O/T Need help in a hurry

Electric company called and said that the power is going to be out for 3 hours. We run this online company via computers and just, absolutely cannot be 'down'..... ....

I don't care about the utilities or lights, but has anyone ever run computers from one of these smaller portable power generators? How clean is the voltage?

I have three UPS systems in place.

Thanks for your help,

Allan

You'll need to know how many computers, monitors, etc. you plan to run at the same time to figure how much power you need, then give yourself about 20% extra to handle loads like startup current when you turn something on. Be sure to add any lights, etc. that you might need to run besides the computer. The same goes for when you determine the size of the UPS you need.

It's safer for the electronics if you turn everything off when you start or shutdown the generator, that's when the most spikes happen. Be careful if you try to fuel the generator while it's running, the labels will say not to do it.

I just bought at 5kva UPS for a rack of servers where I work, it was about $2300.00 from cdw.com. I doubt you'll need anything that big unless you're running a LOT of computers.

You know Allen, if are running a business, really oughta have a good UPS, and not talking one of those $100, $200 dollar cheapies get from Circuit City or Best Buy. I mean a real UPS rated at like 3KVA, not so much for the power output, although that can be nice. I mean as a filter for either commercial or generator bad/dirty power, and lightening.

Is a company in Illinois, "ONEAC" that is one of the best in surge suppression, probably can do a google search for them. As far as UPS's go, FERRUPS, Best UPS, Alpha, Triplte (make surge suppressors too) and many others. For AC telephone systems or LANs, are a must.

What's the cost of doing business? So how about a little insurance? Think about backup or redundant hard drives to. I know, $$$.

If using AC, I prefer to configure: Commercial/Gen power into ONEAC/Triplite/Alpha brand surge suppressors, into UPS, then into equipment.

Nothing tops a rectifier DC system for backup and filtering (wet cells), too bad don't make DC powered computers.

Your bud, Mark.

Well, I think that is what we have. They weigh about the same as a deep cycle boat battery and will hold us on for about 20-30 minutes with the power out? Brand name is UPS? Heck, I dunno, all I know is that they cost us $500 a copy. Hope they are okay. :>)

Trouble is, the power never goes out up here to speak of; last time was in what? '99 I think. But the darned lightning can really be a bear. These boxes have saved us more than once and we can hear those things snap when a strike is close by and they catch the surge.

Oh well, 'taint no use worryin' over it; either we'll get thru it or we won't. LOL!

Have a good one and hopefully, I'll be a yakin' with yas tomorrow morning.

Allan

• Same As Milkin' Cows Without the Cows

Now what I'd like to know, is how you have trained your power company to give you warnings on impending outages.... Mine just dumps us whenever, and you can always depend on several drops every time there's any thunderstorms, or even windy conditions. (Good old dependable Consumer's Power.)