UPS - saving your computers, monitors, and data

Uninterruptible Power Supplies, more commonly known as UPS Backups or UPS Battery Backups, can be very important pieces of hardware to have with your computer system. In the event of a power surge, spike, sag, brownout or other power abnormality, a UPS battery backup will keep your computer system up and running. And if the power stays off for too long, a "Smart-UPS" system will shut down the computer system in an intelligent and orderly manner, thereby saving your most recent unsaved data from certain loss. An example of this is the APC Smart-UPS.

There are three types of UPS devices:

1. Off-line/Standby UPS: remains idle until a power failure occurs, and then switches from utility power to its own power source, almost instantaneously. (the "almost" can be a problem as I will discuss shortly.)
2. Line-interactive UPS: similar in operation to a Standby UPS, but with the addition of a multi-tap variable-voltage autotransformer. This type of UPS is able to tolerate continuous undervoltage and overvoltage surges without consuming the limited reserve battery power. It instead compensates by auto-selecting different power taps on the autotransformer.
3. On-line: continuously powers the protected load from its energy reserves stored in a lead–acid battery or flywheel, while simultaneously replenishing the reserves from the AC power. It also provides protection against all common power problems.

Are any of these styles better than the others? A recent discussion about UPS Battery Backups with Brian Mark, the CTO of ToolBarn.com led to an important observation, the value of the on-line style of UPS. ToolBarn's building has had some momentary power sags lately causing some of their computers to go down. However, some of their computers in the same offices were not affected. Upon investigating the commonalities between those that went down and those that didn't, he discovered that they were using two types of UPS devices, and those that stayed up were using the on-line type. Those using the off-line style were victims of the "almost" instantaneous switch over. It took just long enough for that "almost instaneous" switch over that a "power sag" was still occurring causing their computers to blink off, and blowing out some of their monitors. 

So from their experience, it would seem that the best type of UPS Battery Backup is the on-line type, which continuously uses the battery while keeping it charged. That way, if there is a power sag, you are still on full power.

Here are some examples if you would like to look into a UPS Battery Backup System:

American Power Conversion Back-UPS RS Battery Backup System Includes Boost Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to preserve battery life and maximize runtime. Just $146.24.

APC Smart-UPS: Includes PowerChute management software for servers and workstations. $150,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. Just $319.99.

Ultra ULT31502 with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) : Line Interactive UPS. $125,000 guarantee against damage to your connected equipment while the 1000 VA is in use. Just $119.98.

CyberPower CPS1500AVRT with AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation): Up to 170 minutes protection ideal for mid-level to upper level computer systems. $500,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. Just $179.99.

You can see more UPS Battery Backups at UPS Battery Backups or Power Supplies.

The various types of UPS Battery Backups are are discussed in more depth at Wikipedia.

The Vicious Cycle

I can't buy anything because my credit cards are maxed out. My credit cards are maxed out because I don't have any money. I don't have any money because my retirement account is gone. My retirement account is gone because the stock market tanked. The stock market tanked because the mortgage companies went bankrupt. The mortgage companies went bankrupt because morons are running them. Morons are running them ... well, I don't know why morons are running them. Can anyone explain that?