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UPS

Buerkletucson

Buerkletucson

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 12, 2015
507
298
Minnesota
Just purchased a new custom build iMac 27" retina and should arrive early next week.

Do you guys recommend a UPS?
If so, what is a good brand to get?

Thanks....
 
What do you do with your Mac? Where do you live? How is the power grid? All those factors feed in to your question.

B
 
balamw said:
What do you do with your Mac? Where do you live? How is the power grid? All those factors feed in to your question.

B
Click to expand...

I'm asking generally if a UPS is a good purchase for a computer like the iMac.......not intending this to be an in depth discussion on my personal usage or location.......we all know that there are user variables.

Either a UPS is a good idea for the computer to prevent hard drive crash, OS crash, or application issues during a power outage or brown out........or it isn't.

If so, what is a good model to choose.
 
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PsyOpWarlord said:
Yes specifically for the reasons you already mentioned (power loss and brownouts).

Personally I always use an UPS on my computers, drives/storage, DVR, modem, and routers.

Currently I'm moving to and would recommend the CyberPower PFC Sinewave Series.

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Sinewave-Compatible-Mini-Tower/dp/B00429N19W/
Click to expand...

Thank you very much...

I was looking at various Amazon models myself and saw the exact model you mention.....I like the fact it puts out a sine wave rather than a chopped power like so many UPS units do.
You give me reassurance it would be a good choice.....thanks.
 
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I run a 2009 Mac Pro and 2009 iMac (and an ethernet hub) on an APC Back-UPS RS900 without the slightest problem. Everything has worked fine through over a dozen brief and extended outages over the years. I've had newer machines on that UPS as well, on occasion. Newer APC models would almost certainly work as well or better. I wouldn't get too worked up over stepped vs "pure" sine wave, unless you have some odd load. The RS900 has given no trouble over the years and is on its second battery. (When this battery goes, I might replace the unit just to get a couple points added efficiency.)

APC has been around a long time and is well respected. CyberPower has a good reputation also. Another good name brand is Tripp-lite. I'm sure there are other good ones but those are the three I know work well.

Edited to add: one distinguishing factor might be reporting. I couldn't care less; you might or might not want nice graphs and reports from your UPS. Since it's not an issue for me I can't say which ones have the best reporting. Also: another well known name I forgot to include is Eaton.
 
kschendel said:
I run a 2009 Mac Pro and 2009 iMac (and an ethernet hub) on an APC Back-UPS RS900 without the slightest problem. Everything has worked fine through over a dozen brief and extended outages over the years. I've had newer machines on that UPS as well, on occasion. Newer APC models would almost certainly work as well or better. I wouldn't get too worked up over stepped vs "pure" sine wave, unless you have some odd load. The RS900 has given no trouble over the years and is on its second battery. (When this battery goes, I might replace the unit just to get a couple points added efficiency.)

APC has been around a long time and is well respected. CyberPower has a good reputation also. Another good name brand is Tripp-lite. I'm sure there are other good ones but those are the three I know work well.

Edited to add: one distinguishing factor might be reporting. I couldn't care less; you might or might not want nice graphs and reports from your UPS. Since it's not an issue for me I can't say which ones have the best reporting. Also: another well known name I forgot to include is Eaton.
Click to expand...


Thanks for your response.....good information.

I think I'm going to get a pure sine wave unit though......I'm also going to use it on a security camera system that is susceptible to video noise if the input power isn't clean.

Thanks guys for your responses.....I think I'm going to pick up one of the Cyberpower 1500 units.
 
I have an old APC Back-UPS RS 1500 with the additional battery pack that I've been using for many years (maybe about 10-11 years). I've replaced all the batteries once. I do not use any of the APC software, instead, I just use the built-in support of OS X.

This UPS helped me greatly during Hurricane Sandy. It gave me time to shut down my entire system when we had our blackout which lasted about a week.

When the power came back on, some things in my apt that was not connected to a UPS or surge protector died from the initial surge. Everything that was on my UPS was fine.

So, do I recommend a UPC? Most definitely!
 
PsyOpWarlord said:
Yes specifically for the reasons you already mentioned (power loss and brownouts).

Personally I always use an UPS on my computers, drives/storage, DVR, modem, and routers.

Currently I'm moving to and would recommend the CyberPower PFC Sinewave Series.

http://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-CP1500PFCLCD-Sinewave-Compatible-Mini-Tower/dp/B00429N19W/
Click to expand...
I use this same one and have for years. I used to have nothing but APC SmartUPS systems, but the cost to functionality was too much to swallow. This has been very reliable, quiet in operation, the USB connection works great to my Synology NAS and plenty of power receive to shut everything down cleanly if needed and then run router and wireless etc for quite a while.
 
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my iMac never started on just an ordinary back UPS.
make sure you get a pure sine wave
 
kschendel said:
I run a 2009 Mac Pro and 2009 iMac (and an ethernet hub) on an APC Back-UPS RS900 without the slightest problem. Everything has worked fine through over a dozen brief and extended outages over the years. I've had newer machines on that UPS as well, on occasion. Newer APC models would almost certainly work as well or better. I wouldn't get too worked up over stepped vs "pure" sine wave, unless you have some odd load. The RS900 has given no trouble over the years and is on its second battery. (When this battery goes, I might replace the unit just to get a couple points added efficiency.)

APC has been around a long time and is well respected. CyberPower has a good reputation also. Another good name brand is Tripp-lite. I'm sure there are other good ones but those are the three I know work well.

Edited to add: one distinguishing factor might be reporting. I couldn't care less; you might or might not want nice graphs and reports from your UPS. Since it's not an issue for me I can't say which ones have the best reporting. Also: another well known name I forgot to include is Eaton.
Click to expand...

pastrychef said:
I have an old APC Back-UPS RS 1500 with the additional battery pack that I've been using for many years (maybe about 10-11 years). I've replaced all the batteries once. I do not use any of the APC software, instead, I just use the built-in support of OS X.

This UPS helped me greatly during Hurricane Sandy. It gave me time to shut down my entire system when we had our blackout which lasted about a week.

When the power came back on, some things in my apt that was not connected to a UPS or surge protector died from the initial surge. Everything that was on my UPS was fine.

So, do I recommend a UPC? Most definitely!
Click to expand...

i also use an APC UPS but I never got round on how to switch off the beeping tone that goes on when the UPS is on battery
on a windows pc one would load and use the software that comes with it to regulate if at all you want it to beep at certain set intervals

there is no alternative for MacS

even the built in Mac Power management software cannot rule over these beeps

therefore i wanted to ask how you are going about this one??
 
Some of the APC models can silence the beeper by simply pushing a button on the front. Check the manual or online for your model.

Keep in mind that the "sine-wave / stepped-wave" issue is only present when the load is actually running under UPS power during a power failure ... most of the time the load is simply running from the utility power mains. However, many computers employ "Active PFC" power supplies which require the smoother sine-wave power and don't do well with simply-stepped power input.

EDIT: Sorry ... I did a little research and discovered that current APC UPS units may not be able to have the alarm silenced by pressing the front button. I have some older units (along with newer ones) and used to go around and silence them during power outages by simply pressing the power button momentarily, since a bunch of them beeping would irritate the dog, cat, and us.
 
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The only person in the house who cares about an occasional beep for 15 or 20 minutes is the dog. :) I never bothered to find out if it could be silenced.

As for pure vs stepped, you'll find endless arguments about it on the web. My APC experience is that computers aren't nearly as susceptible as some would have you think. Having said that, there's nothing especially wrong with the Cyberpower units that I know of, so if it makes you feel better (or if you have good reason, such as the above mentioned security camera) by all means go for it.
 
i use the this one...no silent beep button

but works well with my iMac and other powered Mac accessories (external speakers, extra monitors etc)
can shut down my iMac via Energy Saving setting on your preferred set times using supplied USB cable
 

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I received my Cyberpower 1500 unit.....
Boy this thing is pretty sweet, I like all the features and feedback, just wish it had software support for the Apple world.

I'm happy with my choice of getting a pure sine wave unit.......maybe not necessary for my iMac but it is for my security cameras.

61PAWxNDKzL._SX522_.jpg
 
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Tulani said:
Please explain more and how to use on a mac
Click to expand...

I don't have the Management software, I don't have the UPS connected via USB. I shut down manually.

I did purchase a APC specific serial cable and I ssh into the card and set IP of what I wanted. I did have a Windows version of the APC software Powerchute and there is an option to silence alarm.
 
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