UPS Shutdown

[musicmad]

Hi

Is it wise to keep a UPS on over night?? Example: if i shut down the system completely does the UPS need to stay on to keep the battery charged?? Or if the PC is in (stand by mode) which means its active but not in operation and the main power goes what happens with the UPS.

 

[gogster2k]

The ups is designed to trickle/charge the battery while it is on, but it's ok to turn it off fully as I do every day to save energy. The battery really doesn't get used unless you have brownouts or loss of power, so you need to test your UPS once in a while (once a month) to verify it can still hold a charge and power whatever you have connected to it for a reasonable amount of time so that you can close you applications, save documents, etc and shut down the computer safely during a power outage. Your ups should be capable of running for at least 4 minutes, but it also depends on the wattage rating of the unit (see manual). Just remember that when you test your ups, it will drain the battery some and it takes about a days worth of charging. Also, these ups power supplies usually use lead acid battery(s), so don't drain them all they way down or you will shorten the battery(s) life! I only recently replaced one battery in one of my old Back-UPS 400 after about 8 years of service. It's on my youngest son's computer. I have a Back-UPS 650 on my PC. As far as leaving the ups off, it doens't hurt anything as it is completely off when you shut off the main switch. I have left mines and other ones off for as long as two weeks and there was no change that I can tell in the battery charge. I have ups power supplies on all the computers. They have more than paid for themselves already as we get power glitches quite often. As far as leaving your pc in standyby mode, it is barely using any power. The ups power supply will still kick-in if you have any power glitches as long as you have it on. The switchover lasts for the duration of the outage or until the battery power level gets too low then it will shut itself off. When that happens, your pc most likely will boot-up in normal mode. If you had any documents that were not saved while in standby mode, you will lose them if the ups power supply shuts itself off. If you have one of those smart ups that comes with software that communicates with your pc, (usually via usb) you can program the way the system shuts down, but that is usually for normal mode. It's all in the documentation that comes with your ups.

 

[musicmad]

Hi gogster,

Thanks for your extensive reply, i have the (Belkin Surgemaster 500VA UPS) In addition the documentation that came with the UPS states the typical battery life is 1-2 years. Does this mean after that time i have to completely replace the UPS for a new one?? or only to change the batteries?? I know you quoted in your reply you recently replaced a battery in one of your (Back-UPS 400) after 8 years! so i'm assuming its just a battery change. However given your quot of 8 years! is the 1-2 years with my product just a sales pitch to purchase new batteries?? or is it possible they could last longer??