Re: Equipment in loft - dust and heat issues?

["Andy Whitfield" <andywhitfield2002@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "dermot_bradley" <bradley@t...>
wrote:
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Andy Whitfield"
> <andywhitfield2002@y...> wrote:
>
> > I run a business selling UPSs and occasionally I get asked about
> > installing a UPS in the loft, garage or out building.  So I have
had
> > to think about the consequences of heat, cold and/or
> > condensation/dampness on the UPS (and, of course, other equipment
> > such as servers, etc).
>
> Hi Andy. A UPS is one of the things I'll be placing along with the
> other equipment wherever it goes. Do you do UKHA discount?s :-)
> Much of what you've said about heat and dust were issues I was
> concerned about as well.

You might want to consider a UPS where the fan runs continuously.
The fan runs all the time on true online double conversion UPSs.
This type continuously convert the AC mains to DC and then back to a
perfect 230VAC output.  See series 9 Powerware UPSs here...
http://www.powerware.com/EMEA/359.asp
True online are the Rolls Royce of UPSs as they supply a totally
clean 230Vac to your equipment.  No noise, distortion, etc can be
passed through as the mains supply isn't passed through.  The output
AC is effectively created from scratch.
True online UPSs are also weigh a bit less than the more common line
interactive type as they don't have a big transformer/inverter.
You've still got the weight of the batteries though!
Line interactive UPSs pass the mains through via relays with a bit
of filtering.  They also keep the output AC within a range (e.g.
210Vac to 255Vac) rather than at a fixed voltage.

I offer discounts for a variety of reasons.  E.G. bulk orders or
excess stock or older models or if a UPS has a scratched case, etc.
In other words I always have some UPSs I want to clear because
storage costs me thousand of pounds a year!

> > Condensation/dampness:  I had a stack of UPSs in a self storage
room
> > and the overnight outside temp fell to about 0C.  Next morning
the
> > UPSs were literally running in water!  The storage room was next
to
> > an external wall which no doubt made things worse.  Condensation
can
> > form on metal cased equipment or can form on the inside of the
roof
> > and drip down on to the equipment.  Fans running continuously
should
> > help against condensation/dampness and obviously, some sort of
cover
> > will stop condensation dripping down from above.
>
> I hadn't thought about this...........hmm, so with a 19" cabinet
setup
> I'd need to make up some sort of drip-pan at the top of the
> cabinet......which would then mean having to frequently check and
> empty the pan :-(

I can't imagine you'd need a drip pan unless you've already got
water dripping through your ceiling.
The obvious thing to do is to go in to your loft in the morning
whilst we've got this cold spell and see if there are a few drops of
condensation.
A few years ago, I noticed a few drops of water on the ceiling of my
loft.

> > I would think the position of the equipment within the loft would
> > also have an effect on it's temperature.  The warmest part of the
> > loft on winter's night is probably above the bedroom.  But as you
> > say the may be a noise problem.  Maybe situate it near the loft
trap
> > door?  If the loft door isn't lagged then that's probably a 'warm
> > spot'.
>
> As the price of standalone 19" racks is so high I was thinking of
a
> wall-mounted cabinet - in which case I'd bolt it to the internal
wall
> between me and my neighbours. Although I guess I could make up some
> sort of plinth to sit the cabinet on.

Could the noise travel down the brick wall in to your place and your
neighbours place?

> My loft has the usual foam lagging between it and the floor below,
> however the inside of the roof is lined with silver-foil covered
> boards os some sort so I can't see the usual felt that goes
underneath
> the tiles. I'm not sure if these foil-covered boards are meant to
keep
> heat or not...
>