Is this 1

[R3d3agl3]

Hello everyone,

My company's server is connected to the following UPS:

http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BK500EI&ISOCountryCode=gb

Last week we experienced a power surge and since the UPS could take it, it shut down (and consequently the server).
As you can see, the energy absortion for this UPS is 300 Joules, and I presume that the surge we experienced was greater than that.
To prevent this situation in the future and instead of buying a better and more expensive UPS, I was thinking about getting the following 1 outlet surge protector:

http://uk.insight.com/apps/productp...&nbs_search=C=110&S=1061&K=&lang=en-gb&M=&P=3

This surge protector provides an 1181 Joules energy absortion (more than the times the capacity of our UPS) right?
If this is true are the two following scenarios the same:
- Connecting this power surge to a normal n+1 outlet power rack and this power rack to the server.
- Connecting this surge protector directly to the server.

Thanks in advance!

 

[R3d3agl3]

Sorry, forgot to introduce the rest of the title header...

 

[cajuntank]

One thing you do not mention is what your server load in watts is. The UPS in question you reference is rated only at 300Watts. If your power supply or power supplies that you have connected to this UPS (server, monitor, switch, etc...) comes close to or exceeds 300W, then the UPS can't hold up squat.

Add up the total watts needed and use APC's selector

http://www.apcc.com/tools/ups_selector/index.cfm

for your total load and required uptime. Also, this will suggest the correct level of equipment to properly protect server level equipment rather than using or trying to use workstation level tech.

Hope that helps.

 

[R3d3agl3]

The UPS only feeds the server and when the power fails it keeps the server going for about 10 minutes. I've tested it.
The issue here is the power surges.

 

[FredWagner]

A big enough power surge can fry surge protectors. I had an installation back in the 1990's in a building where the Escalator motors malfunctioned. Trashed FAX's, printers, and turned a nice surge protector into charcoal, but the PC it was connected to survived, I just replaced the surge protector. For extra surge protection, and a larger sacrificial box between the wall and your equipoment, consider a Line Conditioner to the wall and the UPS to the line conditioner. You might want to find out what caused the big surge, and talk to an electrician about how to isolate your equipment from it in case it happens again.

Fred Wagner

 

[TonyDigital]

I don't think the problem is with the surge, I think the problem is from the UPS. The UPS is a smaller UPS and doesn't offer as much protection as the Smart UPSs. Do you have the budget to buy a better UPS?

 

[FredWagner]

Does the existing UPS still work at all? can you plug a small desk lamp into it ? Does the server work if you plug it into a surge protector instead of the UPS ? You may have damage to both the server and the UPS - you need to check both out thoroughly, and if the server is still working, get a new UPS, as TonyDigital suggests.

Fred Wagner

 

[R3d3agl3]

I've been busy with other situations and completely forgot this thread.
The UPS still works just fine, and from what I've seen, buying a n+1 power surge won't prevent the UPS from turning off in case of a big surge...
Indeed the best solution would be to buy a better UPS, but my boss loves the UPS we currently have and definetly won't release the funds for another one...
Any other (cheaper) sugestions?

Thanks for the replies

 

[FredWagner]

Consider adding a Line Conditioner ahead of the UPS - APC makdes two models, and they have an tapped transformer that automatically adjusts the output voltage in 2.5 volt steps. If your power problem is gradual changes in the line voltage, rather than instantaneous spikes, it could help. also, it you're handy with a soldering iron and take take your UPS offline for a couple of hours, consider replacing the MOV's and SAD's that probably got used up in the big surge they protected you from. If you're not handly with electronics hardware, a new UPS is the solution. compare that with the price of a new server and the downtime to get it purchased, installed, and restoring backups to if the situation that overloaded the UPS before recurs. Calculate the cost to the business if the server is destroyed by the next surge. It will make a new UPS look very inexpensive.

Fred Wagner

 

[TonyDigital]

Hey,



If your boss doesn't want to buy a new ups have you considered buying a refurbished ups online, on eBay or even locally through Craigslist or Kijiji? You can save a lot of money from buying new from APC or another manufacturer. Sometimes companies go out of business and sell their UPSs really cheap. You could pick up a really high quality unit for very cheap. Also, people get rid of them when their batteries are dead, so you pick it up cheap and replace the batteries. There are many ways to get some great prices on the higher end units.



T