[SOLVED] Best Recommendation for UPS

[ThatPlace928]

I have a small business customer whose UPS's are 10-12 years and one of them didn't hold up under a sudden power outage with multiple fluctuations so I'm thinking it aged out of its effectiveness.

What is the normal life span of a UPS that can be expected? Does anyone have recommendations or a preference for a good one without totally breaking the bank? My client needs 6 of them.

 

[thecomputerguy]

I use...

This for network rack: https://a.co/d/9o2qrOl
This for desktops: https://a.co/d/8QXrlxq
This for tower servers: https://a.co/d/8QtFt4n

I know UPS's are great to take the hit in the event of a surge but it seems like every time the client actually needs the UPS to work as a UPS for any extended period of time it's been a couple years the battery in the UPS is already toast.

Good luck.

 

[ThatPlace928]

I use...

This for network rack: https://a.co/d/9o2qrOl
This for desktops: https://a.co/d/8QXrlxq
This for tower servers: https://a.co/d/8QtFt4n

I know UPS's are great to take the hit in the event of a surge but it seems like every time the client actually needs the UPS to work as a UPS for any extended period of time it's been a couple years the battery in the UPS is already toast.

Good luck.

Thank you. Customer just walked in but I'll check out the links, when I get done with him. Thank you. I'm with you and I think 10-12 years is a long time to remain viable. She got lucky.

 

[britechguy]

@ThatPlace928

The question also needs to be asked: Does she really need UPS *everywhere*?

UPS usage is, in many cases, an anachronism that things like AutoSave made unnecessary long ago. If the office has transitioned, say, from desktops to a number of laptops, why would the laptops need UPS, their batteries should handle that.

I just always suggest probing what's being used, and what it's being used for, and what it's being used with to determine whether a UPS is truly necessary. Surge suppression is often more than enough. Businesses and residential users alike tend to like it when you save them money and make them rethink things and realize that "how I've always done it" may not be the best way to keep doing it.

 

[ThatPlace928]

@ThatPlace928

The question also needs to be asked: Does she really need UPS *everywhere*?

UPS usage is, in many cases, an anachronism that things like AutoSave made unnecessary long ago. If the office has transitioned, say, from desktops to a number of laptops, why would the laptops need UPS, their batteries should handle that.

I just always suggest probing what's being used, and what it's being used for, and what it's being used with to determine whether a UPS is truly necessary. Surge suppression is often more than enough. Businesses and residential users alike tend to like it when you save them money and make them rethink things and realize that "how I've always done it" may not be the best way to keep doing it.

Considering I just upgraded all her computers and the number of power outages lately, yes. She needs them all. The UPS that failed her was the one to her new server so now I have to redo the work I did. The system is on the old server now and working okay but it needs the upgraded PC to keep up and she wants them ALL protected. So, yes, all new.

 

[fincoder]

UPS's are 10-12 years and one of them didn't hold up under a sudden power outage with multiple fluctuations so I'm thinking it aged out of its effectiveness.

Or just needs battery replacement? Most UPS use standard SLA batteries that are easy to source after-market, probably much cheaper than replacing the UPS (for smallish client PC UPS).

 

[ThatPlace928]

Or just needs battery replacement? Most UPS use standard SLA batteries that are easy to source after-market, probably much cheaper than replacing the UPS (for smallish client PC UPS).

I hadn't thought of that but would good, fresh batteries still be available after 10-12 years, I wonder?

 

[Sky-Knight]

@britechguy, Yes they need UPSs everywhere. This is Phoenix. Our power grid shorts out at the slightest hint of moisture!

@ThatPlace928, my current personal preference for UPS is Eaton. Canadian brand, good software, good price point. If I have to I'll fall back to APC, but dang... those things are EXPENSIVE. It's often cheaper to go get a no name "camping generator" that's a portable LIFEPO pack than it is to get one of their basic models.

 

[ThatPlace928]

I use...

This for network rack: https://a.co/d/9o2qrOl
This for desktops: https://a.co/d/8QXrlxq
This for tower servers: https://a.co/d/8QtFt4n

I know UPS's are great to take the hit in the event of a surge but it seems like every time the client actually needs the UPS to work as a UPS for any extended period of time it's been a couple years the battery in the UPS is already toast.

Good luck.

Thank you. She's going with the option for her desktop PCs. She just placed her order. Funny thing, too, is that after I opened your 2nd link, I realized I was already looking at that exact same one in another tab I had open..... lol

 

[GTP]

I hadn't thought of that but would good, fresh batteries still be available after 10-12 years, I wonder?

Yeah, I suspect you'd find them at Battery World if you have them there?
Also ebay is a good source of genuine or aftermarket batteries for anything.

 

[ThatPlace928]

Yeah, I suspect you'd find them at Battery World if you have them there?
Also ebay is a good source of genuine or aftermarket batteries for anything.

Thanks for that. We have a Batteries+ here somewhere. I generally order online, when I need a battery.

 

[britechguy]

@ThatPlace928 & @Sky-Knight

You are both (particularly ThatPlace928) in a far better place than I to assess actual needs.

I brought this up mostly because sometimes clients demand things "because we've always done it this way" without a moment's thought as to whether that's appropriate going forward. And sometimes, we can let ourselves get "rolled over" by human steamrollers whether we want to or not. It was a thought exercise, really. You're on the ground and know what has to happen for your clients. I never intended to substitute my judgment for yours.

 

[ThatPlace928]

@ThatPlace928 & @Sky-Knight

You are both (particularly ThatPlace928) in a far better place than I to assess actual needs.

I brought this up mostly because sometimes clients demand things "because we've always done it this way" without a moment's thought as to whether that's appropriate going forward. And sometimes, we can let ourselves get "rolled over" by human steamrollers whether we want to or not. It was a thought exercise, really. You're on the ground and know what has to happen for your clients. I never intended to substitute my judgment for yours.

The owner is an 89 year old woman so, whatever she wants, she gets. She's very set in her ways. So no arguments from me. She's been running her business a very long time.

 

[ThatPlace928]

@britechguy, Yes they need UPSs everywhere. This is Phoenix. Our power grid shorts out at the slightest hint of moisture!

@ThatPlace928, my current personal preference for UPS is Eaton. Canadian brand, good software, good price point. If I have to I'll fall back to APC, but dang... those things are EXPENSIVE. It's often cheaper to go get a no name "camping generator" that's a portable LIFEPO pack than it is to get one of their basic models.

So sorry, I didn't even see your response. Our power grid here is bad. We've been having outages for about 3 weeks now but in different sectors each time. What's worse is that we are connected to a grid in Vegas, too. So if that one goes down, we all go down.

The worst one was 3 years ago and we were without power for roughly 30-36 hours in the middle of the hottest part of Summer. I was so afraid my cats were going to die. Once it cooled down enough, I went down to the river and threw myself off the dock.

Thankfully, we all made it through.

 

[Sky-Knight]

So sorry, I didn't even see your response. Our power grid here is bad. We've been having outages for about 3 weeks now but in different sectors each time. What's worse is that we are connected to a grid in Vegas, too. So if that one goes down, we all go down.

The worst one was 3 years ago and we were without power for roughly 30-36 hours in the middle of the hottest part of Summer. I was so afraid my cats were going to die. Once it cooled down enough, I went down to the river and threw myself off the dock.

Thankfully, we all made it through.

I was in Havasu June of 94... when it hit 124. Even being in the Colorado at that point was miserable!

 

[ThatPlace928]

I was in Havasu June of 94... when it hit 124. Even being in the Colorado at that point was miserable!

The sun can be pretty harsh, for sure. I can't remember the hottest it's been. I just moved back to BHC almost 5 years ago and I think last Summer was the worst. This Summer, so far, hasn't been bad. Maybe 112 at the most?

 

[Sky-Knight]

The sun can be pretty harsh, for sure. I can't remember the hottest it's been. I just moved back to BHC almost 5 years ago and I think last Summer was the worst. This Summer, so far, hasn't been bad. Maybe 112 at the most?

Yeah the rest of the country is crazy hot, meanwhile we're "unseasonably cool". Of course that still means it's 107 out there.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Since we focus on business clients...a lot of our clients have:
*Server(s)...sometimes quite a few...so a server cabinet
*Network Distro..sometimes a good sized one.

APC used to be our "go to" brand. Our main office (and my old home town) is in south east Connecticut, and APC was based about 45 minutes away just over the Rhode Island border. I had driven to their HQ a few times. When they got bought up by Schnieder Electric...I figured I'd watch quality. Kept using them for a while, but I will also lately get CyberPower, and Eaton.

Of course servers MUST be on an UPS.....we start with 1500 class, often 2200 or 3000. Sometimes a few of 'em.
And..network distros...we'll also have on a UPS...at least 850 class probably 1000 class. Or for bigger ones..1500.

 

[Metanis]

In a previous life I worked closely with Liebert in the data center environment. They utilized my product for gathering and displaying data from every part of the infrastructure.

I use and recommend their small system product. 1500VA for $152.

https://a.co/d/4df5tLt

 

[Markverhyden]

What is the normal life span of a UPS that can be expected?

Lead acid batteries typically have a 2-4 year life span.