UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for multiple computers?

[Scorpion Ghost]

Recently I had an issue with electricity going down for a few seconds and then coming back on, resulting in all my computers shutting down. It happened 3 times in the past week.

Sometimes it doesn't happen for months, but sooner or later it always happens, and often at the worst time. And usually the outage is only for a few seconds to a few minutes.

I'm thinking of getting a UPS. All I need is to be able to connect 4 computers (desktop, PCs) to it and have it keep them going for at least 5 minutes in case of power loss. But of course, the longer it can keep them going the better.

I could even buy 2 UPS and connect 2 computers on each, if that's better for some reason.

Each of my 4 computers has a power supply of about 500-600W, and they're all working pretty heavily at all times with lots of programs running. I could check for exact details of the power supplies if need be.

Can anyone tell me what I should be looking for, for my situation?

 

[awesomewebsites]

A powerful UPS you need which you can get after telling details to sellers. I had a ups for a system in past and used to run it for one system only. There were three sockets behind it, though you can use extension boards for multiple computers, it will end sooner in that case. Now I have an inverter at home and this no need for seperate UPS for computer.

 

[Gogol]

I solved the problem using multiple upses. My logic for it is - if you manage to get one of the upses fried, the others will still be working.

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

A powerful UPS you need which you can get after telling details to sellers. I had a ups for a system in past and used to run it for one system only. There were three sockets behind it, though you can use extension boards for multiple computers, it will end sooner in that case. Now I have an inverter at home and this no need for seperate UPS for computer.

The sellers? Man, the sellers are just regular people working a salesjob. They don't understand shit about fuck

I was thinking to get a UPS with 4 sockets, and plug 1 computer into each. Or get two UPSs with 2 sockets each and plug 2 computers into each. But I don't understand the technical stuff. Please read below...

Inverter, that's expensive and takes up lots of space right?

I solved the problem using multiple upses. My logic for it is - if you manage to get one of the upses fried, the others will still be working.

Yeah, makes sense. But doing that is gonna take up more space, and cost more.

But anyway, what about the specs? For example, here is a $70 one from a local site with 3 power sockets:

Capacity: 650VA / 360W
Topology: Line-Interactive
Input voltage (range): 165-290 VAC
Output voltage: 230VAC +/- 10%
Input frequency: 50/60 Hz +/- 5 Hz (auto detection)
Output frequency: 50/60 Hz +/- 1Hz
Waveform: Simulated Sine Wave

What measure do I use to know what kind of a computer (power supply) or how many I can plug into it?

Do I look at the "360W", and if my computers each have a 500W power supply, then this UPS won't do it for me even for 1 computer?

 

[HustleTong]

Maybe install a small battery inverter?
You won't have to worry about power sockets

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

Maybe install a small battery inverter?
You won't have to worry about power sockets

What's the difference? Size? Price?

I don't actually see the difference between an inverter and a UPS.

Both seem to me to store electricity in a battery, which is to be used in case the electricity from the wall socket stops coming in.

 

[CrazyBuddy]

Inverters dont provide uninterrupted power backup as far as i know. With inverters the system will restart for the same reason people use UPS instead of inverters

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

I did the google:

The main function of the UPS is to store the electric supply whereas the inverter converts the AC power into DC power. During the power outages, the UPS immediately switch over from the main supply to the battery whereas the inverter has a time delay.

So an inverter is useless to me. If I have a power outage and the inverter takes even 3 seconds to kick in, it's too late, my computers have already switched off.

Yes? No? Why not?

 

[Gogol]

The sellers? Man, the sellers are just regular people working a salesjob. They don't understand shit about fuck

I was thinking to get a UPS with 4 sockets, and plug 1 computer into each. Or get two UPSs with 2 sockets each and plug 2 computers into each. But I don't understand the technical stuff. Please read below...

Inverter, that's expensive and takes up lots of space right?



Yeah, makes sense. But doing that is gonna take up more space, and cost more.

But anyway, what about the specs? For example, here is a $70 one from a local site with 3 power sockets:

Capacity: 650VA / 360W
Topology: Line-Interactive
Input voltage (range): 165-290 VAC
Output voltage: 230VAC +/- 10%
Input frequency: 50/60 Hz +/- 5 Hz (auto detection)
Output frequency: 50/60 Hz +/- 1Hz
Waveform: Simulated Sine Wave

What measure do I use to know what kind of a computer (power supply) or how many I can plug into it?

Do I look at the "360W", and if my computers each have a 500W power supply, then this UPS won't do it for me even for 1 computer?

I have a 600 watts psu, for which i am using this exact model (not affiliate link)

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B018LYLAOG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YM6H6H6W5KPKZ2MJM3BT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The other ups has similar spec, but it’s connected to a m1 mac mini which consumes only around 6-15 watts power. So, that ups is not even stressed.

By the way, you are correct about it taking more space, but I have enough space for those.

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

Inverters dont provide uninterrupted power backup as far as i know. With inverters the system will restart for the same reason people use UPS instead of inverters

Yes it seems to be the case, you agree with google, or google agrees with you

@HustleTong @krishnaverma i love you guys but when did you start giving bad advice?

I have a 600 watts psu, for which i am using this exact model (not affiliate link)

https://www.amazon.in/dp/B018LYLAOG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YM6H6H6W5KPKZ2MJM3BT?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

The other ups has similar spec, but it’s connected to a m1 mac mini which consumes only around 6-15 watts power. So, that ups is not even stressed.

By the way, you are correct about it taking more space, but I have enough space for those.

I see. That's 600VA/360W that you got there, for a 600 watts PSU.

Did you ever test it? How long did your PSU/PC last without power coming in?

Still, I'd like to understand exactly what I'd be getting and what I should be getting.

Like - and I'm talking shit now - what if a 600 watts PSU only has a real demand of 300W, and the 600VA on the PSU is actually supporting of 600W of demand, therefore I could have 2 PSUs with 600 watts connected to it, and in case of a power outage I should get at least 7 minutes of uptime from the PSU.

The entire sentence I just wrote is probably super retarded, but I want to know exactly how much is 1+1, so I can make an informed decision about what to buy.

But... I don't wanna go research for 3 hours. I just want someone who understands this stuff to spoon feed me the answer

 

[blogmen]

Capacity: 650VA / 360W

That's good for 1-2 computers.

Do I look at the "360W", and if my computers each have a 500W power supply, then this UPS

No, it doesn't work that way. 500W is just the max capacity of the supply, you need to measure the actual output of each component and add it all up to know for sure, but usually your output per PC is around 150W (monitor included).

Unless you have gaming rigs with gpus working around the clock and lots of cooling fans, you'll be fine using the UPS mentioned above for 2 PC's.

 

[Gogol]

Yes it seems to be the case, you agree with google, or google agrees with you

@HustleTong @krishnaverma i love you guys but when did you start giving bad advice?



I see. That's 600VA/360W that you got there, for a 600 watts PSU.

Did you ever test it? How long did your PSU/PC last without power coming in?

Still, I'd like to understand exactly what I'd be getting and what I should be getting.

Like - and I'm talking shit now - what if a 600 watts PSU only has a real demand of 300W, and the 600VA on the PSU is actually supporting of 600W of demand, therefore I could have 2 PSUs with 600 watts connected to it, and in case of a power outage I should get at least 7 minutes of uptime from the PSU.

The entire sentence I just wrote is probably super retarded, but I want to know exactly how much is 1+1, so I can make an informed decision about what to buy.

But... I don't wanna go research for 3 hours. I just want someone who understands this stuff to spoon feed me the answer

i dunno man I am not a hardware guy, but the setup works fine for me. I think the 600w psu never gets fully stressed due to lack of components it has to handle (i guess around 150watts max may be).

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

That's good for 1-2 computers.

No, it doesn't work that way. 500W is just the max capacity of the supply, you need to measure the actual output of each component and add it all up to know for sure, but usually your output per PC is around 150W (monitor included).

Unless you have gaming rigs with gpus working around the clock and lots of cooling fans, you'll be fine using the UPS mentioned above for 2 PC's.

Killer, now we're getting somewhere.

My monitors stay off. I have no plans on plugging them in a PSU. These are just botting computers, the monitors are not important.

And in fact, I even have the GPU disabled on 2 of the computers. For some reason having the GPU enabled makes the computers go very slow when I run my bots. But with GPU disabled, it runs better. I only have a GPU in these computers because they have Ryzen CPUs, and so a GPU is necessary in order to show screen.

And each of my computers has 2 medium-sized fans inside (and of course the CPU fan).

Okay, so tell me, more or less, how long would/should that PSU mentioned above last when the power goes out if I had 2 computers plugged into it? Just take an educated guess, off the top of your head.

 

[blogmen]

how long would/should that PSU mentioned above last when the power goes out if I had 2 computers plugged into it?

15-20 mins.

 

[awesomewebsites]

I did the google:

The main function of the UPS is to store the electric supply whereas the inverter converts the AC power into DC power. During the power outages, the UPS immediately switch over from the main supply to the battery whereas the inverter has a time delay.

So an inverter is useless to me. If I have a power outage and the inverter takes even 3 seconds to kick in, it's too late, my computers have already switched off.

Yes? No? Why not?

I have an inverter connection in the room where I use PC. Whenever light goes off, my system never switches off. It is tested many times.
I am not expert in electrical things but I think the main electric cable is put in inverter back socket and inverter cable in electric socket. Supply is coming through inverter only all the time. System will switch off only in case inverter is also drained out which takes few hours depending on usage.

 

[bartosimpsonio]

You need several ups. Because one big enough for several pc's will cost you exponentially more than buying one per pc.

Also, most ups come with a 7 amp battery in them. Multiply 7 x 12 = 84 watts hour. If each of your pcs take 500 watts, your battery will last 84 / 500 hours, or around 10 minutes max, assuming a perfectly new battery.

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

You need several ups. Because one big enough for several pc's will cost you exponentially more than buying one per pc.

Also, most ups come with a 7 amp battery in them. Multiply 7 x 12 = 84 watts hour. If each of your pcs take 500 watts, your battery will last 84 / 500 hours, or around 10 minutes max, assuming a perfectly new battery.

Okay, all right, thank you, thank you.

But none of the UPSs I've looked at state how many amp is the battery. I thought these stats are how much the battery holds:

Capacity: 500VA / 300W
Capacity: 600VA / 360W
Capacity: 800VA / 480W

So if these numbers aren't the actual capacity, what are they?

---

So what do you suggest? I'd rather get at least 2 UPS and plug 2 computers into each, than to get 4 UPS - 1 for each computer.

 

[awesomewebsites]

Okay, all right, thank you, thank you.

But none of the UPSs I've looked at state how many amp is the battery. I thought these stats are how much the battery holds:

Capacity: 500VA / 300W
Capacity: 600VA / 360W
Capacity: 800VA / 480W

So if these numbers aren't the actual capacity, what are they?

---

So what do you suggest? I'd rather get at least 2 UPS and plug 2 computers into each, than to get 4 UPS - 1 for each computer.

4 ups 1 each. Price wise it will be same because longer life in this case compared to 2 pc in one.

 

[Scorpion Ghost]

4 ups 1 each. Price wise it will be same because longer life in this case compared to 2 pc in one.

Well goddamn, we're looking at an expensive of at least $50 a pop. Actually, probably $60-70 bucks a pop.

And I actually have 5 computers, not 4.

So let's say 5 x $60 = $300 bucks at least

The pain bro, it's too much hahahaha

---

I'll tell you what. Middle ground. I'll get 4 of them.

Because 2 of my computers, my oldest ones, their power supplies are 500W I believe, and their CPUs are older, and they have less RAM, and the motherboards are older, and they run less bots/programs. So I would imagine they demand less power than the other 3. So these 2 old fuckers are gonna have to use the same UPS, just like they use the same keyboard and monitor (I have the thing, what's it called, to connect 2 computers with 1 monitor and keyboard).

The other 3 computers are gonna get a UPS each.

This way it's also easier if I want to move PCs to different rooms in my apartment. Because the summer is almost here, and having 5 computers in 15 square meters room opens up the gate of hell up in here. Flames, hot, devil!

 

[Gogol]

@Scorpion Ghost your assumption about older computers using lesser power is wrong, Sir.

Back in the days, computers used much more power than what they use in general now. The psus also used to be beefier for the same reason.

I guess I confused you furthermore. Best of luck.