How to buy a UPS for your home computer?
UPS is a must have accessory for every computers in India. Sudden power failures and surge in supply are common everywhere. To protect valuable data from getting corrupted, it is a must to buy a good UPS. Before we go into the topic, it is essential to understand the types of UPS.
What are the types of UPS available?
For consumer use, 3 types of UPS - Online, Off-line (stand by) and Line-interactive UPS are available.
Which one is best for home computer?
Line interactive is the modern implementation, and is better than the old Off-line UPS. Line Interactive UPS are available from 600va to 2kva max. They are economical and has less circuitry making a compact product. Online UPS are good but they are a overkill of home purposes.
How do I calculate my UPS power requirements?
To calculate check the components individually and sum up.
1. SMPS - 250-300w typical (some true gamer SMPS may consume more than 400w and more)
2. Monitor - 90w (17" CRT), 45w (15" CRT). 11 to 55w (LCD)
3. Modems - 1w to 10w max.
It is safe to assume that a normal home computer may consume close to 400 to 450w power.
How do I find out the right UPS power handling?
Check the UPS power output rating. Usually it is mentioned in VA (voltage ampere). For example 600va, 800va, 750va, 1000va etc. Multiply the power with 0.6 and the result is the true power handling of the UPS. For ex 600va UPS can handle a load of upto 360w (600 x 0.6 = 360)
For a generic computer with 400w load, a 800va (480w) UPS will suffice.
Should I go for internal battery or external battery?
Nowadays, over-the-shelf consumer UPS are available only with internal batteries. Internal batteries provide power from 6 mins to 20 mins max depending upon the battery's condition.
Custom built UPS and a few select models come with external battery options. Go for custom built UPS if you want hours of backup.
What is the average life expectancy of a battery?
Normally all UPS use sealed batteries, which are more of use-and-dispose type. These batteries run for about 12 to 18months in good condition. After than they need to be checked and replaced if necessary.
- Rajesh Sundaram
What are the types of UPS available?
For consumer use, 3 types of UPS - Online, Off-line (stand by) and Line-interactive UPS are available.
Online UPS:
To explain in simple terms, this UPS supplies AC power to your computer which is converted from the power produced by the battery connected to it. The battery is
constantly re-charged by a AC-DC convertor on the other end.
Offline UPS:
When the mains supply is on, the UPS will pass thru the mains supply to the computer. If mains is cut, it will use a DC-AC convertor and produce power from the attached battery.
Line Interactive UPS:
Uses a combination of invertor/convertor circuit. When the mains is on, it recharges the battery and produces power from the battery at the same time.
Which one is best for home computer?
Line interactive is the modern implementation, and is better than the old Off-line UPS. Line Interactive UPS are available from 600va to 2kva max. They are economical and has less circuitry making a compact product. Online UPS are good but they are a overkill of home purposes.
How do I calculate my UPS power requirements?
To calculate check the components individually and sum up.
1. SMPS - 250-300w typical (some true gamer SMPS may consume more than 400w and more)
2. Monitor - 90w (17" CRT), 45w (15" CRT). 11 to 55w (LCD)
3. Modems - 1w to 10w max.
It is safe to assume that a normal home computer may consume close to 400 to 450w power.
How do I find out the right UPS power handling?
Check the UPS power output rating. Usually it is mentioned in VA (voltage ampere). For example 600va, 800va, 750va, 1000va etc. Multiply the power with 0.6 and the result is the true power handling of the UPS. For ex 600va UPS can handle a load of upto 360w (600 x 0.6 = 360)
For a generic computer with 400w load, a 800va (480w) UPS will suffice.
Should I go for internal battery or external battery?
Nowadays, over-the-shelf consumer UPS are available only with internal batteries. Internal batteries provide power from 6 mins to 20 mins max depending upon the battery's condition.
Custom built UPS and a few select models come with external battery options. Go for custom built UPS if you want hours of backup.
What is the average life expectancy of a battery?
Normally all UPS use sealed batteries, which are more of use-and-dispose type. These batteries run for about 12 to 18months in good condition. After than they need to be checked and replaced if necessary.
- Rajesh Sundaram
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A UPS battery also allows the orderly shutdown of open applications, reducing the chances of losing a vital document in mid-edit or losing unsaved data. Additionally, a UPS "conditions" the electricity flowing into a computer, avoiding possible hardware damage from power surges or spikes when the main power returns.