[Discuss] UPSes

[Alan W. Irwin]

On 2006-12-12 11:25-0800 R. McFarlane wrote:

> 	The advantage to a SmartUPS model is that you get actually useful log 
> information. The BackUPS models don't tell you load or time remaining.

That is correct.  However, if you choose the correct signal cable for your
BackUPS (see my previous post on this issue), your software does have access
to the low battery signal which is really all you need to allow a smooth
shutdown of your hardware in those extremely rare cases (once per year or
less at least where we live) where the power outage is long enough to use up
your battery.

Of course, if you are trying to implement some complicated control scheme
that takes down more and more of your hardware as your UPS gets closer to
low battery you are going to need a SmartUPS.  But I doubt the vast majority
reading this post have such complicated needs.

Alan
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Alan W. Irwin

Astronomical research affiliation with Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Victoria (astrowww.phys.uvic.ca).

Programming affiliations with the FreeEOS equation-of-state implementation
for stellar interiors (freeeos.sf.net); PLplot scientific plotting software
package (plplot.org); the Yorick front-end to PLplot (yplot.sf.net); the
Loads of Linux Links project (loll.sf.net); and the Linux Brochure Project
(lbproject.sf.net).
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Linux-powered Science
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