Accu-Wave Power Products


		Technology Bytes by Francine Brokaw Powerware 5115 UPS System Be safe, not sorry Okay, so the big California power outages predicted for this year never materialized. But that doesn't mean the power will always stay on. Also, currents fluctuate all the time. Surges and drops can cause havoc with sensitive electrical appliances like computers. This is why a UPS (Uninterruptible Power System) is a good thing to have to insure the safety of your data and your equipment. The Powerware 5115 is a good system for home office and small office users. It includes a Network Transient Protector to protect against surges in the network and phone lines. It also incorporates Advanced Battery Management, which doubles the life of the battery and alerts the user sixty days in advance of the end of the battery's life. You will then have two months to get a new battery, which are hot swappable, by the way. That can be useful. Imagine what would happen if you didn't know your battery was dying. Batteries are the backbone of UPS units, and the most expensive component. Advanced Battery Management also works to extend the life of the battery by charging it differently than other power backup systems. Instead of continually charging the battery as other systems do, once the battery is fully charged it stops charging, and only recharges as needed, which extends the life of the battery. This is not simply PR talk from the company so they will sell more units. It's true. When you let a battery run down before recharging, it does extend the life of the battery and raises its performance. Buck and Boost Voltage Regulation maintains a consistent power voltage. If the voltage coming into your system is too high, it cuts (bucks) it down, and if the voltage is too low it boosts it up. Whatever comes in, the voltage reaching your system will maintain a -10 to +6 percent of the nominal voltage. Included with the system is a software suite containing LanSafe III. This software enables the user to control what is automatically shut down first. I've found most of the software in this suite to be useful mainly for networks. If you have a home office you will not need the programs, unless you are large enough to be working with workstations, routers, and servers. The 5115 system comes in four models for different power needs. They are 500VA, 750VA, 1000VA, and 1400VA. The average power needs of a computer are 500 VA, however that depends on the processor speeds and size of the monitor and other peripherals. With processors increasing rapidly and monitor getting larger, I think the average needed per computer might increase from 500 VA to 600 VA or even 750 VA. You can compute the model you need by the size and number of computers you want to protect. The 5115 systems all provide five minutes of backup time, once the power is out. This way you can save your data and safely shut down your computer. An interesting thing about this unit is that even when the unit is turned off, it remains on stand-by mode to regulate the battery. At first I found this annoying because after I turned off the unit I heard a fan or motor noise, but it soon stopped. In order to prevent the unit from staying on stand-by mode, you will have to unplug it from the outlet. But if you think about it, remaining on stand-by helps maintain the battery's performance. Powerware includes a two-year Limited Warranty and $25,000 computer/load protection guarantee in the event something does go wrong. Having a UPS unit provides a little more peace of mind knowing that your system will not be damaged by surges and your data will not be lost in a power outage.