[dan121]

Does any one have any recommendations for a good UPS? (uninteruptable power supply)

Something the would power a 20" intel imac and nothing else. It doesn't need to run for hours, just long enough to shut down the system. I've had occasional power flickers/outages in the past that have really screwed up my computer and am looking to protect my new mac.

I'm looking for specific brand/model recommendations...something that's simple and RELIABLE.

Thanks!

[ghporter]

APC and Tripplite practically invented the consumer-level UPS. They make solid units with great support.

Go for at least a 500VA unit for any desktop-your iMac should run for quite a while on such a device. The best part about it is that you'll get conditioned power all the time, not just when there's a problem you notice. Voltage sags may not make your lights dim, but they can definitely hurt your computer's power supply!

I'd start out with an APC BK500 or BK500BLK for what you've got. I mention starting with a 500VA unit because you want PLENTY of time to shut down, and maybe you won't have to if power comes back within a minute or two.

By the way, I have almost everything electronic in the house on an UPS of one form or another. A lightning strike two houses down that killed a lot of my stuff has had a lasting impact on me!

[Macola]

I'd second the APC recommendation. I also have a Belkin 900VA model which has so far worked well, and I like their Bulldog software.

Glenn, you were lucky. Our house was hit by lightning 6 years ago...fried or partially damaged everything electronic, including my old PowerMac that was connected to a UPS.

[krx]

Are UPS supposed to protect against lightning? That seems rather ambitious.

[ghporter]

My surge suppressors were supposed to protect my equipment from surges, but a lightning strike (as I said) TWO HOUSES DOWN, that didn't touch my house at all (it hit the steel streetlight post at the corner) created enough of an EMP to destroy thousands of dollars worth of electronics. The surge suppressors didn't do the job, in spite of being UL rated. On the other hand, an UPS does not "filter" the power the same way as a surge suppressor-it passes through only a very small range of voltages and blocks any excess, fills in for any sags, etc. The consumer-level models don't create the AC you need 100% of the time, just when you need it, but they still provide a lot more protection than a $25 six outlet surge suppressor.

[Macola]

Originally Posted by krx

Are UPS supposed to protect against lightning? That seems rather ambitious.

They may be marketed as such, but I don't expect them to be. The surge protection circuitry in the average UPS is rated far lower than a stand-alone, good quality surge protector.

[ghporter]

Nothing, NOTHING AT ALL can protect you against a direct strike on external power lines that feed your house. Such strikes cause house fires, equipment to actually explode, etc. Poles are supposed to have lightning protection to prevent this, but it's not always up to the task. I wonder at why utility companies spend money year after year to keep up aerial power lines and the poles they're strung from instead of investing in underground installations which are not subject to weather, extreme changes in temperature and Joe Drunk running over the poles.

Anyway, what an UPS CAN do is moderate the EMP effects that come from a strike NEAR your house. The thing about the surge suppression equipment in a typical UPS is that it protects THE UPS enough for it to take over providing power. It may fry the UPS, but it shouldnt' get through it.

[IceEnclosure]

I have a Belkin 550VA unit, works real nice.

[mduell]

As far as I know, the idea of a UPS is to provide power during a blackout/brownout and to protect your equipment against lightning damage. Cheaper to replace a couple hundred dollar UPS than the thousands of dollars of electronics connected to it. APC even insures the hardware connected to their UPSs for $25k on the consumer units.

[Naaaaak]

Originally Posted by mduell

As far as I know, the idea of a UPS is to provide power during a blackout/brownout and to protect your equipment against lightning damage. Cheaper to replace a couple hundred dollar UPS than the thousands of dollars of electronics connected to it. APC even insures the hardware connected to their UPSs for $25k on the consumer units.

This is my understanding as well. However, it is my understanding that the insurance claims are basically worthless. I've heard of issues where electronics behind a UPS were destroyed but the companies did not pay up for whatever reason. So the insurance claims are largely marketing or something.

I am more interested in a UPS for its use with FileVault. I would like to turn on FileVault (I figure by 10.4.7 it should be matured) but I have heard stories of data becoming corrupt from power outages while changes were being made to the disk and what not. Can any UPS software automatically save all open documents and do a shutdown if the power goes out? I would probably be away during a power outage and unable to manage it myself.

[ghporter]

Have you heard of APC or Tripplite refusing a valid claim? I doubt it, as you don't build a solid reputation on sneaking out of a warranty commitment.

Anyway, an UPS should prevent any preventable damage to the equipment connected to it. As noted above, NOTHING can reasonably be expected to survive a direct lightning strike. But the way good quality UPSs are built should prevent any surges induced on power lines from getting through the device to the connected equipment.

[Macola]

Originally Posted by ghporter

Have you heard of APC or Tripplite refusing a valid claim? I doubt it, as you don't build a solid reputation on sneaking out of a warranty commitment.

They won't refuse a valid claim, but it's not easy getting to that point. Not only do you have to ship the UPS back to them, you also have to send all the damaged equipment (at your own expense). Also, if your homeowner's insurance covers the damage, then obviously the UPS insurance won't.

So, yes, the insurance offered by UPS manufacturers is essentially worthless, at least for the average consumer. Get a good renter's or homeowner's policy instead.