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(More customer reviews)WHY I NEED THE UPS
I actually purchased this to keep a printer from losing power. After considerable research on color printers with an eye on cost-effective consumables, I purchased the Xerox Phaser 8550. It is not laser (I have a color and B+W already) and it's not inkjet (I have a couple of HPs for that). This Phaser uses wax ink technology. Why am I telling you all this? Because this particular printer should not be shut off. If the power goes off, any melted wax is purged, which can be costly. The advice is don't buy or even turn on the wax printer without backup power.
This caveat was the primary source of any negative reviews along with consumable consumption for full-page photos. To print gorgeous digital photos, use a high-resolution inkjet printer. At 2400 dpi, the Phaser 8550 does a great job also but requires considerable wax, which does not absorb into the paper. Therefore, on close examination you can see tiny dots. Whereas, at the same resolution, ink absorbs into paper, subtly diffusing the dots so images appear nearly continuous tone. I consider the Phaser to be a workhorse for general purpose color printing requiring minimal non-expiring consumables. The Xerox Phaser 7750 color laser printer prints continuous tone but has no less than 14 consumables and an annual service contract that exceeds the price of the 8550.
The Phaser 8550 has a maximum peak of 1500W but averages only 230W. I imagine the printer would reach its peak as the motor powers up or perhaps in the middle of multi-page duplex imaging. Most of the time it is in Energy Saver mode. I considered a UPS (uninterruptible power source) rated to withstand 1500W but it was more than double the price of the ULTRA UPS 2000 VA which handles 1200W. Having a power outage during the slight window of opportunity when the printer reaches its peak seems like a negligible risk. I am more concerned with keeping the machine on standby during a 30-minute blackout.
POWER TO SPARE
For computer systems, the 25-pound ULTRA UPS 2000 VA POWER PROTECTION UNIT claims 80 to 90 minutes of backup power. The manual does not recommend connecting computer equipment AND a laser printer because the draw from the later could exceed capacity.
A bright LED on the front displays the current level of power. For my area it fluctuates between 115 and 120 volts. Colorful graphics indicate when battery is on (yellow battery) or if there is an overload (red tipped scale). Most often everything is green with a battery level indicator. This UPS also includes advanced battery management. It switches to power saver mode and intelligently recharges its battery. The faceplate can easily be removed. Why? I don't know. There is a set of small wires to illuminate the LED between it and the base.
As far as design goes, it is slightly more attractive than a shoe box -- more function than beauty. BELKIN typically has more elegant designs; I have one for my CPU. Moving to the back of the ULTRA, there are 4 black backup power outlets and 2 white outlets for surge protection only. The unit includes a circuit breaker, a USB port, along with Ethernet (RJ11/RJ45) In and Out ports. A USB cable and some phone wire come in the box. Connect the USB cable to your computer to monitor power failures and schedule system shutdown.
SOFTWARE
UPSMON power management software for Window 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Server 2003, Novell Netware and Linux is included on CD. The software boasts the following features.
* Automatic shutdown
* Broadcast power abnormal status
* Schedule system shutdown/reboots
* Graphical display of power quality
* Smart save files
* Tracks power events
There is no software for any flavor of Mac OS. Mac OS X includes basic UPS options in its Energy Saver preferences. But my computer is not connected to this UPS so all those options are not useful anyway.
BONUSES
A nice feature of the ULTRA is that the backup power beep can be muted with a tap of the power button. This is a nice way of telling the unit: 'OK, I heard you but can't do anything about it.' If the power is off too long and the unit approaches overload, it is designed to shrill even if muted so you (or the software automatically) can shut down your equipment.
The manufacturer is confident enough to include a non-transferable 3-year warranty. I have had some UPS units lose their ability to charge after as little as one year. I made the purchase with an Advanta Platinum MasterCard which doubles the length of product warranties so I should be protected for 6 years. ULTRAalso includes an eye-catching but mostly academic lifetime $125,000 connected equipment warranty. The fine print indicates they are only liable for the lessor of original cost (supported by receipt) or current market value -- whichever is less. Which do you think will be used in the event of a loss?
I purchased this for very special needs. Obviously, the form factor is not rack mountable for server installations. But if you want to backup a high-power personal computer, LCD monitor, and a couple of peripherals, the ULTRA UPS 2000 VA should deliver plenty of power.
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UPDATE: The day after writing this review, I experienced a 5-minute blackout while the printer was sleeping. It and my computer, plugged into a separate UPS, retained power.
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Product Description:
The Ultra 2000VA 1200 Watts Backup UPS with AVR is the most complete, technologically advanced power protection available. It is an ideal solution for those running small servers, workstations, and powerful PCs. The Ultra 2000VA offers automatic voltage regulation (AVR), line interactive design, a USB communication port, alarms for battery backup, low battery and overload, an energy saving function, automatic charging when UPS is off, and more. It has a backup time of about 65 minutes and features a digital display on the front panel for status info.
The battery is sealed, maintenance-free lead acid and charges to 90% of full capacity in six hours. 2100 Joules of spike protection is offered, as is surge protection for telephone, Ethernet, and coaxial connections.
The Ultra 2000VA 1200 Watts Backup UPS w/ AVR carries a $125,000 guarantee against damage to connected equipment.
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