UPS for workstation

[JuhaHo]

On local newspapers, there are warnings that there will bee scheduled 1 to 2 hour power cuts, to protect our electrical network during winter. I already have 2 000 VA UPS in my main workstation and 1 000 VA UPS in my secondary workstation. I think ot will be enough for 10 minutes or so. What would be the choice if I need to secure one hour runtime?

[JuhaHo]

So I got this 2 KVA/1.25kW UPS. Yesterday it collapsed due to overload. What might be a correct UPS for a single workstation?

[bardo]

You have to estimate the full power consumption.
I suggest you to buy a power consumption instrument (there are some of that easy to use as they are like a plug where connect the powercables), put everything ON and full power that you want to protect and read the power usage.
Otherwise you can read the technical sheets of every hardware element, sum it and you have the theorical full power consumption. It's theorical because it's really difficult to have full CPU, GPU, harddrives read&write in the same time.
After that check what market offers you.

[JuhaHo]

Thanks,

This power consumption instrument might be helpful - for other places too.

In other development, I just went to local battery store. They changed both batteries for total of 60€ including VAT. The old batteries were less than two years old.

Now I'm waiting for electrical grid disturbances. Today it has been somewhat instable.

[Joelaff]

For long power outages a generator is a better choice. You could look at large battery packs (like whole house setups). Some UPSes let you add external batteries as well, but there is really no substitute for a generator. A UPS should just be to hold the equipment until the generator kicks in.

In my younger days I hacked a UPS by connecting two Marine batteries in parallel. This did get me 24 hours+ of runtime (depends on the load. These were two 105AH batteries at 12V. So ~2400 WH. For reference this would keep my current overclocked 7995wx running for around two hours at full load, but most machines draw far less power unless you are using GPUs. Note that marine batteries are flooded lead acid, and you have to find a way to deal with the fumes (mine were on the other side of a wall from the equipment). There are many more options in terms of batteries these days (lithium batteries were terribly expensive then).

Nowadays I use an automatic generator for the office and just use ordinary UPSes to keep them running the 45secs it takes for the generator to start. Note that there are issues with UPSes and generators, and you have to test everything, and lower the sensitivity of the UPSes. Some generators put out a lower frequency (we are 60Hz, they will drop down to 57Hz) at low load which can cause the UPSes not to work. Many generators have sensitive GCFIs (RCD) which can trip with one or more UPSes connected due to the leakage in their filtering circuits. Test, test, test.

[JuhaHo]

Before my current premises, I had my office in nearby building. There was generators in nuke proof cellars deep inside the bedrock. Every Tuesday at 9 a.m. they made a test run with the generators. In addition to generators, there was a big flywheel, which run the alternator during the gap You mentioned. The switch made very short electric cut, but it was enough for computer shutdown. That's why I needed UPS back then.

[philip kelly]

Can I ask were are you living that you have these issues?
Mad in this day and age really.

I had a brother living in Zambia and quite regularly from 6pm on wards power went at home in the evenings. Cooking and eating outside was normal.
Very hard to run a business with this hanging over your head.
Some of us take a lot for granted I suppose.
Good luck getting it sorted.
Phil

[prateekvishwa]

I am using inverter & it works just fine for 2-3 hours for my workstation + 1 fan & 1 light. Its a pure sine wave inverter.

[suzanne_doherty]

Can I ask were are you living that you have these issues?
Mad in this day and age really.

I had a brother living in Zambia and quite regularly from 6pm on wards power went at home in the evenings. Cooking and eating outside was normal.
Very hard to run a business with this hanging over your head.
Some of us take a lot for granted I suppose.
Good luck getting it sorted.
Phil

I was just about to ask the same question! In the UK I can't remember the last time the power went out. We certainly don't have to think about UPS setups.

[JuhaHo]

I live in South-East Finland about 30 km from Russian border. Our town was the most bombarded town in our country during WW2.

It's all over the news that our electric companies are constantly being under cyber attacks. Last few days, the grid has been somewhat unstable.

[suzanne_doherty]

I live in South-East Finland about 30 km from Russian border. Our town was the most bombarded town in our country during WW2.

It's all over the news that our electric companies are constantly being under cyber attacks. Last few days, the grid has been somewhat unstable.

That really sucks! Good luck

[JuhaHo]

Last night we had power outage three times the longest being about 10 minutes. Miraculously none of my workstations were shut down. I haven't found information for the reason for the outages. About week ago whole island was without electricity. The reason was broken cable, the cause for breach is still unknown.