🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1k6o4hINNll9@shelley.u.washington.edu> iho@cac.washington.edu writes:
>I need to get some UPS systems for my file servers.  If you've been happy
>with what you're using, let me know the brand and model.  I'm looking for
>something in the 500 Watt range.
>
>-- 
>Il Hwan Oh                              | "You live and learn.
>Computer Facilities Manager             |   At any rate, you live."
>University of Washington, Tacoma        |            -- Douglas Adams
>iho@cac.washington.edu                  | 

I have a BEST Ferrups 500VA. I've had it for three years. Not a single
problem. This model is, in effect, an online UPS without the bulk of
the online circuitry and the advantages of a standby UPS. This
translates to *reliability*. The battery finally wore out two months ago.
The folks at BEST said I needed a 31AH maintenance-free battery to replace
it. The smallest deep cycle battery was a 100AH battery (!), so I just
got KMart's cheapest car battery ($35) and stuck it in there. I tested
it by pulling the plug - I get one hour of power with my 386/VGA. I
suppose that if I turned my monitor off, I'd get something like two
hours of power.
-- 
Timothy Hu timhu@ico.isc.com	 | The intelligence (or lack of) expressed
Interactive Systems Corporation  | above does not necessarily reflect
Resource Solutions International | that of anyone else.

timhu@ico.isc.com (Timothy Hu) writes:

>I have a BEST Ferrups 500VA. I've had it for three years. Not a single
>problem. This model is, in effect, an online UPS without the bulk of
>the online circuitry and the advantages of a standby UPS. This
>translates to *reliability*. The battery finally wore out two months ago.
>The folks at BEST said I needed a 31AH maintenance-free battery to replace
>it. The smallest deep cycle battery was a 100AH battery (!), so I just
>got KMart's cheapest car battery ($35) and stuck it in there. I tested
>it by pulling the plug - I get one hour of power with my 386/VGA. I
>suppose that if I turned my monitor off, I'd get something like two
>hours of power.

I also have a BEST Ferrups 500VA, and think its great.  NOTHING get through it
to bother my equipment... not spikes, not brownouts.

However, there is a BIG difference between the recommended 31AH GelCell
sealed battery and a deep cycle automobile-type battery.  Foremost is that
the sealed battery will not leak corrosive gasses into the room.  There is
also no way to leak the battery acid.  31AH batteries are commonly used in
emergency lighting systems -- look under "Batteries" in the Yellow pages.
They are more expensive than the car battery -- my replacement cost $85.
-- 
Marc Kaufman (kaufman@CS.Stanford.EDU)

In article <1993Jan27.201333.10128@ico.isc.com> timhu@ico.isc.com (Timothy Hu) writes:
>In article <1k6o4hINNll9@shelley.u.washington.edu> iho@cac.washington.edu writes:
>>I need to get some UPS systems for my file servers.  If you've been happy
>>with what you're using, let me know the brand and model.  I'm looking for
>>something in the 500 Watt range.
>>
>>-- 
>>Il Hwan Oh                              | "You live and learn.
>>Computer Facilities Manager             |   At any rate, you live."
>>University of Washington, Tacoma        |            -- Douglas Adams
>>iho@cac.washington.edu                  | 
>
>I have a BEST Ferrups 500VA. I've had it for three years. Not a single
>problem. This model is, in effect, an online UPS without the bulk of
>the online circuitry and the advantages of a standby UPS. This
>translates to *reliability*. The battery finally wore out two months ago.
>The folks at BEST said I needed a 31AH maintenance-free battery to replace
>it. The smallest deep cycle battery was a 100AH battery (!), so I just
>got KMart's cheapest car battery ($35) and stuck it in there. I tested

But might a car battery give off fumes that could "eat" the electronics
and/or cause a fire hazard?  Do you really want your $$$ electronics to
look like a car's battery compartment after a while?  I'd want to know
more before making the substitution.

-- 
Chuck Forsberg WA7KGX          ...!tektronix!reed!omen!caf 
Author of YMODEM, ZMODEM, Professional-YAM, ZCOMM, and DSZ
  Omen Technology Inc    "The High Reliability Software"
17505-V NW Sauvie IS RD   Portland OR 97231   503-621-3406