Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

Battery Back Ups

Nov 24, 2013 2:16AM PST

I'm getting miffed here! Ever since those tornadoes passed through in Illinois I've been having a glitch. The winds were pretty high here in Chicago and seems like somewhere on the electric grid here some wires somewhere have been affected. Our power just goes off and on for split second, not long enough to have to reset the clocks or anything but long enough to shut my desktop computer down and my monitor. It doesn't mess with my laptop with the exception of for instance my internet connection drops for that split second also and Cnet says "oops I broke the internet" lol so I refresh the page and it's ok. So I'm thinking of buying this battery back up ->http://www.amazon.com/APC-BR1000G-Back-UPS-Uninterruptible-Supply/dp/B0038ZTZ3W/ref=sr_1_47?ie=UTF8&qid=1385314527&sr=8-47&keywords=battery+back+up+for+pc and use it in conjunction with this external battery ->http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0047E5B90 is this a good move?...Digger

Discussion is locked

itsdigger has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

- Collapse -
Exact one I use right now
Nov 24, 2013 4:27AM PST

I'll need to warn you that I had to have APC replace my first one and I'm not yet sure that the replacement won't have the same problem. If you google search, you can find others with the same issue. What would happen after an actual outage is the UPS would fail to recharge the battery. This wouldn't be noticeable right away but 3 or 4 days later when the battery charge bars would begin to drop out one by one. Eventually the device would alarm and display the missing battery icon. I'd need to unplug the UPS, remove the battery and plug it back in...sometimes 3 or 4 times. I'd hear a "click" and know it was OK. It would work until the next outage and...rinse/repeat. I believe it has something to do with a stuck relay. Anyway, since the replacement I've had no problems but, then again, I've had no outages. What you really need these things for is what you're seeing. It's those momentary dropouts that cause your PC to shutdown. A UPS, unless you buy some several thousand dollar type that uses tractor batteries, isn't meant to allow you to keep working all day. Rather it just lets you finish what you're doing and shut the thing down until the lights come on again. Sorry to be so long winded but when I saw that make/model (and APC is usually good), I cringed. It's the first APC to give me grief. Hope that helps.

- Collapse -
Thanks Steve
Nov 24, 2013 5:15AM PST

Seems like I follow in your footsteps quite often, same speakers too hehe, well I think I'll go ahead and roll the dice with this one. The one thing I don't understand though is I read one review that said this ups wouldn't work because his newer Dell (and many others) needed a pure sine wave input and this APC series of UPS produces a "step approximated sine wave" so I'm kinna worried that if I ever upgrade to a newer computer this won't work. What's your ideas on this? .....Digger

- Collapse -
Not a bad point
Nov 24, 2013 6:05AM PST

and, actually, I was wrong. My APC UPS is the XS 1000 but its external looks are identical to the one in your link. It also creates the "step approximated sine wave". I doubt it's a danger to your Dell but I can't say. Mine is a home built using a Corsair 750 watt model. As for needing a pure sine wave, I can tell you that the power at your home AC outlets aren't pure sine wave either so why isn't your Dell dead? What you might want to read up on is the different type of PC power supplies including active and passive PFC types and see what type your Dell has. About the only "don't" I've heard are that you do not connect a UPS to another UPS nor do you connect it to a surge protector. Anyway. Good luck to you and make sure to post pix of the smoking remains if things go wrong. Happy

- Collapse -
here's the PSU
Nov 24, 2013 6:17AM PST
- Collapse -
didn't finish last post lol
Nov 24, 2013 6:19AM PST

so I think I'll go ahead and order the back up . Thanks again Steve.....Digger

- Collapse -
Do order
Nov 25, 2013 2:45AM PST

Having the UPS backup will help, but do have a decent surge protector and whatever you can add to your current alptop or desktop use. The laptop if using the AC wall charger has minor build-in surge or adept voltage handling abilities because it can handle more than 115VAC, once you read the decal on it. But, the desktop models aren't so flexible and may surcome to surge more readily, not that a laptop won't either though. My setup has surge protector on each AC line(singular type) and then strip and line conditioner and then AC wall outlet surge protector plus the box bkr. is fault interrupter type. I did all this because the trees around the house used to attract lightning like a sponge. No longer because they're gone due to my cutting them down because of age and Ash borer killing many. So, around the house they are gone now. However, my TV antenna is well insulated for the same reasons as the PC, needs protection.

tada -----Willy Happy

- Collapse -
Thanks Willy
Nov 25, 2013 2:52AM PST

I do have surge protectors but I am going to get that battery back up. Had the electric company out and they fixed their problem at the pole , took about 5 minutes...Digger

- Collapse -
Hooked it up yesterday
Dec 10, 2013 1:39AM PST

While running the desktop w/monitor (32 in. flat screen tv) , cable modem and wireless router , the info says I can run for 277 minutes. Wen I have the laptop running ( Toshiba Qosmio gamer) with cable modem and wireless router the info say's 271 minutes, that kind of surprised me that the desktop will run longer but the Qosmio is a power hog. I can only run it for 35 minutes with it's own battery. It say I can run the flat screen tv for over 10 hrs. by itself with an OTA antenna so that's not too shabby huh?....Digger

- Collapse -
Answer
Here's what I ended up ordering
Nov 29, 2013 6:17AM PST
- Collapse -
Probably a dumb newbie question
Dec 8, 2013 12:33AM PST

But I'd rather ask a dumb question than mess up. I'm about to hook up the battery back-up and battery pack ( see above post) . Should this be plugged into surge protector ? I mean it has built in surge protection....Digger

- Collapse -
Don't think it would hurt but also don't think it would help
Dec 8, 2013 5:49AM PST

I plug mine straight into the wall. From what I do understand is that plugging a surge protector into a battery backed socket can shorten the life of that surge protector depending on the waveform when on battery. Funny thing about surge protectors is you don't really know when the active element is kaput.

- Collapse -
Yeah , it seems redundant to me
Dec 8, 2013 10:18AM PST

but I've read a bunch of different articles or posts from forums and such and some say yea and some say nay. I think I'll follow your lead on this. I just can't seem to wrap my head around needing a surge protector for a surge protected device. Thanks Steve.....Digger

- Collapse -
Your UPS will have battery backed outlets and some
Dec 8, 2013 5:38PM PST

that are just surge protected. But just to drive you nuts, I think Amazon has your UPS on it's daily rotating sale starting sometime this morning (Monday). Do I hear a loud ARGGHHH! to the west? Devil

- Collapse -
Sure! Why Not! It Figures
Dec 8, 2013 6:20PM PST

Go On Sale 58% off couldn't do this while I needed it. (Hmm, Maybe I should but a spare for when this one needs replacing) . Wonder if the battery packs gonna be on sale too . Devil .....Digger

- Collapse -
You can test it
Dec 10, 2013 3:27AM PST

Not to burst your bubble but I'm doubtful of that run time. I've got the 1000 series and it claims about 40 minutes of run time. I get less than 30 but it doesn't matter to me. Anyway, get yourself a "Kill a watt" meter from Lowes or Amazon...whatever. Check to see how many watts your rig consumes at idle and under load. Next, hook up some lamps with incandescent bulbs to the UPS that approximate that wattage. Unplug her and sit there and and drink beer until it shuts down. A noble experiment. Happy

- Collapse -
Ahh But
Dec 10, 2013 3:40AM PST

Do you also have the external battery pack Steve?

- Collapse -
Mine doesn't come with one
Dec 10, 2013 5:45AM PST

I'm really only interested in short term outages or I'd get a home generator. I have used UPS devices for other purposes when the power is out. You can run your shaver from one but not your microwave.

- Collapse -
Oh I agree
Dec 10, 2013 7:01AM PST

In my last house I had a Caterpillar whole house gen , natural gas , ran a couple of time in 20 years. I think this battery back up , will be just fine for the short outages we have here in Chicago. If push comes to shove, there's always a Holiday Inn ....Digger