Ups

[Ragsy]

I just got a APC UPS for my HR10-250 Tivo unit. I have had several power outages recently. Anyway, my question is this. Do I do anything other than just plugging the Tivo into the UPS? There are numerous cables that come with the UPS including coaxial cable, USB cable, cable for modem, etc. as well as software. I am assuming that all this extra stuff would be used to connect the UPS to a computer, but my guess is that none of it applies to the Tivo. Am I correct? Also, since the Tivo does not like to be shut down ever, does the UPS still protect the unit when the battery runs out on the UPS during a power outage? Does it somehow shut the unit down in a less catastrophic way than the initial power outage would if not protected by a UPS?

[litzdog911]

Right, none of that stuff applies for your DVR. Just plug in your UPS and connect your DVR to the UPS's outlet. And yes, you'll have better protection even if your UPS's battery runs dead because the UPS will isolate your DVR from damaging over/under-voltage conditions and transients.

[Ragsy]

Thanks Litzdog. Will do. By the way. is it important to have a UPS connected to my Mac laptop which already has a battery backup built in? I turn the mac off whenever I'm not using it but I do leave it plugged in so it is rechraging all the time. Also, what's the smallest voltage backup that makes sense to hook up to a computer or older Tivo unit? I installed the APC500R to the HR10-250. I believe that is 300 watts. Can I use the smaller APC 350 (200 watts) for the old Series One Tivo and Apple laptop and have it be useful? I know the battery backup will be for a shorter time, but I'm not concerned about that with the mac and older Tivo.

[JimSpence]

I have my DSL modem connected to a UPS so during a power outage I can still surf with my lap top, which I just use on its battery. If the outage is too long then I just take a nap or go to bed. BTW, my powered multiswitch is on a UPS.

[jlib]

The laptop would only benefit from any surge protection the UPS provides. You could just get a small surge protector designed for laptops. But Jim makes a good point that it is good to have modems and routers on a UPS otherwise you lose your network.

The 350VA is more than enough capacity for TiVo because the main purpose is not so much to get hours of runtime but to prevent the blips and momentary outages with subsequent surges. Very rarely do I ever get a long-term outage but I sometimes get momentary ones. I think some sort of small UPS is essential especially this time of year.

Don't worry too much about graceful shut down. When the UPS battery reaches a certain point the output is simply turned of. So, if it really is a long-term outage the TiVo just shuts off and will start back up when power returns and the battery will recharge. Although most people do not get a warm fuzzy at the notion of just uplugging what is essentially a computer with a hard drive, that really is as graceful of a shut down as is needed. The TiVo uses a journaled file system so as long as you keep surges away from it simply turning it off is not a problem.

One thing that annoys me on the APC models is the loud buzzer (louder than my alarm clock) they use to indicate you are on battery power (as if you wouldn't know the power is out). A drop of silicone caulking on the hole on the buzzer muffled that to barely audible.

[Ragsy]

Jlib:

Thanks for the good information. I appreciate it. Nice suggestion on muffling the sound on the UPS!

[HiDefGator]

I thought all the modern APC UPS's came with software that can be used to configure them not to make any noise ever. That's how I silenced all of mine. After they are configured you can disconnect them from the computer.

On the old APC UPS's you could grab the buzzer with a pair of pliers and just twist it off. there are inly two small solder connections holding it on.

[Ragsy]

Can you really configure the battery backup via computer and then disconnect it from the computer and have the battery itself save those settings. I thought that the software in the computer was what controlled the battery and that you had to have it hooked up to the computer for the various settings to apply. I would like to disable the warning sound on the battery and if I can do that by attaching the computer to the battery temporarily to make the setting and then disconnect the computer, I will do that. That doesn't quite make sense to me, however.

[johnfl]

I've done the channel lock plier squish on my buzzer before..nice silencer...

On another note, I just ordered two APC750VA 450 watt backup's for 59.99 final cost each (after rebates, 20 instant, 20 mail in)from Compusa...not bad. Getting two tipped me into the free shipping category. Offer only good till 12/23...Unless you live in Utah, then it 1/23...
Model #BE750BB

[HiDefGator]

yes. Once you configure it with the computer for no noise it remembers the settings. You can even unplug it from the wall and move it. Still remembers. Ain't technology great. It only needs the computer connection to gracefully shutdown the computer before the battery runs out.