Choosing a budget UPS

Stable nutrition is a guarantee of good health. If we apply this rule to the work of electronics and equipment, then uninterruptible power supplies ( UPS ) are responsible for their "health". Unfortunately, the need for UPS is still not obvious to everyone. Here is one of the common myths: an ordinary surge protector will also protect against power surges. Perhaps, but then the parameters of such a jump should then be in a very narrow range. In life, this is far from the case, and it is not at all possible to control the range with a filter.

And if we are talking about power outages? In such cases, the filter is generally helpless. The UPS protects equipment from power surges and equipment failures caused by them, ensuring the reliability and stability of the electronics. And most importantly: it saves the pockets - the equipment that was released as a result of jumps in the electrical network, as a rule, loses the warranty. Therefore, a good uninterruptible power supply should provide a decent level of protection against surprises of the Russian electrical network. The importance of this is recognized by more and more private users and almost all the business. But the question is: which UPS to choose?

In this review, we will look at UPSs in the budget and medium price category for domestic power grids with a voltage of 220 Volts, 50 Hertz: APC Back-UPS CS 500VA, PowerCom Warrior WAR-500A, Tripp Lite PRO550X, Ippon Back Power Pro 500, APC Back-UPS ES 525VA Russia.

Comparative table of device characteristics

Manufacturer	APC	Ippon	Powercom	Tripp lite	APC
Model	BACK-UPS CS 500VA 230V (BK500EI)	Back Power Pro 500	Warrior WAR-500A	PRO550X	Back-UPS ES 525VA Russia
Type of	Reserve (stand-by); frequency and voltage at the output are determined by the frequency and voltage at the input	Line-interactive; provides stabilization of the output voltage; the frequencies at the input and output coincide	Line-interactive; provides stabilization of the output voltage; the frequencies at the input and output coincide	Line-interactive; provides stabilization of the output voltage; the frequencies at the input and output coincide	Line-interactive; provides stabilization of the output voltage; the frequencies at the input and output coincide
Rated output voltage	230V	230V	230V	230V	230V
Charging time	6 o'clock	4 hours	6 o'clock	11.25 hours	5 o'clock
Full load time	5 minutes	5 minutes	8 min	4 min	4 min
Maximum power output	500 VA	500 VA	500 VA	550 VA	525 VA
Effective battery power	300 watts	300 watts	250 watts	275 watts	300 watts
Overload protection	there is	there is	there is	there is	there is
High Voltage Impulse Protection	there is	there is	there is	there is	there is
Indication	there is	Not	there is	there is	there is
Short circuit protection	there is	there is	there is	there is	there is
PC control	there is	there is	Not	Not	there is
Reaction time	4-8ms	3 ms	4 ms	5 ms	4 ms
Inputs / Outputs	1 IEC 320 C13 connector (Surge Protection); 3 IEC 320 C13 connectors (Battery backup power); 2 IEC Jumpers (Battery Backup Power) communication line protection	3 IEC 320 C13 connectors (3 of them are battery powered)	2 IEC 320 C13 connectors (2 of which are battery powered)	2 IEC 320 C13 connectors (2 of which are battery powered)	4 CEE 7 connectors (euro socket) (of which battery-powered - 3) 1 CEE 7 connector (Surge Protection)
Max. pulse energy absorbed	310 joules	320 J	460 J	225 j	180 j
AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation)	not	there is	there is	there is	there is
Input voltage	180 - 260 V	165 - 275 V	165 - 253 V	160 - 280 V	160 - 280 V
Dimensions	91x165x284 mm	100x140x330 mm	91x125x254 mm	225x76x133 mm
Weight	6.32 kg	6 kg	4.45 kg	4.2 kg	7.32 kg
Price	3,094 rubles	1 788 rub.	1 529 rub.	2 468 rub.	3 584 rub.

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APC Back-UPS CS 500VA (BK500-RS)

UPS backup type APC Back-UPS CS 500VA (BK500-RS) has been produced for 10 years, and during this time managed to earn respect among knowledgeable people for their reliability and quality. First, the device has already passed a hardware revision, as a result of which a lot of improvements were made. The reliability checked by time - one of the most important characteristics of this model. Secondly, the quality of the components: hundreds of UPSs of this type, purchased five years ago, are still “plowed” with standard batteries. For 5 years, it loses only 30% of the initial capacity.

A backup type UPS (they are also Off-line, Back UPS, Standby, Passive Standby) assumes the availability of a backup support circuit that can be switched by the automation in abnormal situations. In normal mode, power is supplied from an external electrical network directly with filtering of voltage surges and electromagnetic pickups by passive filters. If the power characteristics exceed the standard voltage values ​​or there is a power outage, the consumer equipment is reconnected by the UPS automatics (usually a relay) to the power supply circuit, which ensures the supply of electricity from the built-in batteries through the built-in inverter. When the voltage stabilizes to standard values, the automatic switches the power supply circuit back to power supply from the primary external power grid.

The advantages of APC Back-UPS CS 500VA include PC management using APC proprietary software, rather high resistance to electrical overload, protection of communication lines, and a large number of power outputs compared to competitors.
The drawbacks of the presented model is a decent reaction time (the switching time of the automation to battery power), which is explained by the fact that it relates to a UPS with a backup circuit.
On the other hand, modern PC power supplies tolerate the reaction time quite painlessly - the interruption in power supply can reach up to 100 ms.

UPS APC Back-UPS CS 500VA is a high-quality and reliable solution with a beautiful ergonomic design. Despite the fact that 7-8 years ago, these UPSs responded to APC and were subjected to harsh criticism, APC did not curtail production, but heeded the comments of users and conducted a number of revisions. The result is a product that has become a bestseller: 10 years of successful sales. I do not know of any other UPS, which would work without complaints from the "native" battery for 6.5 years, while providing 60-70% of the original capacity.

Proven design
High reliability
The ability to monitor the status of the UPS from a PC

Long reaction time
No AVR - automatic voltage regulation.
High price

Powercom Warrior WAR-500A

The time-honored manufacturer of budget solutions PowerCOM, as usual, pleases with price. A representative of this manufacturer is a line-interactive UPS PowerCOM Warrior WAR-500A .

The principle of operation of line-interactive (line-interactive) UPS has a number of design differences from the device backup UPS. The topology described in the IEC 62040-3 standard implies a circuit in which the UPS inverter is connected in parallel to the electrical network and operates in two modes: it analyzes the quality of the mains power supply, regulates and stabilizes the output voltage of the UPS, while charging the batteries. In addition, manufacturers use hardware-based units in linear-interactive UPSs to expand the input voltage range - this is usually a stabilizer with a wide input voltage range (“booster” or AVR) based on an autotransformer with switchable windings. Due to this, the voltage at the outputs is maintained at the proper level without switching the automation to battery power. Simply put, these UPSs react to changes in the input mains and adjust the output voltage accordingly.

Judging by the weight and the smallest power of the built-in battery, the manufacturer has saved on high-quality nodes, preferring pulsed power schemes to the detriment of the quality of filtering the incoming voltage. At the same time, the emphasis was placed on protection from large peak current pulses in the power grid. PowerCOM will definitely be resistant to faults in the power grid and “pickup”; however, when a lightning strikes the nearest substation, it is unlikely to save the PC from stress — the input voltage filtering range is too small. Conclusion: it is necessary to use this UPS in conjunction with a good surge protector to avoid arbitrary rebooting of the PC due to power surges and to protect the UPS from electronics failure. But this challenger is cheap and can provide up to 8 minutes of battery life. Upset also the lack of control with a PC.

The lowest price
Long battery life
There is an AVR. Increases (up to 16%) output voltage when the input voltage drops by 9% -25% of the nominal.

The inability to monitor the status of a PC
small indicator of UPS protection against pulsed overloads of AC
Low power built-in battery.

Tripp Lite PRO550X

Despite its modest size and low cost, the Tripp Lite PRO550X UPS is a good solution for home PCs. The quality of this manufacturer is at the global level, this is facilitated by the complete production cycle of Tripp Lite UPS, which has been launched since 2001 in Pakistan.

This line-interactive UPS stands out among the others for the input voltage filtering range and does an excellent job with both the UPS role and the network filter role. However, factors such as charging time and resistance to impulse overloads can only recommend this UPS to people who have no need for long battery life, and local power grids do not cause any particular problems with power outages.

I did not like the presence of only two "sockets" and the inability to monitor the UPS from a PC.

Supports the widest input voltage range
There is an AVR. Automatic voltage regulation maintains mains power supply with voltage levels ranging from 160 to 280 V

Low indicator of UPS protection against impulse overloads of AC
Very long battery charge time
Low battery life
High price.

Ippon back power pro 500

Ippon Back Power Pro 500 is a good entry-level budget solution. Maximum opportunities for your money. This UPS with the fastest battery charging is implemented on a line-interactive UPS circuit. UPSs of this type provide a stable power supply for consumers with unstable power supply voltage (the most common problems in domestic power grids are the so-called voltage “surges”) without switching to battery power mode.

When working on batteries, voltage is provided with “correct” sinosuidal characteristics, which allows connecting virtually any consumer. The charger is implemented on a quality hardware level, as evidenced by the high charging speed - 4 hours.

I was pleasantly surprised by the possibility of connecting external additional batteries and an improved system for monitoring the status of the UPS, in contrast to the backup type UPS.

It is also worth noting the best result on the criterion of "reaction time".

There is a lack of missing indications on the front panel, however, the manufacturer compensated for this with the ability to control the UPS from a PC.
The disadvantages include only the lack of indication on the front panel of the device and the large dimensions of the device, which is explained by the high-quality implementation of the device.

Low price
Low battery charging time
PC control
UPS scalability, connection of additional batteries
Short "reaction time"
AVR availability

No indication on the front panel

APC Back-UPS ES 525VA Russia

UPS APC Back-UPS ES 525VA Russia stands out for its "rosette" layout. Indeed, it is very convenient when the UPS is externally a normal power filter. I plugged the device’s power plugs and that's it — you can forget about problems from a sudden power outage.

Back-UPS ES 525 - UPS, built on a linear-interactive scheme. This is a good solution for a budget computer with an entry-level video card, for cash registers, office PBX, home appliances with the possibility of timely disconnecting in the event of a power failure, provided that the electrical wiring is in good condition and the power supply is relatively stable and of high quality.
Very pleasant functionality of the device, the number of sockets, the ability to control from a PC. It is necessary to take into account the fact that due to the design features of the UPS, the consumer must take at least 20% of the declared backup power of the UPS, otherwise stable operation of the devices is not guaranteed, and the batteries are subject to increased wear due to "surface" discharge. Pleases high input voltage range of 160-280 volts. And the unusually low price and the highest quality of the world leader in the power industry APC make you think about choosing this device as the most versatile one presented in the review. However, not everything is as rosy as it seems ... Low resistance to impulse overloads negates the advantages described above - practicality suffers, there is a need for an additional network filter that will protect the UPS automation. And these are additional expenses and the appearance of a heap of excessive sockets, which spoil the ergonomics of the workplace. The disadvantages include the lack of the ability to adjust the voltage and sudden changes in the frequency of the power grid - VFD and, as a result, rapid deterioration of the batteries when connected to unstable power grids. The need for "refined" (stable) power supply.

Convenient interface for connecting devices
The ability to monitor the status of the UPS from a PC.
AVR availability

Very high price
The need for a stable power supply
Very low UPS protection against AC surge overload

Summary

So, what to choose as a reliable and inexpensive UPS for your home? And what advice for those who need solutions for business?

For those who are interested in the best choice in economy class, we recommend the Ippon Back Power Pro 500 UPS - a simpler and more affordable solution for the home - for an excellent price / performance ratio, provided with a high level of protection from "electrical trouble", high battery speed , the ability to monitor the status of the UPS on a PC and the ability to connect additional batteries as an aspect of the scalability of the device.



APC Back-UPS CS 500VA (BK500-RS) in terms of a combination of characteristics is the best solution, which is not surprising - this is a business-class technique. It is somewhat more expensive, but the high reliability and service life of the original materials, noted by all specialists, allows using the APC UPS for a long time without additional maintenance costs, which gives a long-term gain.



Among the indisputable advantages of this type of UPS is worth noting:

• In work and in life, this model fully meets expectations and meets all the stated characteristics: if it is written, how much tension and how long it will hold, then it will be so in reality. So, the quality and reliability of the APC UPS models is, in this case, not an “empty sound”.
• batteries last longer, longer life.
• service. Communications on all issues of service and maintenance occur promptly, so one of the distinctive qualities of the company can be called the absence of problems with warranty repairs.

It is easy to buy APC - the brand has an extensive regional network, many representative offices, which ensure the delivery of equipment without interruption.

Choose wisely. And good use!