Best 1.4 KV or 2KV UPS

[gopscreative]

Hi all,
I want to buy a 1.4 or 2 KV UPS for home use. Pls share ur exp with the brands u r using.I have made a list of Companies,so it will be very helpful if u guys share some exp with the brands listed below
Sukam
Luminous
Microtek
APC
Other brands
Just want to get an idea about the after sales service and durability of the product..

 

[kwokwchoy]

I have a 800 VA UPS from Microtek and sadly there's not enough current for it to work durin g most evenings..

Maybe due to summer?

I think APC make the best UPS's.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

I have a 1500va APC with external battery pack. It runs my PC, LCD monitor, modem, router, and a desk lamp, and, when the batteries are new, will do so for over two hours.

It has a two-year warranty. Towards the end of the second year, the thing was only giving power for a few minutes. We called up under warranty, and they replaced it, along with its external battery pack. Maybe, then, the lifetime should be considered as three to four years before one has to pay for new batteries or replacement unit.

I'm told that it is very bad for lead-acid batteries to be run flat. Doing so may have reduced the life of my original unit: I now try not to use battery backup for more than about 70% of the capacity.

Very low voltage can run on and on for longer than a power cut. My APC does not cut onto battery until the voltage is (I guess) somewhere under 180. It has a boost function, but I have never got around to comparing input and output voltages.

I have also been told that APC UPSs used to be unsuitable for India. I understand that the models they sell here are now made to cope with Indian power conditions. If anyone can say if this is true, that would be interesting.

 

[netwitx]

Do you want Online or Offline UPS?

 

[kwokwchoy]

What is an online and a offline UPS?

 

[sam9s]

What is an online and a offline UPS?

An online UPS is advance than offline UPS...

Offline UPS draws power directly from AC mains and switches to battery within a few milliseconds during a power failure. This might not be sufficient time for high end real time equipments, there is also a glitch in the out put, which can result in a reboot of the equipment

Online UPS is advanced form, which does not draw power directly from AC mains but is connected through battery, which acts as a reserve, and keep supplying the power siumultaniously, This eliminate the switch between mains and the battery (unlike off line UPS) and that glitch is also eliminated....

Hope this made some sense.....

 

[kwokwchoy]

Aha, thats good info.. so are online UPS's available for consumers in lower VA ?

Example: 500 VA ?

 

[gopscreative]

Do you want Online or Offline UPS?

Online..By de way which UPS r u using??

 

[pnreddy]

Please remember that the efficiency of a UPS is about 50%. So by going with an online UPS your power consumption will be more. So if you really don't need an online UPS it is better to stick with offline UPS.

P.N. Reddy

 

[ashishkesarwani]

At present I am using an APC model number SUA 1500i with all my gear and it works well for my needs, as I have a genset as the power backup so my UPS is only meant for protection against surges as well as maintaining contstant voltage, it has a backup time of 15 minutes and gives pure sine wave current in the offline mode. This series from APC is called the Smart UPS and goes very well with our precious audio gear. The cost of this UPS is around 15K whereas an online version of the same comes close to 35K.

 

[GeorgeO]

I'm using a Sukam 1.4 offline unit( it supplies back up power in sinewave form) backed up by 2 large lead acid tubular batteries for my house but power down the audio systems and TV when power is not available.I second the point made earlier about online units consuming power all of the time.You may want to keep the online unit switched off unless you are using the audio system to conserve power.

 

[gopscreative]

I'm using a Sukam 1.4 offline unit( it supplies back up power in sinewave form) backed up by 2 large lead acid tubular batteries for my house but power down the audio systems and TV when power is not available.I second the point made earlier about online units consuming power all of the time.You may want to keep the online unit switched off unless you are using the audio system to conserve power.

So u r using UPS only for house lighting and Fans??? by de way how is back up of SUKAM and its after sales service. I hrd its pretty bad!! Is it??and can u pls give de statistics of how many lighting points or fans run from UPS back up??

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Can someone clarify the technical/practical difference between a "UPS" and an "Inverter".

They seem to have different applications, in that we buy UPSs to support specific equipment, and inverters to support general household equipment --- but, essentially, they both do the same thing, which is to supply power when the mains supply fails.

If I had to take a shot at it, I'd suggest that the UPS has faster switching and gives a cleaner current to sensitive equipment. Education please!

 

[kwokwchoy]

I think when the power goes, a UPS continues to function, which is why it is an Uninterrupted Power Supply... An inverter you have to switch it on after there is a current failure.

Someone please let me know if I have missed out anything!

 

[sam9s]

Aha, thats good info.. so are online UPS's available for consumers in lower VA ?

Example: 500 VA ?

Yes they do, however online UPS is pretty expensive, drawing more power is not that much of a concern, it is only advisable to have online UPS if you have a senstive expensive heavy equipment. Heavy in the sense which draws sufficient amount of wattage while working (like a 300W RMS amp+woofer). An offline USP might work perfectly, but would trip the equipment during a switch if drawing huge wattage from the mains........

 

[gvenu]

Hi,

I heard from some experts that the APC SURT series is ideal for high end Audio systems. These are generally used for sensitive and high precision equipment (like bio-medical) which require a very clean sine wave.

Need to explore

rgds,
Venu

 

[sam9s]

Can someone clarify the technical/practical difference between a "UPS" and an "Inverter".

Inverter is like an offline UPS, and that is why used for general household equipment which does not need that instantanious switch......

 

[kwokwchoy]

Yes they do, however online UPS is pretty expensive, drawing more power is not that much of a concern, it is only advisable to have online UPS if you have a senstive expensive heavy equipment. Heavy in the sense which draws sufficient amount of wattage while working (like a 300W RMS amp+woofer). An offline USP might work perfectly, but would trip the equipment during a switch if drawing huge wattage from the mains........

Figured that it would be expensive.. sounds that way!

I can't even get my 800VA UPS to work properly! Haha

Thank you.

 

[GeorgeO]

I bought it about 2 months ago, and the dealer is good. Normally I use it for one( have three fans but dont use all at the same time) fan and about 6-8 CFLs, plus a 37 inch LCD. Back up time is more than adequate with 2 batteries.

So u r using UPS only for house lighting and Fans??? by de way how is back up of SUKAM and its after sales service. I hrd its pretty bad!! Is it??and can u pls give de statistics of how many lighting points or fans run from UPS back up??

 

[pnreddy]

An inverter gives out a square wave which is acceptable for lighting, fans etc. An UPS gives out a sine wave output same as the power utility that supplies you your power supply. Inverter is not recommended for high end audio and video systems.

P.N. Reddy