Smart UPS with a Surge Protector - Good Idea or Bad Move?

[Anonymous user]

Hey guys,

Quick question. So I just bought this DLA 1500 (which is the Dell way of saying the SUA 1500 - Smart UPS 1500 Va 1000 Watt backup). I had to by it because I have a 1000W computer and the SUA 15000 was the cheapest thing I could buy that can handle around 1000W.

Plugged into my SUA 1500 is my 1000w computer, two 24" flat screens, and an intense logitec dolby surround sound system (6 speakers).

I'm really worried about the weak joule rating that my APC unit has (I think it is around 500 joules). So I am going to either plug the SUA 1500 directly into an expensive surge protector (which will then plug into the wall), or first connect my components to a surge protector and then plug that into the SUA 1500.

Is one or both of these ways ok? Let me know.

Can anyone reccoment a good surge protector? APC, Monster Cable?

Thanks!

[Anonymous user]

Plugging the UPS into a surge protector could potentially deprive the UPS of the necessary power it requires to stay online as surge protectors do not necessarily evenly distribute power. If it were a dedicated surge protector for just the UPS it shouldn't be an issue. However I do want to point out a Knowledgebase document on Joules vs. Let through voltage which explains the differences between the two.

http://nam-en.apc.com/cgi-bin/nam_en.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=65&p_created=1000309964&p_s...

This UPS meets UL 1449 330V and provides the best effective clamping voltage for your equipment.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Brickwall or Surge-X but they're expensive.

These basically prevents surge from getting through while the common surge protectors, including the integral surge protector in APC UPSs simply shunt the surge to ground.