[ale] help providing stable power to pc's to ride through storms

[Ron Frazier (ALE)]

Hi Mike,

Gulp. I was afraid someone would mention this.

Actually, thanks for the information and the links. I'll certainly consider that. However, I'm not quite sure I'm willing to pony up ~ $1000+ to solve this particular problem. Then there's also the issue of replacing the batteries every 5 years or so.

Even if I was willing to do that, do you believe these type of units have enough surge protection to run during a strong lightning storm? From a technology point of view, I think it would be really cool to have a UPS like the ones you described on my home system.

I was thinking more in the range of $ 300. Maybe a $ 150 synchronous motor connected to a $ 150 generator with a $ 10 belt and sitting on a piece of plywood. That wouldn't solve the problem of running for hours with the main power off, but it would provide complete electrical isolation between the house power system and the computers which could survive all but the most severe surges, ie, those that burn out the motor. My existing UPS could absorb several blackouts and brownouts under a minute in length.

Sincerely,

Ron


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Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com


Mike Harrison <cluon at geeklabs.com> wrote:

On Mon, 21 May 2012, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> I need some electrical power advice. It's possible you will give me the 
> answer and I won't be able to afford it, but I'd like to know what you 
> think.

Your power bill probably reflects your need to have everything running all 
the time. But that's another issue.

Buy a real UPS. Not a home or prosumer APC, but a real one.
I think the trip-lite online ones are a great value.

http://www.tripplite.com/en/products/product-series.cfm?txtSeriesID=937

These and many others should be easy to monitor via SNMP,
and shut down nicely as they hit low battery capacity.

Two examples of SNMP monitoring a UPS in a minimal fashion:

http://www.geeklabs.com/index.php?mode=articles&submode=comments&uniq=26
http://www.geeklabs.com/index.php?mode=articles&submode=comments&uniq=17


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