I have a related question and I hope Susan doesn't mind my semi-hijacking her thread...

How many of you who use battery back up units use the software and connection (either USB or Serial) with it? I have an APC which connects to the computer via USB, but I disconnected the USB cable and disabled the software in the start up apps because I thought it was causing problems during recording/mixing when it was communicating with the unit. I don't know how often it "polled" the unit, but I had no control over it and thought it best to disable it. so my backup runs in manual mode only.

I never let the UPC speak to my system.

And in fact I was holding off saying it until Frank mentioned it but the UPS I used was retired FOR GOOD the day it smoldered and then burst into open flames as I was walking it out of my studio.

I felt like I must of overworked it but the failure mode was way not cool.

Now that systems like WinXP aren't trashed by cold reboots I hardly care about a UPS. I just don't see a need.


best regards,
mike

i would not bother with the software. unless you leave work open without saving you don't need it to hibernate your computer (and do you really want to turn hibernation on? probably not).

i use them because there are frequent power fluctuations where i live and i'd just rather not be in the middle of a session and have a reboot. i'm not about to go out and buy a power conditioner but i prefer to spend the $60 and know that i won't have to worry about power failures.

+1
Mine isn't speaking to my PC either..

I looked in the owners manual for my PC's power supply and it says that it is not compatible with "simulated sine wave" UPS units.

Of course they are usually less money.

True sine wave UPS is bigger $$$.....

ORIGINAL: WaveScape

I looked in the owners manual for my PC's power supply and it says that it is not compatible with "simulated sine wave" UPS units.

Of course they are usually less money.

True sine wave UPS is bigger $$$.....

Another good reason to avoid them... go big or don't bother. Also, be glad your computer has good taste, it doesn't like bad sound quality either. Even if it's just listening to a single low note (60hz) it still doesn't want a distorted low sample rate mess, it wants to hear a nice smooth wave. LOL !!

Thanks for all the great feedback!

I'm probably going to keep doing what I'm doing, which is to shut down/unplug when I know nasty weather is approaching. I can shut down my PC remotely from work, which is better than nothing.

The inquiry was really more for my Dad than me. He's in Florida and they've had some pretty violent storms lately. His modem and PC got zapped by a lightning strike recently (although his electricity stayed on, oddly enough) and he asked me what I use . I had an episode recently that blew out only my NIC card, so I was wondering for myself, too.

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Is there something that specifically protects against "zaps" like these (without causing a fire hazard itself?)?

I'll pass along a synopsis of what you all say and see where he wants to go from there.

Thanks again-

-Susan

ORIGINAL: Beagle

How many of you who use battery back up units use the software and connection

I see no need for software to turn my machine off for me. My new UPS has any info I need right on the display on the UPS.

ORIGINAL: Susan G

Maybe I'm asking the wrong question. Is there something that specifically protects against "zaps" like these

Some surge and spike protectors have ports for all the connections between your PC and the outside world. If on a tight budget, they are better than nothing. Keep in mind if the lightning is close enough, nothing short disconnecting everything from the PC is going to protect it. Even then, under the right circumstances lighting can do some pretty amazing stuff.

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue ~ Now that systems like WinXP aren't trashed by cold reboots I hardly care about a UPS. I just don't see a need.

I'm sitting here looking at a WD1200 disk that has pix of my grandkids and a whole flurry of music that is now a paperweight due to 2 abrupt power outs.

ORIGINAL: mwd

ORIGINAL: mike_mccue ~ Now that systems like WinXP aren't trashed by cold reboots I hardly care about a UPS. I just don't see a need.

I'm sitting here looking at a WD1200 disk that has pix of my grandkids and a whole flurry of music that is now a paperweight due to 2 abrupt power outs.

I've got one of those! With a YEAR'S worth of my sonar files that I did not have backed up!

Some surge and spike protectors have ports for all the connections between your PC and the outside world. If on a tight budget, they are better than nothing. Keep in mind if the lightning is close enough, nothing short disconnecting everything from the PC is going to protect it. Even then, under the right circumstances lighting can do some pretty amazing stuff.

I think Steve is saying this as well here, but really the only way to protect your equipment from lightning strikes is to unplug it from the power completely. Even if you don't have your computer or whatever turned on, if lightning runs thru your electrical wiring in your house, you will very likely suffer loss. the UPS systems (which actually for home use is kind of an oxymoron since it's NOT really UNINTERUPTABLE, but that's a different rant) and surge protectors will help with some spikes, but they can't always stop lightning, especially if it's a direct strike. The MAIN function of a battery backup system is to allow you to shut down safely in the event of a power outage.