UPS Advice

[Jawloms]

Hi All,

 

I've had a Google and everything I can find seems to assume you know what you're talking about! I'm after a UPS. It needs to power a small server which has a 500W PSU in it and I'd like it to run it for about 10 minutes. How do I figure out what I want?

 

Thank you

 

Stuart

[Mark182]

Something like this ? Or do you want a rack-mounted one?

[3s-gtech]

You'll want around a 1kVA UPS

 

https://www.apc.com/shop/uk/en/tools/ups_selector/server/load/recommendations?power=500&powerUnit=w&operatingVoltage=230&voltageScheme=singlePhase&runtime=10&powerMargin=0&pageNumber=1&sortOption=PRICE_ASC

[Chaniel]

Most manufacturers have a runtime calculator on their website

 

e.g. https://www.apc.com/shop/uk/en/tools/ups_selector/server/load or https://www.cyberpowersystems.com/tools/runtimes/

 

What you have to factor in is that your server will have a 500W PSU, but it will not be drawing anywhere near that under a normal load so you will likely get a longer runtime. (e.g. one of our servers has dual 700W PSU's, but under a normal load they only use about 150W). For you, I'd probably go with a 1kVA UPS

 

This explains the calculations quite well imo: Company Seven | The UPS And Determining The Required Capacity

[Jawloms]

Thanks all, very helpful as ever. I tried the APC calculator and (presumably I did something wrong but can't see what) it told me that there were no results!

[mikkydoos]

Have a look at the APC SmartConnect ones. Ive got a couple of 1500va ones here. Cloud interface is handy.

[mavhc]

What shape do you want? Rack mounted or large brick? Do you want to expand in the future? Probably not, so the cheapest thing will be fine.

 

Get a plug in energy monitor to found out how much power you actually use, check during shutdown though, as that's what you'll be doing. https://www.amazon.co.uk/FLOUREON-Monitor-230V-250V-Consumption-Calculator/dp/B01DSQ30FO

 

Then you want control, to tell the server to shut down, USB if it's just one server, network if it's multiple

[mikemcsharry]

Hopefully this is the right place to ask a related question.

We had serious time and budget constraints and now have a APC Back-UPS Pro 1500 on a 2012R2 server.

AS it's not a smart UPS it doesn't have the APC PowerChute software.

The server has recognised it, and I'm currently trying to work out the best settings in the power plan options.

Its powering a Dell PowerEdge T430 and looks like on normal running the UPS is only at about 20% load.

 

I'm trying to work through the powerplans to set the UPS and the server up correctly - been looking for some general guidance notes, but can't find anything.

Does anyone have any ideas / thoughts on this?

Many thanks

[3s-gtech]

Essentially, I would try to setup the server so that it begins shut down when the UPS gets to a low level - not so low that it doesn't finish shutdown (which can take a while depending on services) but not too long or it'll shut down during a short blip. I'd look at shutting down when the runtime reaches 5 minutes or so. I haven't used the Windows power options to do this though - only ever used APCUPSD.

[mikemcsharry]

Thanks for that I was thinking along same lines. I'll do a controlled shutdown of the server at the first chance and see how long it takes.

I suspect longer than 5 minutes, but things shutting down always seem to take longer when you watch them!!

[mavhc]

Or when they have updates to install. Question is when the power goes out, how long before it comes back? 1 second? 1 minute? 10 mins? 1 hour?