[NMLUG] OT: UPS Questions

[Steve Browne]

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 11:17:53 -0800 (PST), you wrote:

>Hey Gang.  Sorry for the off-topic question but I really respect the input from this group.
> 
>I am looking at purchasing 50-60 small UPS's to put on each of our computers here at the office.  Power is a little sketchy and with folks pluggin in space heaters left and right it seems to do wacky things to the PC's.
> 
>I've deduced that it's probably a power problem and I'm thinking that putting in a small UPS on each machine to help condition the power a little would go a long way.
> 
>Question:  There are $20 models and $100 models.  Since I'm not really looking for long uptime during power outage but more for line conditioning, what should I be looking for?  Are the $20 models sufficient?
> 
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Tim Emerick

Hi Tim:

I'll immediately point out that the cheaper UPSes don't do much power
conditioning. There are power conditioners that would do a much better
job if that is the problem; POWERVAR is one manufacturer:
(http://www.powervar.com/) They aren't UPSes and have no batteries.

The best solution is an *active* UPS, which in UPS parlance means a
unit which takes the PNM AC input and regenerates its own pure sine
wave. Powerware/Powerworks Prestige UPSes do this. However, they
retail in the $1,000 range. If you were looking for ONE unit, I'd
recommend checking the listings on eBay. I have three Powerware
Prestiges, all bought for <$100. But 50 or 60? No idea.

Steve
Stephen B. Browne
sbrowne at ix.netcom.com
"Ubi bene, ibi patria."