UPS or Surge Master

[Wicked Klown]

In about a week or so I'll be getting a new Samsung 61" DLP. I was wondering do I need to get an UPS or a surge master. I'll being using the Samsung, a HTPC with a Abit AB9 QuadGT, eVga 8800GTS 320mb, Intel e4300 and 3 HDDS, a Philips home theater and a D11 STB. Not sure if it matters but we do have old wiring in the house.

[Adragontattoo]

you would be better with a UPS but you will probably need one helluva UPS. You need to figure out the MAX wattage that everything you would want connected to the UPS would be using (full load on every component) and get a UPS that is at least that level.

[Wicked Klown]

Well the one I was looking at is a Tripp Lite (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8020982&st=tripp+lite&type=product&id=1156607168057) It has 8 outlets 4 with UPS and 4 that are surge masters. Only the computer and the tv would be on the UPS part. Was also looking at an APC (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8022935&st=ups&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1157067061643) and a GeekSquad (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7383976&st=ups&lp=6&type=product&cp=1&id=1122654248983)

[eaglescouter]

Outlet count is not the issue (although it certainly does matter), I believe you need to look into the load that your equipment will pull and get a UPS that can handle that draw.

[Wicked Klown]

Is there a site or something to help with finding out what size I need?

[Adragontattoo]

not really. you need to figure out the draw of each component and add them together.

[Wicked Klown]

Ok I guess figuring out the tv, philips and stb will be kind of easy. How would I figure out the waat draw on my computer?

[LandShark]

ok, a e6400 @ 3ghz with 1.375v + basic video card + 1 HDD + etc. folding 100% will draw a bit under 200w.

a UPS is a good investment but not essential for home theater purpose. you don't need a backup battery for your TV and stereo equipment, you know. however, it's good when power went out, you have the time to turn it off yourself instead of just got the power cut!

even if you are not getting a UPS, a surge protector is a must!!! a surge could damage any electronic equipment and the surge protector is there to prevent it. just ask yourself how much your HDTV worth!!

I have a APC (very good brand btw! I use APC at my home and my work too! and the newest software has a power draw monitor that tells you how much power it's drawing too!) 900VA UPS that is small enough to hide away (you don't want a big piece of brick sitting next to your TV! those 1000+VA UPS is huge!). it isn't mean to keep my htpc/TV/stereo/etc. power up when the light is out! it just serve to properly auto shut down the htpc (it actually put it in hibernate when the battery is out), and to give me enough time to turn off the TV & stereo manually. also, a good UPS will smoothen out the electric current and pick up all the trash current that goes to your PC too.

[Wicked Klown]

Was looking more to give me time to shut my rig down and to keep the DLP fan blowing for a few. So do you think any that I listed would be good?

[Adragontattoo]

APC is good, I dont really have an interest in GS gear but it is probably a rebrand and nothing more. In order high to low. APC, Tripp then GS

[Adragontattoo]

buy from the Egg or elsewhere BB will rob you on cost. Also the CPU is pulling roughly 200w, the APC you linked is able to handle 865W approx. check what the TV wattage is and go from there.

[Wicked Klown]

Ok from what I just read the Samsung has a 230watt power consumption. So it looks like the APC will be able to handle it.

[LandShark]

I highly recommend APC! I put them on all of my work machine and my home folding farm. check around too, you might get a much better deal than that!! I bought 2 1500VA (for my folding farm) just about a month ago for $90 each and another 1200VA for $60 in Dec.!! all from OfficeDepot!!

the cyber deal section is where I found those deal!! ;)

[silent bob]

I just bought one of these these (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SS1200&cpc=SCH) for our dlp to clear up AC interference noise . I have not recieved it yet but I will let you know how it goes . it also says its a UPS but I have not done any research on that brand yet .

How can you cut up that Silverstone Wick !!! and you are gunna Paint it? !!!!

nice setups , I dont have all the parts yet except an ATI 1950 which will fold when not in use

[Wicked Klown]

How can you cut up that Silverstone Wick !!! and you are gunna Paint it? !!!!



Hey Steve. Well I had no choice but to cut it. After I got my dremel the case was talking smack. Naw I had to let some cool air in and some hot air out. Also the case got paint stock color, so you really can't tell it's been painted. Hell I even modded the VFD cables. I took the stock wires apart and soldered them to my OCZ 24pin cable. Doing this cleaned it up alittle.

[Pinky]

I'm an APC user (I also have my home theater PC and cable modem connected to one for graceful shutdown in 5 minutes, but no video). You will want a 700+ VA backup. The load you describe will be at the limits for most consumer level backup devices.

[Wicked Klown]

The load you describe will be at the limits for most consumer level backup devices.


How so? The APC I'm looking at is a 1500va and 865 watts. My system total is is around 450watts.

[Pinky]

How so? The APC I'm looking at is a 1500va and 865 watts. My system total is is around 450watts.

(I didn't look at what model you were ordering)

That will work fine. You're probably looking at more than 450 Watts, but well within reason for a 1500VA backup. I'm only using a 500VA for a single PC, wireless router, and cable modem. I get about 5 minutes under that load.

That was probably the largest one you could find, right?

[Wicked Klown]

That was probably the largest one you could find, right?


Yea thats the biggest I could find at a B&M.

[bchur83]

Wow, talk about a "Blue" conversation. Just chiming in, I run a small 800VA UPS on my HT equipment, as well as my HTPC. I figure that the whole system pulls about 600W at full load, which I never have seen. I have yet to overload the UPS. That APC one you are looking at should work great. I mostly use my UPS for the AVR function to keep voltages at a constant level.

On a side note, I acutally used the battery backup portion this weekend (Big Winter Storm). I was in the middle of watching a movie, and the power went out. I had time to shut off everything.

[Wicked Klown]

I went to APC's website and was looking at a few of their UPS. They now have a damn nice UPS made for a home theater.
S Type AV power conditioner with battery. (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=310)

[LandShark]

I went to APC's website and was looking at a few of their UPS. They now have a damn nice UPS made for a home theater.
S Type AV power conditioner with battery. (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=310)
nice! but I wondering how much would that cost tho?! :rolleyes:

[Wicked Klown]

nice! but I wondering how much would that cost tho?! :rolleyes:




You and me both, but man it does look good. I know the APC AV S Type extended battery pack 48VDC cost $500. So I would guess around the $1000 mark.

[Adragontattoo]

Realize that if you can find a larger UPS that is missing its batteries but is good otherwise you can mod it to use Deep Cycle Boat Batteries instead. It doesnt give you any more coverage (the UPS only can handle so much power) but it will last a ton longer on a few deep cycles.



I went to APC's website and was looking at a few of their UPS. They now have a damn nice UPS made for a home theater.
S Type AV power conditioner with battery. (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=310)

That is just a rackmount UPS in a prettier case.

[Pinky]

I mostly use my UPS for the AVR function to keep voltages at a constant level.

It's my understanding that slight power spikes are not usually caught by most consumer grade UPS. Even brown-out protection is rated at a certain percentage of normal voltage unless specifically noted like in this APC ("RS") line...

http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=23

A distinguishing feature of the Back-UPS RS is automatic voltage regulation (AVR). AVR instantly adjusts both low and high voltages to safe levels, so you can work indefinitely during brownouts and overvoltage situations, saving the battery for power outages when you need it most.

If you're not 100% sure you have AVR on your model then you likely don't. Typically it's an additional cost.

Is this the one you have? It's the 800VA RS model. Kinda pricey IMO, but the AVR with a guarantee from APC would be worth the extra cost.

http://www.amazon.com/APC-Back-UPS-RS-800VA-BR800BLK/dp/B0006HDFYK

Belkin makes good backup products as well.