can be monitored from a server it supplies. However, this USB port doesn't appear to be a standard USB connector. It looks a little like an RJ-45 connector, I tried an Ethernet cable in…
Burgi
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Why shouldn't I attach laser printers or scanners to a UPS?

I have an FSP EP1000 UPS. The User's Manual says: CAUTION: NEVER connect a laser printer or scanner to the UPS unit. This may cause the damage of the unit. Why is this restriction?
dash17291
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Detecting when a server is running on UPS battery

I have a home server (HP Proliant ML310 G4) that I bought from my employer a month or so ago. The server runs Debian Linux and I use it for just about everything. I can get away with doing this because my needs aren't that demanding so the server is…
Will Kraft
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4 answers

Can I run a computer using DC power?

I always thought that using a conventional UPS with a PC is highly inefficient. Power goes from AC -> DC -> AC in UPS and then AC -> DC in PC SMPS. Since PC works only with DC (12, 5 and 3 volts) It should be possible to convert AC -> DC once and…
Rajkumar S
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2 answers

Have UPS shut down computer automatically in Linux when the power goes out

I'm wondering that I could not find anything useful on Google. I'm using a cheap UPS which actually does keep my computer powered for awhile if there are some electricity issues (they are very common in all South-Eastern Asia). But what if I, say,…
Spaceman
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Is a UPS a good investment for a home machine?

Is it worth the money to invest in a battery-backed UPS unit for a home machine? Or is it a waste of money? The purpose of the UPS would be to prevent a "meltdown" of the computer due to bad power in the area, i.e. it's toast(tm). With the cost of…
Avery Payne
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How does the capacity (kVA) of a UPS affect my power consumption?

I asked my dealer for a 3 kVA UPS for my PC-class computer with a 12V * 8 * 42 Ah battery bank. However, he provided me with a 6 kVA UPS with the same battery bank. He claimed no extra money for the increased capacity. Will the larger UPS add to my…
Pragyaditya Das
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7 answers

If my power supply is 700w, do I need a 700w UPS?

if my power supply is 700w, do I need a 700w UPS? I am running dual 20" dell LCD's, a i7 quad core system with a radion 4870 1gb video card, 2 hard drives.
user3183
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Should the UPS output be exactly same in normal and battery backup modes? Or it is normal to have a slight variation in voltage or something?

My 10 months old PC ran into a problem some days before. My system specs are as follows: Intel Core i7-8700 Processor MSI Z370-A PRO Motherboard 8GB RAM Here are the details about the issue. Most of the times, the system restarted instead of…
Bertram Gilfoyle
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Is it okay to use a UPS without a ground?

I have a UPS unit that I would like to use for a workstation installation that does not have a valid ground (in the Philippines, a true ground is a luxury). I am not an Electrical Engineer, but I have always believed that a UPS needs a ground to…
Scot
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2 answers

What is better for power problems, a UPS or a voltage regulator?

I live in a cheap flat filled with expensive, sensitive electronic devices. There is only one electric circuit for everything to plug in. Several times a day, the fridge's compressor wakes up, and this causes a small dip in power. This is causing…
rumtscho
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Is UPS necessary to have for a PC?

Can my computer components ( Monitor, Motherboard, RAM, HDD, CPU, SMPS) become damaged due to a sudden power flux. It's only needed to shut down Windows properly. Can I solve both Hardware and Software problems without UPS?
metal gear solid
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Windows 7 goes into hibernation immediately after the UPS kicks on

I have a UPS that will power my desktop computer for 50 minutes. The idea was that if the power when out I could save/make notes on what I'm working on and then shutdown or hibernate the desktop. But when the UPS looses power from the grid Windows 7…
NitroxDM
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Is it possible to test an UPS battery without having the UPS nearby?

I just started with a new company and they have a stack of replacement batteries for UPS's located at the branch offices. The problem is, no one knows if these batteries are good or not, and the devices they go in are all scattered around different…
user50919
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