- Any UPS you are purchasing for a new computer or server must be a sine-wave output UPS. New computers and servers with their energy efficient power supplies will not run with an old UPS that does not have a sine-wave output.
- A new UPS can actually save you money. Old and entry level UPSes are less than 60% efficient. This means that more than 40% of the electricity you are paying for will never make it to your computer or server. Look for a 100% efficient UPS, they are now available.
- If the UPS is for a server look for good power management software. Sometimes that cheaper UPS may need $100’s of software to make it function with your servers.
- Learn the 9 levels of power protection. Cheap UPS units will protect your equipment from 3 of the 9, mid-level units will protect you from 5 of the 9, and only the best units will protect you from all 9 common power problems that damage computer equipment.
- Calculate your load requirement. People confuse UPS size with runtime. The load is the WATTS required to power your equipment. Look for a UPS that matches your WATT requirements and then purchase additional battery modules to get the runtime you want. Sometimes a higher WATT rating will actually reduce the runtime using the internal batteries.
