posted
i have 2 900 watt ups. one for computer and the other for the plotter, phone and printer.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have a 350 on my main graphics machine, which includes the monitor, a 500 on my main office computer which houses the phone system and the monitor. I wouldn't push it more than that.
I don't know why you need one on the plotter, just use a surge.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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A PIII pentium computer (typical 200 watt power supply) will need at least about a 300 watt battery backup for short term backup.
A P4 pentium needs (with a 300 wattt power supply) a 500 watt battery backup for short term.
These numbers are generally good for a computer system only. Does not include the plotter or printers or any other goody.
So the size of your backup depends on the power usage of your machine. Not on the size of the power supply in it.
Also, you do not get instant 300 watts out of a 300 watt UPS. It dont work that way. The battery needs time to convert its energy to usable voltage. That number usually means peak or spike output but not a constant drain. And, a battery will not produce 300 watts after its been online for a while. So putting a 300 watter on a system needing 300 watts will never work. You need some "head" pressure. I tested this lesson personally by putting a P4 pentium (300 watt) on the old P3's 300 watt UPS. It didn't last 3 seconds. Now the P4 pentium has a 750 on powering it.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5278 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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I see that 275 is probably not near enough. I have surge protectors on all of my electronic equipment but wanted a battery backup in case the power goes off in the middle of cutting a 12' piece of vinyl with welded brush script all caps. Auto-save usually rescues anything I'm designing on the PC. Thanks guys
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7409 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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A UPS isn't necessarily designed to provide lasting power. They're designed to keep your computer and critical components alive until they can be shut down without damage. The plotter usually isn't one of those components. hk
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
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Howard is Correct, I only use mine because we get surges a lot, they cause "blinks" and sometimes those blinks can be big enough to reset my computer. I lost 1.5 hours of design one day, that paid for the UPS.
If I had one on my plotter even if it did last for 4 minutes, my luck would be I would be in the middle of a 14' continuous run.
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you." Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I never heard of putting a UPS on the plotter before. I'd like to put one on my computer though. Over the years, I've heard talk about how some brands have different filters, and I'd like a UPS that I can safely operate my computer with powered from a Generac 5000 watt generator. Anyone know anything about this?
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6843 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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the reason i have a ups on my plotter is my power has a habit of going of when i am in the midle of plotting & i don't like the wasted time and material. i also have a 1200 watt that uses a 12 volt car battery. my system will run about 10 minutes with the power off.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ditto most what everybody has said. The only stuff attached to mine is the computer & monitor which is capable of about 10 minutes on the battery. I don't think 4 minutes would be long enough of time to save & shut down properly. With the costs of current units continually decreasing it would be wise to get the most you can afford.
It is a wise choice to install a battery backup. Not only does it protect from power surges but also from dips in power. It keeps the flow of current steady which is greatly appreciated by your power supply & all the other internal parts of your system. I have mine for 5 years & would like to think its the reason my cpu is still running smooth.
Yes, it has been tested a few times. You never know when someone's gonna crack a pole or a transformer's gonna go kaput. I've seen lights flicker (sometimes go off & stay off), the backup beeps; but the cpu & monitor still run. But just long enough to safely shut it down. I've never pushed it to 10 minutes. Then again, I've never had it kick in while doing something time-intense like backups or defrags or stuff like that. And I hope I never do.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 705 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Auto-save usually rescues anything I'm designing on the PC.
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