John Richard Smith wrote: > I don't know whether this is right, but I have on this ring main 4 > computers, off hand I think they are mainly averaging 300w power supply > each, which means when all 4 are on I have to protect 1200w , but most > of the time I would say 2 computers run on more or less continuously, > which suggest I need something less than 1200w, but , it would be sods > law that the one time all 4 are running I'm not around to turn a few off > when it matters. So I guess the only sure thing is to have overkill > built in.
I think 1200 watts of UPS would be serious overkill. (Good for the UPS manufacturers, though.) I would start with one 300 VA UPS, plug in a few computers (main boxes only -- protect the monitors with surge suppressors only, unless that has proved ineffective in the past). Then unplug the UPS from it's power source and see how long the computers stay up -- if it is close to the rated time of the UPS, you are in fine shape. This "advice" is based on expecting UPSs to cost more than the $10 I paid for a 300 VA UPS -- if you can get them at $10 apiece, buy four. Of course, I expect the replacement batteries (maybe required in three years?) to cost significantly more than $10, unless you get them from new $10 UPSs. ;-) Randy Kramer
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