I've owned several different UPS brands over the years and APC was the worst by far. My two APC units both failed within two years of purchase.
The best UPS units that I've owned have been a pair of Exide Powerware Prestige EXT (1500VA)<http://www.powerprosinc.com/files/powerware-prestige-600-1800-user-manual.pdf>units purchased in the mid- to late-nineties. Both are still in service, which, now that I think of it, is remarkable. I replace the batteries every few years and they've been so reliable that I guess I've come to expect them to last forever. They're not cheap, but you seem to get what you pay for. They are double-conversion (aka "full online") UPS units that have zero transfer time. Input power charges the batteries and the sine-wave output circuit is powered continuously from the battery bus. In the many years since I bought these Prestige units, the Powerware UPS business apparently ended up being owned by Eaton<http://www.eaton.com/Eaton/ProductsServices/Electrical/ThoughtLeadership/Brand/Powerware/index.htm>. As best as I can tell, the 9130<http://powerware.eaton.com/Products-services/Backup-Power-UPS/9130.aspx?cx=3> is the modern equivalent of the old Prestige "online" model. The 9130 offers the same basic capabilities as the old Prestige models: full online operation with options for additional external battery cabinets. If my Prestige units ever fail, they'll be replaced with 9130s--or whatever is current at that time. /* PLUG: http://plug.org, #utah on irc.freenode.net Unsubscribe: http://plug.org/mailman/options/plug Don't fear the penguin. */
