UPS/battery backup advice

[taco.vidal]

Im looking to buy a UPS/battery back up for a PC that would allow the PC to send me a notification by email that the power was interrupted. Do any/all UPS's come with software that allows? Any particular brands to look for? Any other way to be able to generate such a notification? Im looking to keep cost down. A quick look at futureshop.ca makes me think Id like to spend in the $150 range.

[Vulcan]

I bought a 810 watt Cyberpower UPS about a month ago at NCIX to replace a dead Belkin UPS. I got it on sale for $120. I think it's great but it doesn't appear to offer e-mail notification so look for another brand I guess. Maybe try an Eaton UPS?

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=23573&...ure=CyberPower

Instead of looking at Future Shop use shopbot to find the better prices.

http://www.shopbot.ca/m/?m=UPS

Hope this is of some help.

[psyang]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

Im looking to buy a UPS/battery back up for a PC that would allow the PC to send me a notification by email that the power was interrupted. Do any/all UPS's come with software that allows? Any particular brands to look for? Any other way to be able to generate such a notification? Im looking to keep cost down. A quick look at futureshop.ca makes me think Id like to spend in the $150 range.

I'm by no means an expert on UPSs, but I will give you this bit of advice. Make sure you find a UPS that generates a true sine wave. A lot of the modern power supplies in computers are finicky with the stepped (simulated) sine wave produced by a common consumer-grade ups. For instance, on my machine, when the power went out and my APC Back-UPS NS ups kicked in, it caused the computer to reboot which kind of defeats the purpose.

My current UPS is the CyberPower 1350PFCLCD that does produce a pure sine wave, and it has worked flawlessly the past year. It cost around $160, but unfortunately the software that comes with it only provides audible alarms for notification.

My guess is email notification is more of a business rather than consumer-end capability, which probably means it will cost more. There might be 3rd party software out there that will do this. Worth googling a bit to see.

[Rathji]

Don't determine what UPS you can get based on price. First step in determining what UPS to buy is determine the draw of all the equipment you intend to plug into it and then figure out what is available in your price range. Chances are something between 500 VA and 850 VA will suit your purposes, but I am just randomly guessing at what equipment you have.

As for email notification, I just don't see it happening the type of device (and price range) you are most likely looking for, but my APC 1200VA, which uses the APC Powerchute Personal Edition software, does not include such a feature. You might be able to swing an email with something like Spiceworks, but I am just guessing.

[GoinAllTheWay]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Don't determine what UPS you can get based on price. First step in determining what UPS to buy is determine the draw of all the equipment you intend to plug into it

Exactly. If you are going to buy something like this, make it will support everything you plug into it.

I don't think getting an email is all that important IMO, I'd be more worried about software that will do a proper shut down if the battery starts to get low. And don't just plug your computer into it, also plug in your router and modem including the coaxial cable from the modem.

[Vulcan]

I found an Eaton UPS that seems to be e-mail capable but it's $849 while a similar Eaton is $169.

http://powerquality.eaton.com/UPS/se...sellerIDCode=1

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Instead of looking at Future Shop use shopbot to find the better prices.

http://www.shopbot.ca/m/?m=UPS

A note about shopbot: it does not check Future Shop / Best Buy, and they sometimes do have good deals. Check all three, or just watch RedFlagDeals.

[photon]

I've got an APC 1200 as well, and I think I got it from Costco at $130ish on a good sale.