Posted on 03/25/2022 9:33:36 AM PDT by zeugma
I have a general questions for freepers who might be knowledgeable about electronics and such things.
I have a CyberPower UPS that I run my desktop and monitor through. It seems to work OK when I actually lose power here. However, we apparently get overvolts occasionally. When that happens the UPS just drops power and turns off. Obviously, this is a less than ideal situation. I have to physically power it back on before I can restart my desktop. Kinda defeats the whole idea of having a UPS.
The reason I suspect an overvolt situation, is because the UPS has a front panel that shows input voltage. Most of the time it displays between 120v and 122v. However, right after It drops power and I bring it back online, it will show the input as high as 123v, and I think I've even seen 124v a time or two.
Does anyone know if it would be worthwhile to put a powerstrip between the UPS and the wall? I figure some of them might be designed to smooth out power, but I really don't know enough about such things to be sure. Perhaps something else would work better.
I'd appreciate any advise on this, as it's kind of annoying.
123V is not going to hurt anything that was meant to run at line voltage. If that UPS is glitching and cutting out a few percent over voltage, you’re better off without it. How often does your power cut out comparred to how often this glitch happens.
It’s my understanding that uniteruptable power supplies are supposed to protect you from spikes, voltage drops, and power loss. Yours should not be acting this way.
Make sure you get a good one that will protect from surges and spikes, and keep power pretty even.
You need a Surge Protector................
I agree with z3n’s post. It’s better to just replace the UPS.
Which model did you have? I had a CyberPower and it should act as a junior voltage filter itself. 124V should NOT trip it up.
That said, the front panel got wonky after a short while, and while it did fine on power interruptions, the battery wore out quickly. I went with an APC this time.
Your UPS Battery may be getting to the end of its life and needs replacing...........
Not sure what the specs on your UPS are but some sort of line voltage conditioner before that unit would help.
125v in is ok.
If the batteries in the ups are old or weak it may be time for replacement. Weak batteries are usually the problem in a ups.
Sounds like a faulty UPS or one that has outlived it usefulness. Before I retired some years ago in IT, replacing backup batteries every three years or so was the norm...
My guess is the UPS is just bad and replace it with a new one with a good +10%, -15% input voltage range.
Out house rea,ly f,ultimates in winter when the furnace is one, plus the living room ceramic heater, and the washing machine going. The power strip keeps clicking when this happens,,and the lights flicker throughout the house while washing machine is working
This jusy started happening this year. Been ther several years, and never happened before. Had elect4icisn check fuse box, he said everything was fine. Tried to say that we needed all led lights, and that was what was causing the problem (because we had the curly cue non led lights, can’t remember name now).
Thing is, we always had those lights, and never had this problem before this year. we heard that another couple of houses in the area are having the same issues. Not sure what’s going on
I do not agree that you are experiencing an over voltage issue.
You can set Cyberpower and APC UPS’ to different levels of sensitivity to incoming power. You might see where it is set, and try a lower or higher setting.
I used to use U.P.S.s back in the 90s and 2000s. I got tired of the batteries dying after 3 or 4 years. You could buy battery packs cheaper than the U.P.S. unit, but it’s still annoying to get only a few years out of them, and the more economical units would only give you power for 10 or 15 minutes. Never felt like a worthy investment. Maybe they have improved since then?
Cheap power strip will not help. You would need a regulator. Mine cost $700.
My suggestion. Get rid of your power conditioner. Something is wrong with it.
Thing is, we always had those lights, and never had this problem before this year. we heard that another couple of houses in the area are having the same issues. Not sure what’s going on
Would they leave their machines on 24/7 though? 3 years seems a little short. We turn our machine off overnight, and dont usual,y stsrt it up till around noon, and our battery backups have lasted several years usually.
You are describing a situation where a separate power conditioner is required before the UPS.
Just change the settings in the UPS to allow higher voltages.
Also prevalent these days. As utilities build their own mega-watt solar arrays at customer expense ... The sunniest of days will bring line voltages to new highs. And fluctuations abound as clouds come and go. You may very well be closer to an array or a new one, affecting your voltages, especially mid-day.
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