[Techtalk] OT but I'm desperate.... Windows....!

Meredydd Luff meredydd at everybuddy.com
Thu Oct 17 10:45:32 EST 2002


If you have/can cadge a laptop, those are good, for much the same reasons - 
built in UPS. Doesn't protect you from spikes AFAIK, but copes nicely with 
sags and outages.

As a temporary solution, why not be really kludgy and turn off the monitor 
when trying to print? I've never tried this myself, but I'm told that the 
monitor is one of the biggest power sinks in a computer, so maybe you want to 
try that route...

Meredydd

On Thursday 17 October 2002 02:03, Michelle Howson wrote:
> > >This is a situation where an uninterruptable power supply could help,
> > >such as those made by APC.  They can boost a lagging wall supply from
> > >the backup battery, and suppress any spikes.
> >
> > Can someone in Australia point me in the direction of where I can find
> > these and what kind of cost I'm looking at?  On a student budget I have
>
> a
>
> > feeling it'll be just a dream..... :|
> >
> >It's a good idea- shop carefully, because most UPS devices are actually
> >SPS-
> >standby power supply, not true uninterruptible power supplies. They kick
> >in
> >only during a power failure, give a certain number of minutes of backup
> >power, then if you have the software installed, do a graceful shutdown. A
> >backup power supply does not smooth out spikes & sags. The deliberate
> >confusion between UPS/SPS is dirty trick, doggone it.
> >
> >A true UPS supplies power directly from its battery & does other magic
> >things,
> >so it provides a steady, regulated voltage all the time, eliminating sags
> >and
> >spikes. These are sometimes advertised as 'line conditioning'. Of course
> >they
> >cost more, here is one:
> >http://www.falconups.com/sg-600.htm
> >
> >APC has one for about $179, the Line-R 1250VA, and a lower-capacity model
> >for
> >about $129.
>
> AU$ or US$?
>
> Either way, that's completely out of my league.  :(
>
> If I ever do look into it, though, I will keep an eye on that UPS/SPS
> issue.  Thanks for the tip.
>
> Michelle

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