Do I need a UPS?

[Panos Beltis]

A friend of mine says i need a UPS for my rig, because of the voltage outbreak and it can destroy my computer he says, do I really need it? Or I can just close from behind the switch whenever the voltage drops out/when I'm not at home?

 

[GearUp]

"Quote"
Cumulative damage occurs on parts as defined in datasheets. MOVs suffer cumulative damage as defined by manufacturer charts. Nothing in an electronic power supply suffers cumulative damage. Either parts remain intact or fail catastrophically. Designs are so refined that some parts intentionally fail shorted while others fail open. But in every case, those parts do not suffer cumulative damage. Either parts remain fine or fail catastrophically.

If you read the recent power supply examination on Toms you saw a unit that to the investigator still functioned in spite of numerous shortcomings. Some electronics do seem to persist as long as they are not overly disturbed. Some serious damage I've read of does occur without ever affecting the fuse or circuit breaker. Capacitors gradually fail, typically giving some symptomatic warnings. I take it this must be characterized as aging, not damage, with many having ratings of 2000 hours or less.

I probably should have had a repair when I turned on a 75 watt lamp on the surge side of a UPS and lost detection of a USB TV tuner. These are quite sensitive and at the time two computers and two monitors on the battery side, as well as other devices, filled the outlets. Power still never exceeded 250 watts. After another year this 5-year old UPS was recently repaired when a manual test annoyingly alerted of failure. This is the unit that does not beep when power is lost. So possibly the lamp provided a better test of a parallel circuit than the self-test does or too many devices strained an underrated unit. The lamp no longer has this affect, at least with less connected.

More relevant to the OP.
Regarding data loss I would expect word documents and other items to be saved as old for inspection on restart (don't ignore and take the time to compare every one). Some users may find a more complex situation. I may have several instances of Visual Studio open and if there are two versions of the same application open then it becomes more complex. As long as only one is being edited there shouldn't be a problem on restart, but I can more reliably exit the situation by manually closing these instances. This situation can be complex enough to require restarting those instances before shutdown. Only a good SSD would preserve this state, provided it isn't damaged by failure of the power supply or other components. I would not typically be concerned but a days work can be easily lost and not always easily replaced. With experience, I avoid the issue for the most part but Visual Studio is simply very complex for the operating system to maintain.

As for the main point you make, the UPS has only an inverter so I don't know why I came to believe it did more. Someone should expect to exchange or recharge the battery at least every three years and repair or replace the unit in less than 5 years from my experience.

 

[westom]

If you read the recent power supply examination on Toms you saw a unit that to the investigator still functioned in spite of numerous shortcomings. Some electronics do seem to persist as long as they are not overly disturbed. Some serious damage I've read of does occur without ever affecting the fuse or circuit breaker. Capacitors gradually fail, typically giving some symptomatic warnings. I take it this must be characterized as aging, not damage, with many having ratings of 2000 hours or less. ...

This may have been discussed previously. A defective power supply can still boot and run a computer. IOW some parts can fail catastrophically and a PSU can still boot a computer - but PSU still be defective.

A catastrophically failed parts would not necessary trip a circuit breaker or fuse. Those are for human safety - to avert a fire after damage has resulted. But if damage did not create that human safety threat, then a fuse/CB need not blow/trip.

Generally a failing electrolytic capacitor can be detected using a meter - but still not fail enough to cause a computer crash or failure. Failing parts can become progressively worse with time. So yes, time can be cumulative damage as products wear to a point of defect. And then get worse to cause a computer crash or failure. But electrical transients do not typically cause cumulative damage other than to parts whose manufacturers also define that degradation - such as MOVs.

Electrolytic capacitors should be good even for over 100,000 hours. Any electrolytic failing in 2000 hours came with a manufacturing or design defect.

 

[Panos Beltis]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

 

[Panos Beltis]

I'm not a native speaker and my english are bad

Well then we have a communication problem don't we.

I don't know anything

Unfortunately if you don't know anything, and there are no forums with your language to help you, WE ARE STUCK.

So, BUY IT, since you don't understand the risk/reward/technical.

By the way, dude, I said I'm not native, but not 100% useless on speaking english. Let's not get over oursleves now, shall we?

Also, when I typed - many times - I don't know anything, I was obviously referring to the UPS stuff and all these scientifically well-based but unnecessary informations about it, I simply asked If I need it to protect my computer from electrical/power outbreak/mythsmthshitIdon'tknowwhyanyways.

Also, westom :

Not burglars, or tornadoes or anything crazy as that. Go make fun someone else.

Anyway, thanks again for your answers, seems to me that I won't need it, so...take care.

 

[westom]

Not burglars, or tornadoes or anything crazy as that. Go make fun someone else.
Anyway, thanks again for your answers, seems to me that I won't need it, so...take care.

It was not to make fun of anyone. Surprising how many need to see that sentence to suddenly realize why their questions are not getting a useful answer. Often overlooked in a request for assistance is what must always first be done - first define the problem - what must be solved.

In your case, you did - an outbreak. No such anomaly exists. Appreciate that list of so many other possible anomalies that a UPS also does not solve. Most anomalies in that list are already solved inside a PSU. A PSU performs an amazing number of functions - the result of almost 100 years of design and experience.

Meanwhile, consider what was strongly recommended. Since if any appliance needs that 'whole house' protection, then so does everything - including the computer. That simplest solution is one of the best - for only about a pound per protected appliance. Not as necessary in the UK as it is in other venues. But still more useful than a UPS.

 

[Panos Beltis]

Done and done, picked as a best answer, I'll keep it in mind, thanks a lot for the help guys.