Hi Renier, I think it would help volumes if you tried a solar solution...a base package which should be @ 500k Ush should be adequate to run ur server, i did come across a unique DIY circuit where UPS's where rigged upto a solar cell...i will mail u d link when i stumple upon it again ASAP. Dennis M S Xcard consulting
On 9/22/09, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: > Send LUG mailing list submissions to > [email protected] > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > [email protected] > > You can reach the person managing the list at > [email protected] > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of LUG digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. UPS's (Reinier Battenberg) > 2. Re: UPS's (Chris Wilson) > 3. Re: UPS's (Reinier Battenberg) > 4. Re: UPS's (Benoit Marquis) > 5. Re: UPS's (Chris Wilson) > 6. Re: UPS's (Reinier Battenberg) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:16:15 +0300 > From: Reinier Battenberg <[email protected]> > Subject: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi, > > I have a bit of a problem with power. I am in a sort of > in-the-middle-of-a-real fix stage, so i know my solution isn't perfect. But > within its not-perfectness, here are my issues: > > > - My server pulls max 650W in an environment where power goes off for a few > seconds-30 seconds regularly. Initially I had a Smart-UPS 750 that was able > to deal with these intervals, with one exception. > I have apcupsd running as a deamon and the system will in worst cases > shutdown when there is X amount of time left in the batteries. The BIOS is > configured to start up when power returns. > Problem is: when power returns while the system is shutting down, the system > seems to stay off. The BIOS never gets an event, so just shuts down the > computer. Shutting down takes about 3 minutes, which is quite a lot. So, > first question, how do you tell a shutting down machine that power is back, > and it is not shutting down anymore, but rebooting? > > > Secondly, we dont want these reboots. I can't buy an inverter with proper > batteries, so I bought a second UPS ( RS 1500) , and placed it in series > with > the first one. Its a bit cheaper, so i placed it before the SmartUPS, and > keep that one connected to the server over USB (and AC). > > This new UPS is not doing its job. If power goes off, it does switch to > batteries, but the Smart UPS that it is feeding in to, immediatly switches > to > batteries, too. I ran a few tests: > > With a disconnected RS1500 (no AC in) > - Connect the RS1500 to a moniter, and the monitor works. > - Connect the RS1500 to the second power-unit of the server. The led light > on > the server goes on, but on the server-side the power cable makes a funny > sizzling noise. > - Connect the RS1500 to the Smart-UPS, the smart-UPS does not charge from > the > RS1500 batteries, and you do hear the sizzling sound on the Smart-UPS side. > Also, the Smart-UPS indicates it has lost its power-source and it is running > from batteries. > - The orange LED is lit on the RS1500, which means, we are on battery now. > There is no indication there is an overload. > > Plug the RS1500 in the grid > - Light goes green, and the sizzling sound disappears. > > Question: is my RS1500 actually helping my Smart-UPS to feed the server with > power? (and do i just need to add more batteries?) Or do i have a problem? > > > > > The smart-UPS: > http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA750I > > The not-so smart one: > http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1500I&tab=compare > > > > rgds, > > Reinier Battenberg > Director > Mountbatten Ltd. > +256 782 801 749 > www.mountbatten.net > > Be a professional website builder: www.easysites.ug > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:45:35 +0100 (BST) > From: Chris Wilson <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > > <alpine.deb.1.00.0909221240210.7...@fen-ndiyo2.fen.aptivate.org.fen.aptivate.org> > > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > > Hi Reinier, > > On Tue, 22 Sep 2009, Reinier Battenberg wrote: > >> I have apcupsd running as a deamon and the system will in worst cases >> shutdown when there is X amount of time left in the batteries. The BIOS >> is configured to start up when power returns. Problem is: when power >> returns while the system is shutting down, the system seems to stay off. >> The BIOS never gets an event, so just shuts down the computer. Shutting >> down takes about 3 minutes, which is quite a lot. So, first question, >> how do you tell a shutting down machine that power is back, and it is >> not shutting down anymore, but rebooting? > > You need to use a UPS daemon that can tell the UPS to initiate a timed > (delayed) shutdown, and that does this automatically when it initiates a > software shutdown. This will cause the UPS to force a power cycle of the > server, bringing it back online. NUT does this, for example. > >> Secondly, we dont want these reboots. I can't buy an inverter with >> proper batteries, so I bought a second UPS ( RS 1500) , and placed it in >> series with the first one. Its a bit cheaper, so i placed it before the >> SmartUPS, and keep that one connected to the server over USB (and AC). >> >> This new UPS is not doing its job. If power goes off, it does switch to >> batteries, but the Smart UPS that it is feeding in to, immediatly >> switches to batteries, too. > > Chaining UPSes is generally considered a bad idea. APC recommends against > it. Most likely, the power quality emitted by the first UPS is not enough > to satisfy the second that the mains power is OK, so the second switches > to battery too. > >> I ran a few tests: >> >> With a disconnected RS1500 (no AC in) >> - Connect the RS1500 to a moniter, and the monitor works. >> - Connect the RS1500 to the second power-unit of the server. The led light >> on >> the server goes on, but on the server-side the power cable makes a funny >> sizzling noise. > > Nice :) Probably the server's PSU has little or no PFC and so its current > draw is not proportional to voltage, causing a huge inductor in the UPS to > vibrate violently (and eventually self-destruct or tear itself off the > motherboard). > >> - Connect the RS1500 to the Smart-UPS, the smart-UPS does not charge from >> the >> RS1500 batteries, and you do hear the sizzling sound on the Smart-UPS >> side. >> Also, the Smart-UPS indicates it has lost its power-source and it is >> running >> from batteries. >> - The orange LED is lit on the RS1500, which means, we are on battery now. >> >> There is no indication there is an overload. > > That's because the Smart-UPS is not pulling any power from it. > >> Plug the RS1500 in the grid >> - Light goes green, and the sizzling sound disappears. >> >> Question: is my RS1500 actually helping my Smart-UPS to feed the server >> with >> power? (and do i just need to add more batteries?) Or do i have a problem? > > No and yes. > > My advice would be to rip the batteries out of the RS 1500 and chain them > in parallel with the batteries of the Smart-UPS, by hanging wires out of > the side of the UPS case. > > Cheers, Chris. > -- > Aptivate | http://www.aptivate.org | Phone: +44 1223 760887 > The Humanitarian Centre, Fenner's, Gresham Road, Cambridge CB1 2ES > > Aptivate is a not-for-profit company registered in England and Wales > with company number 04980791. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:48:06 +0300 > From: Reinier Battenberg <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi Chris, > > Not sure that was what I wanted to hear. > > Second alternative I have is buying an APC batterypack for the RS1500. That > would give me 15 more minute which is enough time for the gennie to kick in. > > Does anyone know a place in town where they would have something advanced as > this battery pack? > > http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR24BP > > > (looking at the instruction manuals for the 2 UPSs i have, i just dont see > how > I am going to fit the batteries together.) > > rgds, > > Reinier Battenberg > Director > Mountbatten Ltd. > +256 782 801 749 > www.mountbatten.net > > Be a professional website builder: www.easysites.ug > > > On Tuesday 22 September 2009 14:45:35 Chris Wilson wrote: >> Hi Reinier, >> >> On Tue, 22 Sep 2009, Reinier Battenberg wrote: >> > I have apcupsd running as a deamon and the system will in worst cases >> > shutdown when there is X amount of time left in the batteries. The BIOS >> > is configured to start up when power returns. Problem is: when power >> > returns while the system is shutting down, the system seems to stay off. >> > The BIOS never gets an event, so just shuts down the computer. Shutting >> > down takes about 3 minutes, which is quite a lot. So, first question, >> > how do you tell a shutting down machine that power is back, and it is >> > not shutting down anymore, but rebooting? >> >> You need to use a UPS daemon that can tell the UPS to initiate a timed >> (delayed) shutdown, and that does this automatically when it initiates a >> software shutdown. This will cause the UPS to force a power cycle of the >> server, bringing it back online. NUT does this, for example. >> >> > Secondly, we dont want these reboots. I can't buy an inverter with >> > proper batteries, so I bought a second UPS ( RS 1500) , and placed it in >> > series with the first one. Its a bit cheaper, so i placed it before the >> > SmartUPS, and keep that one connected to the server over USB (and AC). >> > >> > This new UPS is not doing its job. If power goes off, it does switch to >> > batteries, but the Smart UPS that it is feeding in to, immediatly >> > switches to batteries, too. >> >> Chaining UPSes is generally considered a bad idea. APC recommends against >> it. Most likely, the power quality emitted by the first UPS is not enough >> to satisfy the second that the mains power is OK, so the second switches >> to battery too. >> >> > I ran a few tests: >> > >> > With a disconnected RS1500 (no AC in) >> > - Connect the RS1500 to a moniter, and the monitor works. >> > - Connect the RS1500 to the second power-unit of the server. The led >> > light on the server goes on, but on the server-side the power cable >> > makes >> > a funny sizzling noise. >> >> Nice :) Probably the server's PSU has little or no PFC and so its current >> draw is not proportional to voltage, causing a huge inductor in the UPS to >> vibrate violently (and eventually self-destruct or tear itself off the >> motherboard). >> >> > - Connect the RS1500 to the Smart-UPS, the smart-UPS does not charge >> > from >> > the RS1500 batteries, and you do hear the sizzling sound on the >> > Smart-UPS >> > side. Also, the Smart-UPS indicates it has lost its power-source and it >> > is running from batteries. >> > - The orange LED is lit on the RS1500, which means, we are on battery >> > now. There is no indication there is an overload. >> >> That's because the Smart-UPS is not pulling any power from it. >> >> > Plug the RS1500 in the grid >> > - Light goes green, and the sizzling sound disappears. >> > >> > Question: is my RS1500 actually helping my Smart-UPS to feed the server >> > with power? (and do i just need to add more batteries?) Or do i have a >> > problem? >> >> No and yes. >> >> My advice would be to rip the batteries out of the RS 1500 and chain them >> in parallel with the batteries of the Smart-UPS, by hanging wires out of >> the side of the UPS case. >> >> Cheers, Chris. > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:41:13 +0200 > From: Benoit Marquis <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > hum, > maybe it is about sensitivity, I think your RS is not giving enough good > quality power to your smart one ... > you can try is to lower the sensitivity value, can't remember the name of > the parameter > sensitivity ? :-) > there was some smthg like H,M,L value for it ... > > reinier : of course you try this at your own risk ! :-) > > > 2009/9/22 Reinier Battenberg <[email protected]> > >> Hi, >> >> I have a bit of a problem with power. I am in a sort of >> in-the-middle-of-a-real fix stage, so i know my solution isn't perfect. >> But >> within its not-perfectness, here are my issues: >> >> >> - My server pulls max 650W in an environment where power goes off for a >> few >> seconds-30 seconds regularly. Initially I had a Smart-UPS 750 that was >> able >> to deal with these intervals, with one exception. >> I have apcupsd running as a deamon and the system will in worst cases >> shutdown when there is X amount of time left in the batteries. The BIOS is >> configured to start up when power returns. >> Problem is: when power returns while the system is shutting down, the >> system >> seems to stay off. The BIOS never gets an event, so just shuts down the >> computer. Shutting down takes about 3 minutes, which is quite a lot. So, >> first question, how do you tell a shutting down machine that power is >> back, >> and it is not shutting down anymore, but rebooting? >> >> >> Secondly, we dont want these reboots. I can't buy an inverter with proper >> batteries, so I bought a second UPS ( RS 1500) , and placed it in series >> with >> the first one. Its a bit cheaper, so i placed it before the SmartUPS, and >> keep that one connected to the server over USB (and AC). >> >> This new UPS is not doing its job. If power goes off, it does switch to >> batteries, but the Smart UPS that it is feeding in to, immediatly switches >> to >> batteries, too. I ran a few tests: >> >> With a disconnected RS1500 (no AC in) >> - Connect the RS1500 to a moniter, and the monitor works. >> - Connect the RS1500 to the second power-unit of the server. The led light >> on >> the server goes on, but on the server-side the power cable makes a funny >> sizzling noise. >> - Connect the RS1500 to the Smart-UPS, the smart-UPS does not charge from >> the >> RS1500 batteries, and you do hear the sizzling sound on the Smart-UPS >> side. >> Also, the Smart-UPS indicates it has lost its power-source and it is >> running >> from batteries. >> - The orange LED is lit on the RS1500, which means, we are on battery now. >> There is no indication there is an overload. >> >> Plug the RS1500 in the grid >> - Light goes green, and the sizzling sound disappears. >> >> Question: is my RS1500 actually helping my Smart-UPS to feed the server >> with >> power? (and do i just need to add more batteries?) Or do i have a problem? >> >> >> >> >> The smart-UPS: >> http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SUA750I >> >> The not-so smart one: >> >> http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR1500I&tab=compare >> >> >> >> rgds, >> >> Reinier Battenberg >> Director >> Mountbatten Ltd. >> +256 782 801 749 >> www.mountbatten.net >> >> Be a professional website builder: www.easysites.ug >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> LUG mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug >> %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ >> >> The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including >> attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any >> way. >> --------------------------------------- >> >> > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: > http://orion.kym.net/pipermail/lug/attachments/20090922/6a7a9441/attachment.html > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:59:18 +0100 (BST) > From: Chris Wilson <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: > > <alpine.deb.1.00.0909221453570.7...@fen-ndiyo2.fen.aptivate.org.fen.aptivate.org> > > Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII > > On Tue, 22 Sep 2009, Reinier Battenberg wrote: > >> Not sure that was what I wanted to hear. >> >> Second alternative I have is buying an APC batterypack for the RS1500. >> That would give me 15 more minute which is enough time for the gennie to >> kick in. >> >> Does anyone know a place in town where they would have something >> advanced as this battery pack? >> >> http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR24BP >> >> >> (looking at the instruction manuals for the 2 UPSs i have, i just dont >> see how I am going to fit the batteries together.) > > I assume that neither the RS 1500 nor your Smart-UPS is expandable. In > that case you would need to do some soldering to add more batteries to > them. It won't be in the manuals, they don't want you to do this, they'd > rather that you buy a big, shiny, expandable UPS. But if you're careful > about battery voltages and polarities, and the UPS can handle the load of > the attached machines you can add more batteries to it fairly easily. > > Cheers, Chris. > -- > Aptivate | http://www.aptivate.org | Phone: +44 1223 760887 > The Humanitarian Centre, Fenner's, Gresham Road, Cambridge CB1 2ES > > Aptivate is a not-for-profit company registered in England and Wales > with company number 04980791. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:05:18 +0300 > From: Reinier Battenberg <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [LUG] UPS's > To: Linux Users Group Uganda <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi, > > the BR24BP is indeed an expansion of the RS. Not for just 5 minutes, but for > 20. That is quite neat. It comes with a socket & plug system, rather than a > wires-hanging-out-soldering system. > > Last time I soldered was in secondary. > > rgds, > > Reinier Battenberg > Director > Mountbatten Ltd. > +256 782 801 749 > www.mountbatten.net > > Be a professional website builder: www.easysites.ug > > > On Tuesday 22 September 2009 16:59:18 Chris Wilson wrote: >> On Tue, 22 Sep 2009, Reinier Battenberg wrote: >> > Not sure that was what I wanted to hear. >> > >> > Second alternative I have is buying an APC batterypack for the RS1500. >> > That would give me 15 more minute which is enough time for the gennie to >> > kick in. >> > >> > Does anyone know a place in town where they would have something >> > advanced as this battery pack? >> > >> > http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BR24BP >> > >> > >> > (looking at the instruction manuals for the 2 UPSs i have, i just dont >> > see how I am going to fit the batteries together.) >> >> I assume that neither the RS 1500 nor your Smart-UPS is expandable. In >> that case you would need to do some soldering to add more batteries to >> them. It won't be in the manuals, they don't want you to do this, they'd >> rather that you buy a big, shiny, expandable UPS. But if you're careful >> about battery voltages and polarities, and the UPS can handle the load of >> the attached machines you can add more batteries to it fairly easily. >> >> Cheers, Chris. > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > LUG mailing list > [email protected] > http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug > > > End of LUG Digest, Vol 61, Issue 46 > *********************************** > -- Sent from my mobile device _______________________________________________ LUG mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/lug %LUG is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). 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