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Offline jcarter

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Question about back up power supply
« on: November 05, 2003, 09:44:48 AM »
I bought a TrippLite UPS, and it works fine.  The other day our power went off and I quit my programs and shut my G4 down.  I think that the battery would last about 10 minutes with the computer and the ViewSonic monitor.
But I was wondering what would happen if I was not here and the power went off?  Would the UPS battery get lower and lower, or would it shut down immediatly, sort of like unplugging the Mac.
Could the Mac be damaged?
I turn my Mac on in the morning and off at night, leave it on all day, even when I am outdoors.
None of my friends have ever had this happen.
Thanks,   Jane
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Offline bobw

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Question about back up power supply
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2003, 11:24:47 AM »
Check the paper work that came with the backup. Some have software that will shut down. 10 minutes is really not a very good system, unless you're always there and can get things quit and shut down in that time.

I never turn my machines off, so I'd want something that would last at least a few hours if not 6 or 8, with automatic shutdown.
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Offline Dick Miller

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Question about back up power supply
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2003, 11:49:49 AM »
Check Tripplites web site for power management software. I could'nt find any mac supported software on their web site.

P.S. A UPS that would supply power to your system for 8 hours would probably cost more than a G5   laugh.gif
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Offline Mayo

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Question about back up power supply
« Reply #3 on: November 05, 2003, 01:23:43 PM »
Battery backup systems are generally matched to the power needs of the computer, and you can buy more or less power backup, up to a point.

In the case of personal computers, the point is to give the computer user sufficient time to save open files and shut down the computer.  The alternative is to lose what file(s) you happen to be working on when the power goes POOF...

10 minutes is plenty of time to take care of business; even five minutes would do the trick.  If you aren't around when this happens the battery eventually cannot power the Mac and it will turn off, without damage to the Mac or the backup.

It has been a couple of years since I looked into power backups, but APC did have a program that would automatically save files and shut down the computer when the AC is interrupted. A Windows version came bundled free with APC units, while Mac users had to pay extra, natch...
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Offline jcarter

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Question about back up power supply
« Reply #4 on: November 05, 2003, 01:28:45 PM »
Hi Bob and Dick,   Thanks for the info.  I did look at their website too and there wasn't much about the Macs or anything even close to what I am needing to know.  I did e-mail their tech support dept with my question.  
Actually the power doesn't fail around here very much except during storms, and during storms, I just shut the computers off anyway and unplug everything if there is any lightning around.

I guess I would rather have a G5!  Seriously, I was looking at one yesterday, and the new iMacs too.
They sure are nice, but my old G4 is doing everything I need.
Lets see what Santa brings,,,,,,,,
Thanks again, Jane
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