UPS Usage

[AlexV]

I have a UPS which has 4 battery powered + surge protected outlets, and 4 just surge protected outlets. However, I have a need to support more than 4 devices in case of power outage:

1) Cable modem
2) Router
3) Network switch
4) PC
5) Monitor

So, I plugged a surge strip into one of the battery supported outlets, and then plugged in 2 devices into that surge strip with 3 others being plugged in to the outlets on the UPS itself.

I just need a a couple of minutes to shut everything down if I lose power.

Can this setup present any issues? Can a surge strip some how present any problems to the UPS vs. just a device like a network switch.

Thanks,

-- Alex

 

[Talcite]

Uhh well that's what i'm confused about. Why do you need to plug the cable modem and router and network switch into the UPS? If the power's out, well so's your internet =p. If you're worried about them getting damaged.. well that's another issue. Anyways, I believe UPSs only have a certain wattage rating on each outlet. Make sure you don't overload it. The instruction manual should tell you more. I know you're not supposed to plug a UPS into a surge protector/strip. The only thing I see you neededing over there are PC and monitor. If you're using an APC UPS, you can even use the powerchute program to tell your computer to automatically shut down, even if you're not there.

 

[JBT]

I actually have mine set up the way you want.
I've got my Cable modem, and router plugged into a power strip off one of the battery outlets. It works for me.
It doesn't matter if the power goes out it doesn't mean the internet does.... As long as the power doesn't go out at the cable company.

 

[WackyDan]

Originally posted by: JBT
I actually have mine set up the way you want.
I've got my Cable modem, and router plugged into a power strip off one of the battery outlets. It works for me.
It doesn't matter if the power goes out it doesn't mean the internet does.... As long as the power doesn't go out at the cable company.

Wrong. Your house is within a node. Each Cable system is split into nodes. Large neighborhoods can be 1 or 2 nodes typically, and large highrises can be a single node. Each node is fed via it's own fibre, and has it's own power supply which in all likelyhood is connected to the same portion of the electrical supply grid that your house is on. Your internet may stay on if you are in a large multi node neighborhood, and your house draws power from a different transformer then the cable power supply for that node.

With DSL, it's far different, and you stand a far better chance of having internet during a long term power failure.

 

[Talcite]

Well I still don't see why you'd need internet... If you've got 5 minutes to shut down.. why would you decide to download a bit more pron then shut down >.>' Just shut down. That's what a UPS is for. If the lights go out, then that's probably a sign for you to shut down counterstrike and your computer as well -_-'

 

[AlexV]

It actually happend a while ago, we lost power and the internet was fine since my cable modem (RoadRunner) ran of the battery. I think that's what TimeWarner is doing in those areas where they do offer their digital phone with battery backup, i.e., even if the power is down in a small locale, the battery backed up phone has power, and the cable is still working.

I guess what I have to do is to plug the devices that consume the least power into the power strip to not overload that single outlet that's the surge strip is connected to.

 

[Navid]

There are times you are in the middle of something that you'd rather not interrupt.

For example, you may have been placing an order and have entered the entire address and phone number and credit card info and just need to finish it and the power goes. You may prefer to finish the order, which may take just a few seconds, and not have to re-enter everything again later.

You may be on the phone and if you use voice over IP, your phone dies when your power is interrupted. You may want to be able to say good-buy to a loved one and not be interrupted with no chance to explain.

You may be placing a bid on ebay for an item you have been waiting for and now that is the time to place the order, the power is interrupted ....

Obviously, if the internet is disconnected, you are out of luck. But, if it does not, those are some examples of why you may want to have your router and modem powered by a UPS.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Add as many as you like as long as you don't excede the current limits of the UPS outlets. Incidently, you don't really need another Surge Suppressor, but should not be a problem. Jim

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: WackyDan

Originally posted by: JBT
I actually have mine set up the way you want.
I've got my Cable modem, and router plugged into a power strip off one of the battery outlets. It works for me.
It doesn't matter if the power goes out it doesn't mean the internet does.... As long as the power doesn't go out at the cable company.

Wrong. Your house is within a node. Each Cable system is split into nodes. Large neighborhoods can be 1 or 2 nodes typically, and large highrises can be a single node. Each node is fed via it's own fibre, and has it's own power supply which in all likelyhood is connected to the same portion of the electrical supply grid that your house is on. Your internet may stay on if you are in a large multi node neighborhood, and your house draws power from a different transformer then the cable power supply for that node.

With DSL, it's far different, and you stand a far better chance of having internet during a long term power failure.

Alright I guess I should have been more specific about the "node" in my area.... instead of saying the cable co.
Either way having my network equipment on my UPS has saved me twice.

 

[MWink]

You should NEVER plug a surge protector into a UPS's battery powered outlets unless the UPS outputs pure sine wave (not stepped wave, PWM sine wave, etc.). Very few consumer grade UPS's output pure sine wave. For APC only some of their Smart-UPS's and higher output pure sine wave. If you plug a surge protector into a UPS that doesn't output pure sine wave it may cause serious damage to the units or anything connected as the MOV's in the surge protector may detect the imperfect waveform as surges and thus try to shunt them. If you want it explained better, check APC's knowledge base.

If you need more outlets you may be able to use a splitter or power strip as long as it has absolutely no surge protection (which can be surprisingly hard to find).

 

[AlexV]

MWink,

That was exactly my worry. I thought that plugging a surge protector into a battery outlet may present issues.

I've looked through the house and I have a few power strips/surge protectors. However, I'm not sure if they are just power strips w/o surge protection. If it says "Transient Voltage Suppressor" on the back of the strip, does it have surge protection?

Thanks.

 

[networkman]

It's not just the power lines that you should be protecting against - don't forget about those incoming data lines.

 

[MWink]

Originally posted by: AlexV
MWink,

That was exactly my worry. I thought that plugging a surge protector into a battery outlet may present issues.

I've looked through the house and I have a few power strips/surge protectors. However, I'm not sure if they are just power strips w/o surge protection. If it says "Transient Voltage Suppressor" on the back of the strip, does it have surge protection?

Thanks.

Yes a "Transient Voltage Suppressor" is a surge protector. You may want something called a "Power Distribution Unit." This is the kind of power strip I use with UPS's.

Originally posted by: networkman
It's not just the power lines that you should be protecting against - don't forget about those incoming data lines.

Yes that is very important as well. Though I'm not a big fan of the ProtectNet series solely because they are very expensive and you can buy a Surge Arrest that protects AC as well as various data lines all with one unit for less than the price of some ProtectNets.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

If the UPS can handle it I wouldn't worry about putting the cable modem/router/switch on a single socket. I really don't think they draw a whole lot of power.

My UPS can keep my computer/monitor/headphones running for 30-45 minutes, which is enough to ride out short power outages so I can see why he'd want to keep internet up.

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, Is someone maybe thinking about a SOLAR Resonante transformer "SAG" Protector. That's a large expensive device. A common Surge Protector shouldn't care whats comming in. Jim

 

[WiseOldDude]

Originally posted by: Talcite
Uhh well that's what i'm confused about. Why do you need to plug the cable modem and router and network switch into the UPS? If the power's out, well so's your internet =p.

WRONG! My cable modem, router are on my UPS, and when the power is out, guess what IT STILL WORKS and I can surf for hours on my wireless laptop.

Since my phone still works in the dark, I betcha that DSL connections would still work also

A UPS that will power a couple of PC's for 10 minutes or so will run a cable modem and router for hours and hours.

 

[WackyDan]

That's good, but not standard for all cable internet users.

 

[Zepper]

Hey Alex,

Do not use a SURGE strip downstream from a UPS - use a PLAIN POWER STRIP with NO active components execpt a fuse or breaker. Surge protection components can fail in shorted mode... Just be careful not to load more stuff on there than the UPS can handle.

You can use a surge strip on the wall side of the UPS to plug in peripherals that shouldn't be plugged into a UPS like a big laser printer, etc. and to give a bit of added protection. Usually a UPS will have un-backedup outlets too.

The shorted failure mode of surge protection components is something to be aware of even on the wall side of the UPS as a shorted failure there could trip the UPS into backup mode and you could wear down the battery for nothing. That's why some UPS mfrs warn against doing that too. Personally I've had no problem with it but IT IS A potential problem.

But safest is UPS directly into wall outlet and PLAIN power strip on PC side of UPS if needed and be careful not to overload - block extra outlets on power strip with glued-down outlet plugs (child-proofing item) for idiot-proofing. But beware, they are making better idiots these days....

.bh.

 

[Penth]

Agreed, you can do this no problem. I've got mine set up like that. It's also useful during those 1 second power spikes that just shut down all your machines. Your computer and internet stays up and you're still playing like nothing happened.

As others have said, it doesn't matter how many outlets you have (as long as they're not connected to a surge supressor) as long as you don't go over the power limits of the UPS.