Back-up battery suggestions?

[erkishhorde]

I'm getting ticked off with APC. I've been getting less and less use out of my APC batteries. I kind of expect my back-up battery to last as long as my computer but I guess that's asking too much. I just had my APC die on me after 14 months. I think the one before that was just barely over 2 years. Back in the day I got 4 years out of them.

It's always fun when someone turns on a light and your computer shuts down. Or the vacuum cleaner of power surges.  If it's gonna cost me $60+ a year to buy a new battery each year I'm tempted to just skip it and only surge protect my machine. I'd say that in all my years of using back-ups they've only saved my ass 3 or 4 times. That's like once every 3 years. I'm not sure it's worth it. Especially considering that I'm out of school now and aren't writing essays or junk like that.

What brands are you guys running?

[NAKID]

Where do you live that the electricity is that unstable?

[erkishhorde]

Where do you live that the electricity is that unstable?

An old house? I'm here in sunny socal and the house is at least 30 years old. The lights dim for a second when the vacuum cleaner gets turned on and if there's enough appliances on, just turning on the lights can cause enough of a brief power shortage to kill a computer. But if the lights are already on the computer can be turned on no problem. Fun fun fun! 

[Bick]

how big of a UPS are you using?

May want to step up to a bigger one?

[erkishhorde]

APC 900V/540 amps

Going bigger won't make it last longer. I'm assuming by your guys' remarks that you don't think APC is a bad brand.

[Bick]

You could look at Eaton/Powerware.

Just thinking the larger capacity won't be stressed as much.  (of course, I am one for overkill at a minimum)

[derby]

i use 'em in my datacenters and have never had an issue with 'em other than having to replace the batteries every 3-5 years (read: normal maintenance)..

[erkishhorde]

i use 'em in my datacenters and have never had an issue with 'em other than having to replace the batteries every 3-5 years (read: normal maintenance)..

Yeah, I used to get 3-5 years out of them but the last two I've gotten have crapped out on me at or under 2 years. 

[NAKID]

Do you own? I would take a look at the wiring and solve the problem. A battery back up is a good idea, but if you solve the problem of the unstable electrical system, then the UPS won't be stressed as often. Just a thought...

[erkishhorde]

It's my parent's house. The electricity has always sucked. This battery was used primarily at my apt in Santa Ana so the house wiring doesn't have much to do with it. I'm just finding out that it's toast because of the bad wiring here. It's only been "used" for about an hour. Other than that it's just on all the time and electricity is pretty much just passing through.

Do you own? I would take a look at the wiring and solve the problem. A battery back up is a good idea, but if you solve the problem of the unstable electrical system, then the UPS won't be stressed as often. Just a thought...

[somegirl]

How about a power conditioner?

[NAKID]

How about a power conditioner?

I thought those were like snake oil....

[Langanobob]

An old house? I'm here in sunny socal and the house is at least 30 years old. The lights dim for a second when the vacuum cleaner gets turned on and if there's enough appliances on, just turning on the lights can cause enough of a brief power shortage to kill a computer. But if the lights are already on the computer can be turned on no problem. Fun fun fun!  Roll Eyes

30 years isn't really that old, I don't think the building codes and construction practices have changed significantly in 30 years.  My house was already ancient 30 years ago and I don't have any electricity issues.   Something is probably wrong with the wiring, or the incoming utility voltage is too low.   Didn't you go to Cal Poly?  You must be some kind of enjunear so I'd suggest checking the incoming voltage and also the voltage drop on the circuit to  your computer.   It might be worth while to add a dedicated circuit for your computer if there's room in the panel.  Per the public utility commission, SCE or whoever the utility is has to maintain your incoming voltage at something like 240V +/-  five percent or so (not sure what the exact range is) and if they're low it's their problem to fix it.

Somegirls suggestion of a power conditioner might work.  I have a voltage regulator on my computer (made by APC) that doesn't have a back up battery but is supposed to maintain the voltage right at 120 volts.  I "think" it will absorb short spikes like turning on lights or vacuum cleaners.  I don't use my desktops much anymore and now I  just use my laptop with a docking station for my main computer so it has its own backup battery.

[somegirl]

I thought those were like snake oil....

We have many of our customers using them...our equipment is far more sensitive than any desktop computer, and some of our customers work in buildings with ancient wiring.