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Technology Bytes
by Francine Brokaw
BackUPS from APC
Let’s face it. We rely on electricity. But in these days of power outages we’re often left in the dark for more than just an annoying few minutes. Besides the full outages, have you noticed a power spike or reduction from time to time? Your lights will dim briefly and you wonder if something’s wrong with your eyesight, but then you realize it’s just a little hiccup in the electricity. Well, these little hiccups can cause a lot of damage to your computer. And if your power does go out completely, when it returns there is often a surge in the current. Both of these instances can cause major damage to a computer. Sometimes the damage is complete and you lose your computer and all the data you have stored on it. That is why a power backup system is necessary for everyone using a computer. With a backup, even if the electricity goes out you’re able to shut down your computer properly and save it from possible destruction. And I do mean destruction. With a power backup, when the electricity goes out you are able to save what you’re working on, shut down the computer, and be comforted with the fact that when the power comes back everything will work the way it should.
APC (American Power Conversion) has many different backup units to fit every need. For a single home computer, the Back-Ups ES is a good line of power back-UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supplies). Besides offering the security of battery backups, the units also have surge protection, a necessity to keep your computer and peripherals safe from power surges and spikes, which happen several times a day. The Back-UPS ES 725 affords the longest runtime of the series. Runtimes depend on how many things are connected to the units and how much power each item pulls. In general, if the unit is only half full it will run approximately 14 minutes on the battery, and with a full load (computer, monitor, hubs, etc) it will run about 3 minutes, which is certainly enough time to save your documents and shut down your system in the event of a power outage. The unit has eight outlets, so you can plug in your hubs and other electrical devices as well as your computer. There are four outlets that are connected to the battery backup, and four surge protected outlets. Some of the spaces are designed for those large transformer blocks that are so often difficult to plug into outlets because they’re big and clunky and in most multiple outlet strips they take up two spaces. There are also built-ins for your phone/fax/modem lines and the unit is DSL compatible. The lights and the audible beeps on the units will keep you informed of the status of your system and electricity.
The installation is easy and the user’s guide shows you exactly what to do to install the unit and how to troubleshoot anything that might occur. Users can take advantage of the automatic self test, and there is even a building wiring fault indicator. With replaceable batteries, when it’s time for a new battery you can replace it yourself, unlike some companies or older models which required the user to send the unit back to the company for a replacement battery. With the additional software, there is a safe system shutdown and the ability to monitor the device. APC’s PowerChute® Personal Edition software is an easy-to-use, safe system shutdown software with sophisticated power management that is compatible with Windows (XP, ME and 98) and Macintosh OS X operating systems.
The RS-1500 model is great choice if you have two computers. You get all the protection of the ES-725 with the additional benefit of protection for a second computer. There are still 8 inputs (2 of which are surge protection only and 6 are battery backup protected, plus there are spaces for transformer blocks), audible sound alerts, swappable batteries and the unit automatically corrects voltage spikes and dips, so in the case of brownouts, you’re still able to get some work done while your system is protected. The easy to use software allows for automatic safe shutdown if necessary. Joe Loberti, general manager of APC Consumer Network Solutions Group explains, “The Back-UPS RS provides high performance, all-in-one power protection with more [backups] outlets and longer runtime including file saving, auto-shutdown software to increase overall system reliability.”
With an estimated backup of 12 minutes on a half load and a little more than 3 minutes on a full load, this model is more robust than the smaller unit, and perfect for small home offices. The RS-1500 is a powerful unit that will give users one less thing to worry about. Its tower design lets it sit on the floor or on a desk or shelf. If you are running two computers with two monitors, this is definitely the unit for you.
Both units offer a cold start capability, which allows you to start your computer even when the power is out, just in case you really need to access something and cannot wait until the power is returned. Also, keep in mind, these backup units are handy to have around for electronic devices other than computers. Think of all the things you cannot use when the electricity is out. With a minimal item connected, some of the units will run over an hour on the battery backup.
APC has been around since 1981 and during that time has been providing quality protection for home and business users. To check the different units available, go to their website. To find the exactly which unit best fits your needs, they have a selector that will help find the perfect model for you.
A BackUPS is a necessity for all computer users, and with the many options available from APC, there’s the perfect one for you.
© 2004 Francine Brokaw
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