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If your concern is spikes and surges, you should look into lightening protection and not UPS...
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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honey the codewitch wrote: at least half dozen laptops.
 honey the codewitch wrote: $900 monitor.
OK, why do you have such a computer ? Are you a supervillain planning to take over the world ?
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Most cheaper UPSs are of the standby type, they won't give you any protection of that kind, they run from the line until there's a power failure that turns them on.
There will be a short glitch when they turn on. I would not recommend them for sensitive (expensive) equipment.
An online UPS is converting power from AC to DC and back to AC and thereby completely isolating your computer from the line from anything except a direct hit by the lightning.
In between there are Line-interactive UPSs that clean and regulate the voltage to a some extent before turning on backup power. This is normally enough for most computers.
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honey the codewitch wrote: I honestly don't care about shutting down gracefully. I care about weathering about 100 current spikes in the span of a minute.
That's exactly why I bought my APC at the local Best Buy.
We were having spikes where the power would go off for 2-3 seconds every 10 minutes or something.
it was so infuriating. The APC resolved the issue. PHew...
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Sorry, but what is an APC? I'd like to look into it. It may be closer to what I want. I have a journaling filesystem and don't really give a damn about shutting down gracefully.
Edit: Oh you're talking about the brand. Silly me.
To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.
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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: I have learn that UPS is there to give you time to shut down gracefully and not to keep you running...
That would depend on the size of the battery pack.
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I remember those of size of a wardrobe - and you had to run for your life to shut down the computer before they run out of electricity (like 3 minutes)...
And of course power was back 5 seconds after you confirmed the shutdown... 
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
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Nowadays they're the size of a large suitcase and will power a couple of servers for up to an hour.
But generally not for common people. But then again, our resident Witch isn't common, is she?
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I've been running a CyberPower similar to this[^] for many years and it's been a life saver. I had to change batteries a couple of years ago, easy and inexpensive.
It gives me about 15 mins. to shut down when power goes out.
Only down side is that it doesn't run with generator, that will cost you as it doesn't produce a clean sine wave. Most don't!
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What about a Honda (or similar) generator to supply power? Will the one you have last the 5 minutes it would take to walk to the generator and crank it up?
There's probably some problem with this idea that the more electronically inclined here will use to shoot down this notion.
And I'm okay with that, unabashedly ignorant of these things.
I’ve given up trying to be calm. However, I am open to feeling slightly less agitated.
I’m begging you for the benefit of everyone, don’t be STUPID.
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I'm not looking to keep my computer on, but to isolate it from my house's power surges.
To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.
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I have Cyberpower 1000va with AVR (automatic voltage regulation without battery) similar to Mike Hanely's. Have used it for years. Gives my system up to an hour of runtime, but more important it protects the system from minor power surges and outages without blinking an eye (although my over head room light will blink). My system is desktop, monitor, router, printer, speaker system, laptop (doesn't really care as it had it's own battery) and powered network switch. Cyber power software uses serial port to give one a real time picture of status of battery, outages, etc. Estimated runtime on battery is about an hour.
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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I've got my 1000W PC on an APC BackUPS 1375 and it's humming along nicely. I can't recall ever having an APC unit fail on me, though I have worn out and replaced quite a lot of batteries over the years. I'm not sure about other brands, but replacement batteries for all my APCs are readily available at local stores. They have become a bit sneaky, though, as they no longer mark the batteries with the standard markings to encourage users to buy replacements from them. Happily, it's easy to measure the battery and match it to an equivalent in the store.
On a different track, if your service entrance has room for it, they make whole house surge arrestors that plug into a 2-wide breaker slot ( to cover both legs of the 240V circuit). At around $100, they're quite affordable.
Will Rogers never met me.
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For my office and all my home electronics, I use APC UPSs. I've had bad experences with some of the cheaper brands. Change the battery every three years (or so) and you're safe.
For my servers, I use the online models.
At my office desk, I have a 1500 protecting 3PCs, 6Monitors, Stereo Amp.
We have some UPSs that are over 20 years old still in operation, just change the battery every three years.
Walmart Online was the cheapest delivered cost for the last batch of high end APC UPSs that I bought.
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I was thinking of going with an Eaton, since APC has had mixed reviews lately. I don't think Eaton is a bottomfeeder company. They seem to make good UPSs from what I can tell.
To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.
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Eaton is a good company.
I have no skin in the game. I don't trust the amazon reviews anymore.
A key point about choosing the UPS is the size of the battery and how many Joules of surge protection. The software and connection (cable) to shutdown your PC should be included. That is assuming that you leave your PC powered up and unattended.
I have about 30 UPSs from very old 230va to new Online 2200s. All my remote staff have their PCs, monitors, routers plugged into UPSs. I count on the surge protection of a quality UPS as well as the backup power.
One last thought thought that is sometimes left fuzzy. Unless you get into the realm of extended runtime (very-expensive), the point of the UPS is to have enough time to cleanly shutdown the attached electronics.
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robertburgh wrote: I count on the surge protection of a quality UPS as well as the backup power
The main reason I want one is I don't trust surge suppressors by themselves. I have a journaling filesystem and I am judicious about source control so I'm not that concerned about shutting down my computer properly.
Recently nearby construction broke the cable vault and shorted the line to my house, so it wasn't even a blackout but massive sustained flickering all through the house. My computer clicked off a half dozen times before I got to it.
I don't want that happening again.
The construction is ongoing
To err is human. Fortune favors the monsters.
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You bring up a point that thanks to advertising and horrible descriptions on eCommerce leaves people confused.
Surge protection is only for very short power spikes. It does nothing for power drop outs. It also doesn't help for lightning hits - except for extremely well engineered high end systems. Not $6 power strips.
A good test for any UPS, is to unplug it with everything plugged into it and powered on. ** Disclaimer - Make sure you have backups and prepared for the worse case! **
Test it like you are going to use it. Some people may disagree with this statement.
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honey the codewitch wrote: and I have limited space.
That might be a showstopper for you, but I'm gonna make the suggestion anyway.
Keep the UPS you want to give away as "useless" for you, and use it to power up only your monitor(s) and network gear. Get "something else" dedicated solely for your power-hungry machine.
Monitors/network gear use comparatively little power, but it adds up. If you split the load for those vs your main PC between 2 UPS units, you'll probably be able to keep your PC running for a few more minutes, which can be vital. In comparison, my "older" UPS can keep my 3 monitors, modem and router going for 50+ minutes.
Once your main UPS gets too old to keep your main system going for very long, it can take over the second UPS's job (and then you can retire that one). That way you only have to replace one UPS at a time.
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From other comments, it sounds like you want more of an electrical isolation/surge protection.
The ultimate system will include a motor, a large flywheel, and a generator.
No chicken’s required.
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issued me number π because they say I don't drive rationally.
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never ending groan!
"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger
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Not because you were square?
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That's funny, they gave me e, because they said my driving is transcendental!
Cheers,
Vikram.
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Outnumbered me!
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