Possible Deal on TrippLite UPS at OMax ($5.00)

[UncleWayne]

I was at OMax today and they had Tripp Lite Internet Office UPS 280's for 5.00 a piece. I bought a couple. One was with the clearance stuff and one was on the shelf with all of the power protection products. I have no SKU # as it does not appear on my receipt. The UPC# is 037332032652. I searched on the Omax website and couldn't find the product by name or by UPC number. I can't say whether or not this is a nation-wide deal. It could just be an Alaska thing. It looks as if they are moving these guys out because there is a newer model out there. Office Max had both models in stock and the boxes look very similar. The $5.00 model advertises 11 minutes of backup time on its box. The 59.00 model advertises 12 minutes on its box. There was also a small APC UPS for $20.00 but I know even less about that deal. I'm sorry I can't provide solid details of the deal. I hope some of you will be able to capitalize on what scant information I have provided.

Good Luck.

Uncle_Wayne

 

[NordicNINE]

Thanks. I was going there tomorrow anyway to get some business cards and pda screen protectors.

 

[Jarwa]

Yeah, thanks! I'll look for one tomorrow at the local OMax.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< I'm sorry I can't provide solid details of the deal. I hope some of you will be able to capitalize on what scant information I have provided. >>

Very good post. Most AT HotDealers are like bloodhounds ....give'em the scent and ...well you get the idea...we will hunt

 

[Scrounger]

280VA? What the heck can you run on those things without overloading? Maybe at that price I could buy three and run them in parallel. I have a 625VA that is at 60% load with a middle-of-the-road system: 1 GHz Athlon on a KT133A motherboard, 5 quiet 80 mm fans, 2 quiet 92 mm fans, 2 75GXP hard drives, GeForce 2 GTS, SB Live!, NIC and a 19" monitor. It lasts about 12 minutes before it shuts down on low battery. Seems like 280VA would be a little anemic for a system like mine. Anyone have any real world experience with them?

 

[dragonflyblue]

Cool, I could run my DSL modem and 8-port 3Com switch off one of these for about a half an hour. Good to keep internet connection up when the power goes off... and who cares about computer backup power when you've got a laptop?

 

[Sluggo]

<< 280VA? What the heck can you run on those things without overloading? Maybe at that price I could buy three and run them in parallel. I have a 625VA that is at 60% load with a middle-of-the-road system: 1 GHz Athlon on a KT133A motherboard, 5 quiet 80 mm fans, 2 quiet 92 mm fans, 2 75GXP hard drives, GeForce 2 GTS, SB Live!, NIC and a 19" monitor. It lasts about 12 minutes before it shuts down on low battery. Seems like 280VA would be a little anemic for a system like mine. Anyone have any real world experience with them? >>



Most people arent trying to finish a few DeathMatches when the power goes out, they just want to get their crap saved and get everything shut down. If that takes anymore than 2 minutes, you should practice.

 

[bob92]

I've been looking for a UPS to keep my TiVo and cable box running during the brief power outages we sometimes experience here. This would do nicely.

Has anybody else found this deal to be valid at their local OM?

 

[apoppin]

I'll visit my OM today.

Well, I have two low powered UPS's (350VA each) - one for the monitor and one for the computer.

This one could always find some usage . . . perhaps like backing up a CFL reading lamp when the power goes out. It sure beats a flashlight and 13w light will last a long time.

Heck, at $5 each it will save resetting the VCR and FAX machine settings.

However, I doubt (always the pessamist) it will be chainwide.

 

[coredog2]

I would consider these UPSen to be decent surge protectors and nothing more.
Most surge protectors use an MOV which degrades with usage and does nothing
to protect you from sags. A UPS like this should be a better filter as well as protect you
from a sag when your AC kicks on.

Even though I've got a 1400VA unit I might pick up one of these for the wife (she's on
utility power )

 

[xp1800]

great find. thanks for the heads up, I'll check it out after work.

 

[Souka]

<< 280VA? What the heck can you run on those things without overloading? >>




Hmm.... I was running one of these hooked up to my monitor and CPU below...gave me protection from power-flickers and momentary outtages. But yes, I only had about 2-3 mins run time....but that's plenty.

 

[samgoody69]

Any confirm this price other than UncleWayne?

 

[Scrounger]

My point wasn't that two mintues run time isn't enough to shut down. It was that you would exceed the power rating with just about any recent computer system. 280VA is only about 250W or so. If a 625VA UPS is at 62% load, using a ratio you could estimate about 388VA load. 388VA / 280VA = significantly overloaded. These things probably don't regulate very well when overloaded. There is going to be a certain margin above the rating, but just like overclocking its hard to tell until you try it. It still doesn't mean running something at 133% load is a good idea. A UPS is supposed to increase reliability not add another crap-shoot factor to the already tangled mess.

I like the idea about putting your modem/router/switch on one of these, and I will admit $5 isn't a bad price for a decent surge protector.

 

[bob92]

Well my local OM (Tempe, AZ) only had the newer 300VA model at $49.99. But I did pick up the APS Back-Ups Office 350 for $19.99. It's a bit bulky, but it includes 3 protected and 3 non-protected outlets so it can replace my power strip.

The box says that 350VA=225W. Does anyone know the formula to determine how long this thing will run without power, given a certain wattage of equipment plugged into it?

 

[Northland]

Walked into a Minneapolis Officemax and shagged two of these at five bucks each (all they had at the Lake Street location)! The CSR at the checkout just about crapped. She wanted to know if there were more on the shelf, I told her "not now"!!!

Hell of a deal UncleWayne!

BTW - Look for the label that says 11 minutes (as noted above). The newer version has a different UPC number, says 12 minutes on the label, and costs $59.99. Go figure . . .

 

[kcobra]

The OM at 75 and 15th in Plano. TX and the one at 75 and Campbell in Richardson were both out. Plenty of 12min ones $59.99 ones, but no 11min $5 ones.

 

[Northland]

Is anybody else able to find this deal?

 

[Lanyap]

Thanks. These older, smaller, closeout priced UPSs are great for comm equipment. When I bought my first router for my cable modem setup I was always having to reset it every few weeks cause it would hang up. Once I plugged it and my other comm equipment (hub, cable modem, etc.) into a UPS I never had another hang.

 

[FredFlinstone]

Stopped by the Dearborn MI store and while I could not find the UPS 280, they did have two UPS 300 on the shelf with a price sticker of $16.95.

Hmmm'd and haw'd for a while trying to decide if I should get them both. FInally decided not to be greedy and leave one for someone else.

When I took it to the checkout, it scanned at $59.95. She disappeared behind the customer service desk to check on the computer there, returned and apologized saying that it was improperly priced. I said "Forget it - I dont want it for sixty bucks" and left.

Now I dont know law - are they obligated to honor the price if it has been improperly stickered ?

I wasnt in the mood to make a stink about it, but if anyone wants to give it a try, there may be one still on the shelf with a $16.95 price sticker on it.

 

[Souka]

<< Now I dont know law - are they obligated to honor the price if it has been improperly stickered ?
>>



Nope.

 

[Jenova314]

<< Most people arent trying to finish a few DeathMatches when the power goes out, they just want to get their crap saved and get everything shut down. If that takes anymore than 2 minutes, you should practice. >>



true true... but most people may be at 94% downloading the_naughty_nurses_part2.avi when the power goes out and they don't want to restart.

 

[iwearnosox]

<< the_naughty_nurses_part2.avi >>



Thank god for the new 160gb drive, I was having to delete my old pron. =)

 

[dtoff]

the naughty nurses avi's should be on all systems. that my chirstmas wish. and to all a good p0rn.

 

[vegetation]

Careful folks, often times these discounted UPS' have sit on the shelf a long time and the battery may need replacement real soon.