conflicting info about my UPS capacity: Smart-UPS 1500VA

[minimal_apc]

I have and am using an APC Smart-UPS 1500VA USB & Serial 230V (SUA1500I ) in Israel.

My server's PSU is 850W and my display deploys a maximum of 134Watts. Looking at the APC Smart-UPS model list and inserting a power draw of 900Watts (http://www.apc.com/products/family/index.cfm?id=165&tab=models) leaves 8 seconds runtime, to suggest that it would NOT be advisable to connect my display to the UPS, in addition to my server.

On the other hand, i spoke to a technician at servpro - the service providers for APC UPSs in Israel, who insisted that i could connect my display too and still have plenty of run time in the case of power failure.


Which is the correct way to go?

thakns.

[minimal_apc]

You are correct, 8 minutes run time is available when 900watts are deployed, but none - no time at all is available at 1000 watts. So, am i correct to assume that if my monitor uses a maximum of 134W and my PSU - 850W, that the both should NOT be connected to the Smart-UPS?

[BillP]

well, most of the time, 850 watts will be the maximum the PSU can provide but it usually comes nowhere close with my experience. you'd have to see how much it draws when the PSU starts up and then begins running normally. i don't think it will indeed be 850 watts. might be closer to 100-250 watts. for some reason, if your PSU actually maxes out and so does your display, then yes, you will not have much runtime at all but i think these values are most likely maximum draws and the real time draw is much less.

[upsguy_apc]

Also remember the APC Smart-UPS 1500VA USB & Serial 230V (SUA1500I ) is not rated for 1000W... 980W is the UPS max capacity. Thats the reason there is no stated runtime for 1000w

[minimal_apc]

Thanks for replying folks, all my other questions on this forum and at the Ask portal at apc.com are remaining unanswered, so i really appreciate it.

And another question, how can i see how much the PSU draws when it starts up and begins running? Is that on the machine itself, the lights, or is that in the PowerChute console.

In fact, i'd appreciate it if you could take a look at the attached picture of the Shutdown sequence dialog (which you arrive at by going to Device Properties/Shutdown Sequence, hit Configure SHutdown sequence/, hit NExt and again Next) and let me know what is the graph in the Sequence Shutdown dialog, is it to do with power draw or what?

BTW, I am using PowerCHute Business Edition Deluxe (v. 9) on a PC with Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit, and the software is showing me that most of the time the UPS and my machine disconnect. Not sure how to deal with that.....

[BillP · Accepted solution]

i think the format is (Hours:minutes) so i really think you are looking at 8 minutes, not 8 seconds.