[SOLVED] Is this a viable UPS for a computer system?

[gabi222]

Looking to buy an UPS because I have frequent power surges and I also suspect the power in my area is not constant etc

Now, I have no idea what I need but after looking around I found something that looks feasible, this is the model I would be able to buy in my location:
https://www.cyberpower.com/eu/en/product/sku/vp1000elcd

I see there are different models, and I'm looking at Value Pro and PFC Sinewave (this one would cost almost double).

The question I have, would that Value Pro series be compatible with a pc? I am using a Corsair RMx 650 W 80+ PSU, would this be compatible with that model? Or for UPS handling computers, the CP models are required(like CP1500EPFCLCD)?

Thanks for any recommendations you might have

 

[RealBeast]

That model would work fine. Just attach the USB cable and install the automatic shutdown software and set it to shutdown when the UPS is down to 5 minutes of power left.

 

[gabi222]

That model would work fine. Just attach the USB cable and install the automatic shutdown software and set it to shutdown when the UPS is down to 5 minutes of power left.

Thanks.

If I understand correctly the mechanism, the UPS will just feed power to the PC and make sure to switch to batteries if power shuts down or it would prevent a power surge going trough and hitting the PSU., hope that's right.
And this model is capable of feeding a system that will not consume more than 550 W

Hope it would cover this system, but I guess there is no way I can put the monitor trough it as well
https://pcpartpicker.com/list/3mTjNP

 

[jonnyguru]

it would prevent a power surge going trough and hitting the PSU., hope that's right.

To be fair, any surge protector does this.

The Joules rating of that UPS is only 450. Even a cheap Amazon branded surge strip gives you 10 times the protection against surges.

You get a UPS because you have power outages. Not power spikes.

 

[gabi222]

To be fair, any surge protector does this.

The Joules rating of that UPS is only 450. Even a cheap Amazon branded surge strip gives you 10 times the protection against surges.

You get a UPS because you have power outages. Not power spikes.

Edit: found a surge protector, I guess you meant something like this:
https://www.cyberpower.com/global/en/product/sku/p0820suf0-de



Hm well the idea is that I am building a new pc and I want it protected since I live in a old location with pretty terrible power management. I even suspect the current is not stable but anyway that's just an assumption.

Basically I want to cover as much ground as possible in covering the system against possible bad outcomes, be it a power spike, bad current, varying current, I don't really care about being able to have that much battery life, as long as the PC would shut down in all conditions I would be happy. Money is also a concern so I wouldnt be able to spend a lot

So I started researching today but I really am not versed in this domain so as this point I would take any advice, maybe there are other options even better

Now I think after checking a bit more that all models have the basic protection features and the last two have a battery to keep the system going for some minutes. Hope I am getting this right

This is a most basic model I just noticed half an hour ago
https://www.cyberpower.com/eu/en/product/sku/br1000elcd

I think this would cover the spikes:

Surge-protected Outlets
The UPS outlets absorb surges and spikes caused by thunder and lightning, hence providing complete protection for equipment and devices.


BR1000ELCD offers home and office users a reliable battery backup and safeguards office PCs, network communication equipment, and other electronic devices from surges, spikes, brownouts and other power incidents. Designed with GreenPower UPS™ Technology to improve operating efficiency and to minimize energy consumption, users can enjoy significant energy cost savings over conventional UPS systems. The UPS provides Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) to maintain a safe voltage for connected equipment. The featured data line protection protects phones, networks, and other communication equipment against surges/spikes and other power irregularities. Users can access precise information of critical power/battery conditions with the LCD status monitor.
Features

• Line-interactive UPS Topology
• Simulated Sine Wave Output
• USB Charging Port
• Phone/Fax/Modem/DSL/Network Protection
• PowerPanel® Management Software

• Energy Saving Technology
• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
• Surge and Spike Protection
• LCD Status Display
• Wall Mount Installation

 

[RealBeast]

Forget about the surge protection -- the power outages or voltage sags are what you are buying the UPS to stabilize. I generally do not attach my monitors and peripherals to my UPSs, which allows them a little more time since my outages usually only last 5 minutes or so, if they are longer the system with do an orderly shutdown.

If you use USB external drives I would have them on the UPS also -- if they power off in the middle of a write they will often become corrupted and lose data.

 

[gabi222]

Forget about the surge protection -- the power outages or voltage sags are what you are buying the UPS to stabilize. I generally do not attach my monitors and peripherals to my UPSs, which allows them a little more time since my outages usually only last 5 minutes or so, if they are longer the system with do an orderly shutdown.

If you use USB external drives I would have them on the UPS also -- if they power off in the middle of a write they will often become corrupted and lose data.

After more reading it seems my PSU would require a pure sinewave UPS. Too bad those are more expensive🙁

 

[jonnyguru]

Edit: found a surge protector, I guess you meant something like this:
https://www.cyberpower.com/global/en/product/sku/p0820suf0-de

Wow. That's... a garbage power strip. Look at the Joule rating. Maybe stay away from Cyberpower?

Forget about the surge protection -- the power outages or voltage sags are what you are buying the UPS to stabilize.

But a surge protector takes care of lightning strikes as a UPS has a limited amount of surge protection. If the OP is experiencing power outages and no surges, then I agree the UPS is probably all that's needed.

After more reading it seems my PSU would require a pure sinewave UPS. Too bad those are more expensive🙁

You are reading incorrect information.

Unfortunately, people have latched onto this idea that APFC doesn't like square wave and that it somehow damages hardware. These people report this without understanding the theory as to why that might be true (even though, it's typically UNTRUE other than a handful of corner cases).

One has to understand that with the square wave, you have prolonged voltages at the peaks. So while you might have 230V peak voltage or 115V peak voltage, you actually have 330V or 165V RMS (which is then doubled inside the PSU, but I digress). But any modern day PSU is going to be ok with this even if that RMS was upwards of 400V!

And if the PSU is NOT compatible with the 400V RMS, it should just shut down. If it doesn't, it's a garbage PSU that shouldn't be used in the first place. And if it dies as a result, it performed hari kari in your honor in that it did not kill any of your hardware downstream in the process... it simply killed itself.

But you have an RM650. Which works perfectly fine with a square wave UPS, as does 99% of the PC PSUs out there today!!!

Fun fact: Does your laptop charger work on an airplane's in seat power or with an inveter in your car or camper? If it does, then it's okay with square wave! Because those power inverters output square waveforms!! 😀😀😀

 

[USAFRet]

But a surge protector takes care of lightning strikes as a UPS has a limited amount of surge protection. If the OP is experiencing power outages and no surges, then I agree the UPS is probably all that's needed.

ummmm......My recent mass fatality would like to have a word.

Several components affected, none of them were at the wall plug in or PSU.
Ethernet ports, HDMI ports....🙁

All on either a UPS or large TripLite surge protector.

 

[jonnyguru]

ummmm......My recent mass fatality would like to have a word.

Several components affected, none of them were at the wall plug in or PSU.
Ethernet ports, HDMI ports....🙁

All on either a UPS or large TripLite surge protector.

You mean you had a UPS and surge protector and all of your stuff died on a lightning strike just the same?

Was it a direct strike? If not, how well is the building's wiring grounded?

 

[USAFRet]

You mean you had a UPS and surge protector and all of your stuff died on a lightning strike just the same?

How well is the building's wiring grounded?

Typical USA residential house, 1982.
Well grounded.

Nearby lightning, Flash-Bang. Exact location unknown.
Most everything paused for a sec, then came back to life.

Specific fatalities:
Ethernet port on main PC
Ethernet port on printer
(these were seperated by 2x switches and a router, plugged into different house circuits, and different UPS and/or TrippLite)
2x HDMI port on Denon stereo This was connected to both the TV and an HTPC via HDMI.

All the other components are/were fine. The PC just needed a PCIe ethernet card. Using it right now, no other adverse effects.
Switches, routers, TV, HTPC and its GPU...all fine.


Circuit board on a garage wall mounted Invisible Fence panel. This thing was Unplugged from the wall. Hadn't been used in over a decade. The underground wiring evidently is still there. The circuit board cooked, and the cover was blown halfway across the garage. This is at the other end of the house.

Now for the Twilight Zone moment - I have a battery powered laser level. On a tripod in a bedroom upstairs (was doing some remodeling). I had not turned it on on a week or so.
Went upstairs...it was ON. Static electricity? Dunno.

And by TrippLite....these:
https://www.tripplite.com/single-ph...5-15r-outlets-6-ft-cord-rack-mount~PDUH20ISO6


Electricity follows strange pathways.

 

[jonnyguru]

Typical USA residential house, 1982.
Well grounded.

Nearby lightning, Flash-Bang. Exact location unknown.
Most everything paused for a sec, then came back to life.

Specific fatalities:
Ethernet port on main PC
Ethernet port on printer
(these were seperated by 2x switches and a router, plugged into different house circuits, and different UPS and/or TrippLite)
2x HDMI port on Denon stereo This was connected to both the TV and an HTPC via HDMI.

All the other components are/were fine. The PC just needed a PCIe ethernet card. Using it right now, no other adverse effects.
Switches, routers, TV, HTPC and its GPU...all fine.


Circuit board on a garage wall mounted Invisible Fence panel. This thing was Unplugged from the wall. Hadn't been used in over a decade. The underground wiring evidently is still there. The circuit board cooked, and the cover was blown halfway across the garage. This is at the other end of the house.

Now for the Twilight Zone moment - I have a battery powered laser level. On a tripod in a bedroom upstairs (was doing some remodeling). I had not turned it on on a week or so.
Went upstairs...it was ON. Static electricity? Dunno.

And by TrippLite....these:
https://www.tripplite.com/single-ph...5-15r-outlets-6-ft-cord-rack-mount~PDUH20ISO6


Electricity follows strange pathways.

Oh... Well... Death via CAT5 and COAX isn't uncommmon because typically those routers, cable boxes, etc. don't have a ground pin on their power bricks.

But that shouldn't matter if they're plugged into a surge suppressor. So that is odd that those particular devices were impacted.

I asked if there was a direct strike because nothing can save you from a direct strike.

Of course, another possibility is the broadband distribution box was hit. That would have sent the surge through the CATV or TP (depending on what you use) and into the router where it'll just spit that surge out to everything else plugged into it.

 

[kanewolf]

You mean you had a UPS and surge protector and all of your stuff died on a lightning strike just the same?

Was it a direct strike? If not, how well is the building's wiring grounded?

We had a direct strike. The strangest thing was my HP calculator that was just sitting on the floor. The EMP must have gotten it.

 

[USAFRet]

Its just weird...other things on the same switch were unaffected. For instance, the 3D printer is on the same switch and same Tripplite as the PC.
One ethernet port (PC) dead, the other fine. And the switch is still fine...all 5 ports.

And this house is on fiber (Verizon FiOS). So no coax from the street....Fiber direct to the wall of the house.

 

[gabi222]

But you have an RM650. Which works perfectly fine with a square wave UPS, as does 99% of the PC PSUs out there today!!!

Thanks, that's great news. Well I am looking at Cyberpower units because I was randomly going over UPS models on a website, then I read a bit about what I actually need and this brand was one of the 3-4 recommended as top of the line and
they have the most models on the website and I stick with it, looked on their website etc

The RMx650 I have is a 2016 model and I hope you are right and will be fine with that model of UPS

So I guess I could buy this model, hope 550W would be enough.
https://www.cyberpower.com/eu/en/product/sku/cp900epfclcd
VA 1000 Watts 550

The Pure Sine Wave is almost double in price 🙁
https://www.cyberpower.com/eu/en/product/sku/cp900epfclcd#specification
A 900 Watts 540

It actually happened a few times, maybe 8-10 in total during a longer period of time, the PC would restart and it would stop the boot with a message about power surge detected and I had to restart it to continue. Not sure how much this affected any components but I am really suspicious of the current CP. Anyway don't want to have the same issues with the new build so I am trying to cover all bases, I think the current in this building is just not what it should be. And that UPS maybe will fix some of the issues hopefully

 

[jonnyguru]

It actually happened a few times, maybe 8-10 in total during a longer period of time, the PC would restart and it would stop the boot with a message about power surge detected and I had to restart it to continue.

That's your motherboard. "Power surge detected" is Asus's Engrish for "something didn't get enough power". An actual surge isn't going to go through the PSU and get detected by some crappy software built into a motherboard BIOS. This error could be triggered by anything from a bad graphics card, bad CPU, bad VRMs on the motherboard, unstable overclock or a PSU voltage that's out of spec.