APC UPS SC450RM1U - any surge protection?

[MarkC_apc]

Anyone know if this model ups provides any significant surge protection (in addition to backup power)?

[MarkC_apc]

My only concern is the Joules rating of 400 - is that a significant amount of protection?  I like the UPS function as I'm also going to also protect the (sattelite) DVR, which takes 10 minutes to reset upon power failure!

Thanks Angela

[BillP]

I think all of our UPSs have a similar rating and while this isn't the best surge protection ever, it does meet the surge standard that it seems the industry goes by. 

My personal UPS user opinion is that I think it will be fine and there really is no other UPS that will give you much better surge protection. Also to give you some comfort, this unit is covered by our Equipment Protection Policy if anything attached is damaged at any point, whether by a surge or something else -> http://www.apc.com/site/support/US/en/service/epp/ 

Let me know if you have any other questions!

[MarkC_apc]

I've gotten familiar working with the SURT, SUA, SMX lines of UPSs - all seem to be excellent pieces of equipment.  Looking forward to checking out the functionality/quality of one of the "liitle kids" of UPSs!

Appreciate your quick responses,

Mark

[BillP]

You're welcome! Enjoy 🙂

[MarkC_apc]

I purchased a used SC450 and it appears to work fine.  I noticed a warning on the back that the output is not sinusodial and has 30+% harmonic distortion.  I'm wondering if it is appropriate to use this UPS on a LCD TV and it's DVR/Receiver.  I expected that such a unit would be a sine wave UPS.

Also, does the serial port support smart protocol directly and if so, what are the settings?  I was not able to call it up using the typical 2400/1/8/1/none

Thanks

Mark

[BillP]

Hi Mark,

Smart-UPS SC does indeed provide a step approximation to a sinewave rather than a pure sinewave like higher end Smart-UPS. Those are discontinued now and replaced by SMC models which do provide a pure sinewave output.

I honestly have my Plasma TV and TiVO DVR on a Back-UPS UPS which also has a step approximation to a sinewave. Keep in mind, the step approximation to a sinewave is present when the UPS operates on battery. I have not encountered any problems in the 5 years I have had this setup. I can't say anything further than that but depending on the sensitivity of your equipment, maybe it is not best. I tend to bet that it will be fine but don't have any evidence to back that up besides my own experience with a similar setup.

This UPS does speak "smart protocol" as far as I know and should communicate at 2400/1/8/1/none but we don't give out the details on the smart protocol. Though you can probably find it elsewhere beyond this forum. This UPS would work with something like PowerChute Business Edition or the open source apcupsd tool using APC 940-0024 or 940-1524 smart signaling cable. 

[MarkC_apc]

Appreciate your detailed response - I should have recognized "line interactive" is a pass-thru on these SC units.  The amount of time the TV will operate on batteries is only going to be a few minutes anyway (batteries so limited) - doubt that will present any problems.  My question about smart protocol was in error.  I was expecting to get to the "console" by hitting enter repeatedly.  I never tried "Y" to get to "SM" - brain f**t!  I'll try again sometime - not planning on reconfiguring anything.  I'm guessing there is no "console" for this unit - without an NMC.

Mark

[BillP]

Hi Mark,

You're right on the console port for this unit. There is no actual user interface besides the software or if you know how to talk UPS-link directly.

[MarkC_apc]

If anyone is interested, I've attached the trace from this unit when on battery power - not exactly pure sine wave, but not exactly "modified" either?

0ylndx8JQCrMiVUivlU%2FbA%3D%3D.jpeg

[MarkC_apc · Accepted solution]

Angela;

Smart Protocol works fine on the SC - I was able to disable the alarm (driving my wife crazy) and set all the other parameters that needed Tto be changed.