Re: Advice on cheap data cabinets and rackmount switches....

["Andy Whitfield" <andywhitfield2002@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi
Generally speaking the smaller the physical size of the UPS, the
lower the VA rating.
To convert VA to Watts, multiply by 0.67.  So 250VA is about
170Watts max load.
I suggest running a UPS at half load or less.
Running at or near full load means...
1) you'll have a very short runtime (from seconds up to about 5
minutes depending on battery condition).
2) you're probably going to shorten the life of the UPS as running
the electronics at maximum power.
3) if your load increases slightly then the UPS will shutdown
because of overload.

You could look inside your broken UPS but remember it is the SAME as
working on live mains (when the batteries are connected)!!
If you do open it, take extreme care!  The is enough voltage &
current to kill.
It maybe your batteries are dead or it could be an electronic
fault.  Generally parts won't be interchangeable between models of
different VA ratings.

I've got a black APC Powerstack 450va 1U batteries have about half
runtime.  Also got some new batteries for Powerstack.
In 2U I've only got beige Compaq R1500h.
I have black 3U APC Smart 2200 & 3000va

Regards
Andy

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Paul Gordon" <paul@p...> wrote:
>
> Hey Andy, - mean meaning to drop you a line for quite a while...
>
> Re the 1U UPS's - another point I have discovered is that some
don't have enough load capacity for a PC with lots of drives in it! -
I have an APC 1U UPS that constantly shows an overload
condition.. :-(
>
> Actually, I have a few UPS's that I need to sort out... - I have a
total of 3 APC 1U jobbies, one of them is this 250VA model here...
http://www.apcc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?
base_sku=SC250RMI1U This one I bought brand new and is fine, - but
can't run my servers because of the overload described above...
>
> I also (unintentionally) ended up with 2 of the 450VA models from
the same range:
http://www.apcc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?
base_sku=SC450RMI1U which I "won" on Ebay... - inverted commas
because one of them was/is DOA and the seller basically shafted
me.. :-(
>
> I didn't actually intend to get 2 from Ebay, - I was bidding in 2
auctions and I didn't expect to win both, but I did!
>
> I only have 2U of rack space available anyway, so the fact that I
have one DOA isn't really a problem.. what I'd like to do though is
to see if I can get it running and use it instead of the 250
model... - when mains is applied to it, there is a single audible
click from inside, - sounds like a relay switching. - There is no
other sign of life, - no power at the outlets, and no LED's lit at
all... - I'm guessing these things are pretty simple - some
batteries, a control board, and I guess some mains PSU bits.. - what
would you suggest I try to see if I can resurrect my dead one? - I
can use parts from the 250 model if they are interchangeable...
>
> Many thanks..
>
> PS, so you have any black rackmount UPS's - either 1U or 2U
available?... - I'd prefer to keep to black if poss, since
everything in my rack is black....
>
> TIA
>
> Paul G.
>
>
> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx on behalf of Andy Whitfield
> Sent: Fri 21/10/2005 10:52
> To: UKHA_D Group
> Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Advice on cheap data cabinets and rackmount
switches....
>
> Hi
> RE: UPS
> Avoid 1U  UPSs for servers, PCs, etc for 2 reasons.  They don't
have
> much runtime as can't have many batteries in such a shallow case,
> and secondly they tend to use batteries which are harder to get and
> more expensive than the standard ones.
> The shallow the UPS (low U number), the longer it tends to be from
> from to back.  As Jim said think about rack depth.
>
> As you might have guessed I am UPS Man.  ;-)
> If anyone requires a UPS then send me an email at andy@u...
> or to andy@a... or to the Yahoo address I
> use here.
> I will also have some Masterswitches soon for sale!
> Regards
> Andy
>
> --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "noel_pilot" <HA@a...> wrote:
> >
> > Hmmm depth,
> > hadn't really thought of that one!
> > Will be putting in a server case, the xcase 4U one that was used
in
> > the Jukebox server build article on this site.
> > Advice anyone on the depth?
> >
> > Would you mind explaining the difference between managed and
> unmanaged
> > switches?!
> >
> > Cabinet will be to house server, switch, a shelf or two for
router,
> > adsl modem and print server, and anything else i can rackmount!!
> > I guess the biggest will be the server pc and the UPS (altho the
> UPS
> > is a fair way in the future and I may well have upgraded the
> cabinet
> > by then!)
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Noel
> >
> >
> > --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, Jim Noble <yahoo-groups@b...>
wrote:
> > >
> > > noel_pilot wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hey all,
> > > > Well...looks like i'm nearly ready for my first data
cabinet
> and
> > > > rackmount switch purchase!!
> > > > Advice greatly appreciated on places to look and the
cheapest
> possbile
> > > > prices for a data cabinet, (something to sit on the
desk so
> maximum 80
> > > > cm tall I guess)
> > >
> > >
> > > The important question is how deep do you want it?
> > >
> > > My rack is 600x600mm, and I'm now looking to move up to a
> 800x800mm
> > rack
> > > because there isn't much room for the wiring behind the
> rackmount PC,
> > > and the UPS is every so slightly too long (haven't had the
rear
> door on
> > > since putting it in there). The PC chassis is shorter than
most
> as well.
> > >
> > > OTOH, if it's just for a switch and some patch panels, you
can
> make do
> > > with a lot shallower (300-450mm). In which case you probably
> want to
> > > look at wallmount style cabinets (even if you end up putting
on
> a
> > > desktop) - they're a bit cheaper.
> > >
> > > Ebay is a good source for 2nd hand. New, I'd be looking at:
> > >
> > > www.millsltd.com
> > > www.netshop.co.uk
> > >
> > >
> > > > also need a rackmount switch too and again cheap as
poss
> please!!
> > >
> > >
> > > Ebay again.
> > >
> > > > Is it possible to get a switch with say just one or two
> gigabit ports
> > > > in then the rest normal 10/100.
> > >
> > >
> > > Yes. I have a Netgear FSM726S. 24 10/100 ports, and two
copper
> gigabit
> > > ports, with the option of adding up to 2 fibre modules
later.
> > >
> > > They also have a 24 port 10/100/1000 switch for similar
money.
> Neither
> > > are particularly "cheap" though (but not bad for a
managed
> switch).
> > >
> > > The suggestion to use separate cheap 10/100 and gigabit
switches
> is a
> > > good one though!
> > >
> > > Jim