Righto, the shiny new Belkin UPS arrived today. Gave it the full charge up, and it's now installed an working fine.
I initially installed it using the built in OSX UPS support, and it worked as soon as I plugged in the USB lead. However, the menubar info is useless, it just says "unknown time until full". I can set the shutdown details OK in all the sliders too.
However, I have also now installed the BullDog software from Belkin, and that gives so much more control. Again, it just seems to 'work'. I like the Input/Output display, and the ability to shedule battery tests, as well as the 'loading graph. None of which OSX handles.
I have the G5 (with Formac 17" on the ADC port), the external drive box, and my HP widescreen 20" TFT plugged into the Battery Backup sockets, and it's showing 49% loading. I plugged the remaining peripherals, scanner, printer, USB hub and speakers, into the Surge Protect socket, using a plain 5 way block (These are generally only used one at a time, and the scanner and printer are off most of the time).
My only concern is the possible conflict between the two shutdown softwares, so I'll have to have a play with that I think. I might try setting them so that one just never operates.
Andy Hewitt wrote:
Righto, the shiny new Belkin UPS arrived today. Gave it the full charge up, and it's now installed an working fine.
I initially installed it using the built in OSX UPS support, and it worked as soon as I plugged in the USB lead. However, the menubar info is useless, it just says "unknown time until full". I can set the shutdown details OK in all the sliders too.
However, I have also now installed the BullDog software from Belkin, and that gives so much more control. Again, it just seems to 'work'. I like the Input/Output display, and the ability to shedule battery tests, as well as the 'loading graph. None of which OSX handles.
I have the G5 (with Formac 17" on the ADC port), the external drive box, and my HP widescreen 20" TFT plugged into the Battery Backup sockets, and it's showing 49% loading. I plugged the remaining peripherals, scanner, printer, USB hub and speakers, into the Surge Protect socket, using a plain 5 way block (These are generally only used one at a time, and the scanner and printer are off most of the time).
My only concern is the possible conflict between the two shutdown softwares, so I'll have to have a play with that I think. I might try setting them so that one just never operates.
One thing with UPS's - you should test them every few months by pulling the mains supply for a couple of minutes. Otherwise you don't know when the batteries are knackered (until it's too late).
Paul
Andy Hewitt wildrover.andy@redacted.invalid wrote:
Righto, the shiny new Belkin UPS arrived today. Gave it the full charge up, and it's now installed an working fine.
Excelent.
I have the G5 (with Formac 17" on the ADC port), the external drive box, and my HP widescreen 20" TFT plugged into the Battery Backup sockets, and it's showing 49% loading. I plugged the remaining peripherals, scanner, printer, USB hub and speakers, into the Surge Protect socket, using a plain 5 way block (These are generally only used one at a time, and the scanner and printer are off most of the time).
I would still go for not having the monitor on the UPS, but obviously your choice.
My only concern is the possible conflict between the two shutdown softwares, so I'll have to have a play with that I think. I might try setting them so that one just never operates.
Probably a good plan.
Paul Russell prussell@redacted.invalid wrote:
One thing with UPS's - you should test them every few months by pulling the mains supply for a couple of minutes. Otherwise you don't know when the batteries are knackered (until it's too late).
Yes, that's why I set the schedule to run the periodic battery tests :-)
Woody usenet@redacted.invalid wrote:
Andy Hewitt wildrover.andy@redacted.invalid wrote:
Righto, the shiny new Belkin UPS arrived today. Gave it the full charge up, and it's now installed an working fine.
Excelent.
I have the G5 (with Formac 17" on the ADC port), the external drive box, and my HP widescreen 20" TFT plugged into the Battery Backup sockets, and it's showing 49% loading. I plugged the remaining peripherals, scanner, printer, USB hub and speakers, into the Surge Protect socket, using a plain 5 way block (These are generally only used one at a time, and the scanner and printer are off most of the time).
I would still go for not having the monitor on the UPS, but obviously your choice.
Well, it's not bunging too much load on, so I'll see how it goes. It at least gives me a chance to deal with things manually if I'm around - like saving anything I'm working on. In fact I've just run a quick test there, and it went from running at 48-49% load, down to 45-47% load with the extra monitor off.
My only concern is the possible conflict between the two shutdown softwares, so I'll have to have a play with that I think. I might try setting them so that one just never operates.
Probably a good plan.
Well, the first battery test just ran all OK, and it managed a full 245v output even when the battery got down to 25%. It all kicked in again and is already back up to 73%.
Andy Hewitt wrote:
Paul Russell prussell@redacted.invalid wrote:
One thing with UPS's - you should test them every few months by pulling the mains supply for a couple of minutes. Otherwise you don't know when the batteries are knackered (until it's too late).
Yes, that's why I set the schedule to run the periodic battery tests :-)
I think I'd still be inclined to physically pull the plug once in a while, just to make sure that everything still works (make sure you save any open documents first !).
Paul
Paul Russell prussell@redacted.invalid wrote:
Andy Hewitt wrote:
Paul Russell prussell@redacted.invalid wrote:
One thing with UPS's - you should test them every few months by pulling the mains supply for a couple of minutes. Otherwise you don't know when the batteries are knackered (until it's too late).
Yes, that's why I set the schedule to run the periodic battery tests :-)
I think I'd still be inclined to physically pull the plug once in a while, just to make sure that everything still works (make sure you save any open documents first !).
Yes, I probably will. It'd be nice to see if it really does work, and I could do with testing the shutdown feature too (especially as I'm running Bulldog software as well).
Cheers.