Keep on Running

Keep on Running

An important part of any business continuity strategy is maintaining the electricity supply to your equipment. Uninterruptible power supply devices keep the power pumping

• Guide price 800VA £80
• Power options 800, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000VA
• Backup time (800VA) at 100% load >5 mins
• Type Offline
• Alarms Power loss, battery condition and overload
• Interface Serial
• Connectors 4 AC outlets
• Battery replacement User replaceable
• Suppressor Single phone line
• Software PowerShield (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Max OS X, Novell, Unix, Solaris, Linux)
• Size 140×370×180mm
• Weight 13.5kg
• Pro Powerful offline design
• Con No USB interface

A chunky fella, the Riello NetDialog 80 is a robust device and ideal for small workgroups

The NetDialog UPSs provide a good offline run time. They may be chunky but they can still be placed under or on a desk to power a single PC or cluster of hardware. The indicators show battery failure, overload and operating mode. There are no bar style indicators to show charge or load. Boost and buck circuits regulate the output even when not on battery power and there are surge suppressed telephone connectors. Connection to a PC is via a serial port, but you can opt for an SNMP module and there is an optional serial-to-USB convertor.

PowerShield is provided and this can be used to automatically shut down multiple machines in a specific order. You can also schedule power on/off events.

Verdict This is a robust UPS suitable for protecting a small workgroup of machines.

Gamatronic G-ME 1000
www.gamatronic.com

• Guide price 1,000VA £75
• Power options 650, 750, 1,000, 1,500VA
• Backup time (1,000VA) at 100% load >10 mins
• Type Offline
• Alarms Power loss and overload
• Interface Serial
• Connectors 2 AC outlets
• Battery replacement Not user-replaceable
• Suppressor Single phone line
• Software UPSilon (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Novell, Linux, FreeBSD)
• Size 375×125×197mm
• Weight 11.5kg
• Pro Stylish, solid design
• Con No USB interface

Gamatronic claims its stylish G-ME 1000 UPS is efficient and advanced

In black, this is a stylish but chunky UPS. It is most suitable for use under a desk but it could sit on the top next to the equipment without looking out of place. An offline UPS with boost and buck circuits, it claims to be particularly efficient and advanced. The front panel shows when the mains is being boosted or reduced to keep it within tolerance. A low battery indicator is provided but not a load or charge bar type display. The UPS will power down after a few minutes if the power is switched off and it isn’t connected to a load.

With a single serial interface and the included UPSilon management software, the unit is more than adequate to look after a single machine. The G-ME 1000 range provides a wide choice of loads and good run time.

Verdict A good choice for powering a workgroup of kit.

Liebert PowerSure PSI
www.emerson-ups.co.uk

• Guide price 1,000VA £280
• Power options 1,440, 2,200, 3,000VA
• Backup time (1,000VA) at 100% load >10 mins
• Type Offline
• Alarms Power loss and overload
• Interface USB, serial
• Connectors 8 AC outlets
• Battery replacement User serviceable hot swap
• Suppressor Single phone line
• Software Multilink (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Novell, Linux, FreeBSD)
• Size 87×557×430mm (2U)
• Weight 28kg
• Pro Expandable and manageable
• Con Offline design

The Liebert PowerSure can sit in a a rack or stand alone

This PowerSure model can be mounted in a rack (2U) or, if you fit the feet provided, you can stand it up in a tower configuration. A rackmounting kit is provided as standard and there is a removable front panel (not fitted in the photo).

This is an offline power supply plus boost and buck circuits and sufficient filtering to keep the supply within close limits even when not working in battery mode. The design of the large models in the range features a DC-to-DC convertor which feeds a higher DC voltage to the invertor so that it can product a mains voltage AC more efficiently. Notice that the higher powered units in the range have a reduced run time compared to the 1,000VA model. You can add extra batteries packaged in similar rackmounting 2U modules to give up to 4 hours at full load. The batteries are user replaceable and can be hot swapped, with the usual precautions in place.

The front panel has lots of indicator LEDs that show the current state and operating mode. Load and battery level are shown and a buck/boost indicator shows the state of the input power. You can set the input voltage from the front panel. A remote power off switch is also available as an option. USB and serial connectors are standard but you can also fit a network-based SNMP/web card to allow remote monitoring. The standard software supplied with the unit, Multilink, provides monitoring and the ability to shut down the machine on power failure. The OpenComms package also provides network-based management for multiple UPSs.

Verdict A good choice for a rack-mounted offline UPS with optional advanced management features.

APC Backup-UPS CS
www.apc.com

• Guide price 350VA £45
• Power options 350, 500, 650VA
• Backup time (350VA) at 100% load >6 mins
• Type Offline
• Alarms Power loss, low battery and overload
• Interface USB
• Connectors 3 AC outlets +1 surge protected
• Battery replacement User replaceable
• Suppressor Single phone line
• Software Windows power management (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista)
• Size 165×91×284mm
• Weight 5.73kg
• Pro Familiar Windows power management
• Con Non-standard USB connector

The APC UPS can sit on or under a desk and uses familiar Windows power management

This is a very small UPS suitable for placing on or under a desk and looking after a single PC or other equipment. For such a small unit, it has three outlets and a surge suppressed outlet. It also has one surge suppression connector for a phone line. A simple set of indicator lights shows mode of operation, overload and battery replacement. The USB connector on the power supply is non-standard and takes the form of a phone socket. When you plug the UPS into a standard Windows system it is recognised as a USB connected power supply and installed. From this point you can use the usual Windows power management utility to monitor the machine and shut down in the event of a power failure.

This makes the PC look to the user as if it was a portable running on batteries, which may not be flexible but is very easy to use.

If you want to do more, then a copy of PowerChute personal is included, but in most cases the standard Windows power management should be sufficient. You can also set the threshold voltage using the front panel switches. In practice you shouldn’t have to modify these unless you have some serious problems with the mains supply – in which case fixing the problem with the supply is the better option. There is no ability to deal with a remote UPS or handle multiple machines connected to the same UPS.

Verdict The quality of this UPS and the simplicity of the software make this a good choice for a single machine.

Chloride Active 1000-19
www.chloridepower.com

• Guide price 1,000VA £600
• Power options 700, 1,000, 2,000, 3,000VA
• Backup time (1,000VA) at 100% load >7 mins
• Type Online
• Alarms Power loss, battery low and overload
• Interface Serial, USB
• Connectors 4 AC outlets
• Battery replacement User replaceable
• Suppressor None
• Software MopUPS (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Linux, AIX, Solaris, HP-UX)
• Size 87×482×448mm (2U)
• Weight 14kg
• Pro High quality power
• Con More than enough for some applications

The Chloride Active 1000-19 will keep your mission-critical servers powered up

The Active online UPSs include tower and 2U rackmount units. They feature battery expansion to enable them to power the load for long periods. The 1000-19 rackmount unit comes with a rackmounting kit. It has a large front panel indicator that shows the current mode of operation in the form of a power flow diagram – either the mains flowing through the UPS, the battery powering the UPS or bypassed.

The indicators also show the load and the batteries’ charge state. The 1000-19 can have two extra 2U battery modules added to give at least 45 minutes run time at 100 per cent load. The external batteries connect to the main unit by a simple plug-in cable. Power regulation is good at +/- 3 per cent and there is no delay in swapping to battery backup. The specifications claim a good conversion efficiency of better than 86 per cent. You can use either a serial or a USB connection to a PC or opt for an SNMP card. The MopUPS Professional software supplied allows multiple servers to be shut down automatically under the control of a single UPS.

Verdict An excellent choice for mission-critical servers.

Tripp LiteSmartOnline SU6000RT3UHV
www.tripplite.com

• Guide price 6,000VA $4,299
• Power options 5,000, 6,000, 10,000VA
• Backup time standard battery at 100% load 8 mins
• Type Online
• Alarms Power loss, low battery and overload
• Interface Serial
• Connectors Terminal bock
• Battery replacement Modular
• Suppressor None
• Software PowerAlert (Windows 2000, 2003, XP, Vista)
• Size 133×445×660mm (6U)
• Weight 19.7kg
• Pro Neat and expandable
• Con No USB connection

This Tripp model is a true online UPS with the output frequency locked to the input mains

This is a large, 6U, powerful online power supply designed to be rack-mounted although they can be used in tower mode. The standard unit comes in the form of two 3U modules – a controller and a battery module. A third transformer module is required in some applications.

Extra 3U battery modules can be fitted to extend the running time. This is a true online UPS with the output frequency locked to the input mains. It can regulate the output to within 2 per cent of specification over a wide range of over/under voltage conditions without needing to use the battery.

An LCD display can be used to configure the unit – input/output voltage and frequency. An automatic bypass circuit takes over if the UPS fails. A remote power off switch is provided. Connection to a server is via two serial ports. PowerAlert software can monitor multiple UPSs and it provides prioritised load shedding.

Verdict A good choice for a server room where you need an expandable, reliable power source.

Gamatronic Power SA
www.gamatronic.com

• Guide price 10,000VA £1,400
• Power options 10,000VA
• Backup time 8kW battery at 100% load 11 mins
• Type Online
• Alarms General, details in log
• Interface Serial
• Connectors 3 AC outlets
• Battery replacement Modules
• Suppressor None
• Software UPSilon (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Novell, Linux, FreeBSD)
• Size 450×260×600mm
• Weight 18kg
• Pro Flexible, modular and online
• Con Documentation could be better

At the top of the price range, the Power SA is just the thing for mission-critical applications

The Power SA is an advanced UPS system. It separates the power and control electronics from the battery packs which are mounted in separate cabinets. The power and control unit takes the form of a tower unit complete with floor-standing foot. It is an online design which supplies a clean 1 or 3 phase output to the load. It claims a conversion efficiency of 94 per cent and can work with input voltages -25 to +15 per cent out of specification. The same main unit can be used with 3-phase input to provide a 3-phase or single phase output or with a simple single phase supply.

You can also use multiple power units in parallel to increase the supported load in units of 10,000VA. The redundant units can be hot swapped, subject to the remaining units being able to supply the power drain. Battery modules can be fitted to increase the run time to as much as 50 minutes on full load.

A large LCD display provides lots of information such as supply voltage, frequency, and so on. You can select which part of the system you are viewing – input, output, battery status, etc. A general alarm is sounded and you can find out what the problem is by looking at the internal log on the LCD. The log can store 200 entries.  You can connect the UPS to a PC via a serial port or you can fit an optional SNMP management card. You can also fit a phone card which will keep you in touch using a standard mobile phone without the use of a PC as an intermediary.

Verdict A flexible modular system; ideal for use in any mission-critical application that is likely to grow in power consumption.

Chloride Desk Power Plus
www.chloridepower.com

• Guide price 1,000VA £150
• Power options 1,400VA
• Backup time (1,000VA) at 75% load >5 mins
• Type Offline
• Alarms Power loss, battery low and overload
• Interface Serial
• Connectors 4 AC outlets
• Battery replacement User replaceable
• Suppressor Single phone line
• Software MopUPS (Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP)
• Size 140×368×160mm
• Weight 13.8kg
• Pro Small size and good value
• Con No USB interface

The Chloride Desk Power Plus fits neatly under a desk

This is a fairly standard offline UPS that would fit easily under a desk. The front panel lights show current operating mode and battery charge level. Four output sockets are provided and there is a phone line surge suppressor. Buck and boost circuits are used to regulate the input voltage without using the battery when the unit is running off the mains. It features a “Green Power Function” which switches the UPS off after 5 minutes if the mains fails and the UPS has no load connected. This is useful if users are in the habit of switching off their PCs and then later switching off the mains to the UPS. A single serial interface is provided to connect it to a PC.

A licence to use MopUPS Express is provided but you have to download the software from a web site (you can ask for a CD copy). The software can manage a single PC/UPS combination including auto-shutdown and monitoring. There are no options for extending the management of the UPS.

Verdict Green Power Function makes it a good choice for securing a standalone workstation.