just bought a BX1500G UPS, few questions

[Anonymous user]

Hi, I've just bought my first UPS, and i have a few questions that I'm not sure of.

here is my situation:

I have a generator that runs my whole house, but when the power goes out, it doesn't come on for about 10-15 seconds, then it kicks in and the power comes back on in the house.

so i bought this unit so i can hook my computers/server to it so its not interrupted while the generator is kicking on, and again when it goes off and the regular power comes back on.

when i say server, its just my older desktop, not a huge big server or anything.

my questions-

can i hook another surge protector into this UPS (NOT into the battery backup outlets), for things such as my TV, monitors, laptop charger, home theater etc (things that arent going to be running 24/7)

the things i need to be on the UPS/battery backup part is my 2 desktop PCs (one is a performance pc with 7 hard drives in it etc)

also, im confused by the "master" outlet on the back, and the ones that say "controlled by master"

any help would be appreciated! i have my stuff all disconnected and wired everywhere right now, re organizing it all nice and neat 🙂

[Techie_apc]

Yes, It is a UPS(Uninterrupted Power Supply).

Please refer the UPS user manual for more information on how to install this product. Let us know if you have any further question.

:)

[Anonymous user]

thanks!

:)

[Techie_apc]

Hi VJ,

APC does not recommend to plug a Surge Protector into the output of any Back UPS. Click here for more information. I would recommend you to plug the Surge Protector to the wall directly as any APC Surge Protector can provide protection against harmful surges if it is connected to the outlet which is properly grounded.

"Master" and "Master Controlled Outlets" can be used to conserve energy when the Computer is not is use. It will definitely save some electricity bill 🙂

From the User Manual:

Power-Saving Master and Controlled outlets:
To conserve electricity, configure the Back-UPS to recognize a Master device, such as a desktop computer or an A/V receiver, and Controlled peripheral devices, such as a printer, speakers, or a scanner.
When the Master device goes into Sleep or Standby mode, or turns OFF, the Controlled device(s) will shut down as well, saving electricity.

Enable the Power-Saving feature:
Press and hold MUTE and DISPLAY simultaneously for two seconds. The unit will beep to indicate that the feature is enabled. The leaf icon on the display will illuminate.
Disable the Power-Saving feature:
Press and hold MUTE and DISPLAY simultaneously for two seconds. The unit will beep to indicate that the feature is disabled. The leaf icon on the display will darken.
Setting the threshold:
The amount of power used by a device in Sleep or Standby mode varies between devices. It may be necessary to adjust the threshold at which the Master outlet signals the Controlled outlets to shut down.
1.Ensure a master device is connected to the Master outlet. Put that device into Sleep or Standby mode, or turn it OFF.
2.Press DISPLAY and MUTE simultaneously and hold for six seconds, until the leaf icon flashes three times and the unit beeps three times.
3.The Back-UPS unit will now recognize the threshold level of the Master device and save it as the new threshold setting.

I hope that this helps. Let us know if you have any question.

[Anonymous user]

Hi, I've just bought my first UPS, and i have a few questions that I'm not sure of.

here is my situation:

I have a generator that runs my whole house, but when the power goes out, it doesn't come on for about 10-15 seconds, then it kicks in and the power comes back on in the house.

so i bought this unit so i can hook my computers/server to it so its not interrupted while the generator is kicking on, and again when it goes off and the regular power comes back on.

when i say server, its just my older desktop, not a huge big server or anything.

my questions-

can i hook another surge protector into this UPS (NOT into the battery backup outlets), for things such as my TV, monitors, laptop charger, home theater etc (things that arent going to be running 24/7)

the things i need to be on the UPS/battery backup part is my 2 desktop PCs (one is a performance pc with 7 hard drives in it etc)

also, im confused by the "master" outlet on the back, and the ones that say "controlled by master"

any help would be appreciated! i have my stuff all disconnected and wired everywhere right now, re organizing it all nice and neat 🙂

[Anonymous user]

The PC is custom built (I built it myself). I installed a Zallman fan controller that has a wattage meter. When in sleep mode, the power consumption runs about 135 to 138 watts. I'm not sure what you mean about what LEDs are lit when programming the threshold. I simply press the two buttons until the unit beeps three times. It would be nice if you could set the threshold to a specific value from the software but I have not seen this option.

[Anonymous user]

Hi,

I just bought the same unit at Best Buy. I have set the threshold according to the instructions. I have the PC connected to the master outlet and my monitor and speakers to the accessories outlet. The monitor and speakers do not shut off when the computer goes into sleep mode, only when I shut off the computer completely. I have tried setting the threshold with the computer in sleep mode and the monitor in sleep mode, with the monitor not in sleep mode and with the monitor in sleep mode and the speakers on and with the speakers off but no matter how I set the threshold, I still cannot get the desired effect. I never turn the computer off because I have a windows home server that performs backups overnight. (It is capable of waking the computer for backups.) I want the monitor and speakers to shut off and conserve power when the PC goes to sleep but I can't seem to make this work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Peter Gil

[Erasmus_apc]

For your computer model, do you have any idea of what the normal wattage draw is, and what the draw when in "Sleep" mode changes to? Also can you verify the LEDs that show on the unit when you are in the threshold programming mode and have set the threshold to the lowest value? If you use a different load such as a 100w lamp or other device with a decent wattage rating, and then turn that off, does that successfully turn off the "Controlled by Master" outlets?

[Erasmus_apc]

petergil@verizon.net wrote:The PC is custom built (I built it myself). I installed a Zallman fan controller that has a wattage meter. When in sleep mode, the power consumption runs about 135 to 138 watts. I'm not sure what you mean about what LEDs are lit when programming the threshold. I simply press the two buttons until the unit beeps three times. It would be nice if you could set the threshold to a specific value from the software but I have not seen this option.

I was referring to the leaf icon flashing and the beeping you mentioned. If it was not doing that, that would be troubling. Do you know what the draw on your computer is when it is not in sleep? Also, as I mentioned before does a more static on/off load like a lamp work with the master/controlled functionality?

[Erasmus_apc]

95prelude wrote:Hi everyone, just a quick question instead of starting another thread. Is this a dead silent ups? It's going to be in my bedroom so I want it to be as quiet as possible.

The UPS is not 100% silent, as there is a small fan in it that is needed to cool the unit when it has a high load on it or under certain battery charging conditions. From what I've heard when sitting near these units, I would not find them disrupting in a bedroom but that is personal opinion.

[Anonymous user]

I have not tried a lamp but if I turn the PC off completely, then it does shut off the accessories. This is why I think the issue is where the threshold is set. My PC's draw when running is about 164 watts and about 138 when in sleep mode.

[Erasmus_apc]

Hi, do you still need assistance with this issue? From your last post it was unclear as to whether or not you had solved the issue on your own. Thanks!

[Anonymous user]

Erasmus,

Thanks for checking back. No, I have not resolved this issue. I am certain I am setting the threshold correctly but the unit will not turn power off to my accessories unless I turn the computer off completely. I really need this feature because for some reason my LCD monitor is not staying in sleep mode and I don't want the lamp to wear out from use. My monitor goes to sleep when the computer goes to sleep but if I come back later, the lamp is on even though the screen is blank and my computer is asleep. I'm afraid this will drain the life from the lamp and would really like for the UPS to cut the power off. Also, the on/off switch on my speakers is on the underside of the subwoofer and very difficult to shut off. I would like this to shut off as well. Right now, I have only the monitor and speakers plugged into the the accessories outlets. Once again, if I shut the computer off, the monitor and speakers shut off but this is not how this feature is advertised. They are supposed to shut off when the computer goes to sleep. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Hi everyone, just a quick question instead of starting another thread. Is this a dead silent ups? It's going to be in my bedroom so I want it to be as quiet as possible.