Understand Your UPS
Last Updated: 1/25/10What is a UPS?
UPS stands for Uninterruptable Power Supply. A ups is just that, a device that can not be interrupted from supplying the power it is designed to supply. Even if the power goes out. In simple terms, a ups is a giant battery that kicks in to keep your computer running even if the power goes out.
How do I know which UPS to buy?
The easiest way to figure this out is to figure out what equipment you want to have a battery backup. Then choose that equipment from the list on this site: http://www.apcc.com/template/size/apc/rslr/.
The website will calculate the approximate VA (Voltage-Amps) needed to power that equipment and recommend an APC product for you.
The other way
is to find the number of watts or amps that each piece of equipment uses. Then convert that to VA (Voltage-Amps) and add each item together and find a UPS with a VA is equivalent or higher.
VA = Watts x 1.7
VA = Amps x 120
Example:
A PC tower with 300 Watt power supply and a 17" CRT Monitor (1.2 Amps).
300 Watts x 1.7 = 510 VA
1.2 Amps x 120 = 144 VA
Total = 654 VA
These values are theoretical maximums for power consumption. In reality these devices consume much less power. The average PC tower uses about 70 Watts and a 17" CRT monitor would around 80 Watts. This gives you a VA of 255. Buys a UPS with a VA rating of 255 for this computer would probably not be wise, because the computer could peak much higher than 255 VA.
For more Information on UPS's please checkout this website:
http://www.ahinc.com/hpower.htm
