bitch & moan: uninterruptible power supply (UPS) outlets and bumps

[Mousey]

I've been browsing UPSs, as the battery is weak in my old one. Oh... and it has 8 outlets but only .... lemme look ... 5... yes FIVE things plugged into it, due to this idiotic problem of BUMPS, or power supply thingys, attached to almost anything electronic.



Do the people that make UPSs actually ever USE one of them? Do they know what it's like to have 8 tiny outlets squished together that must be matched up with computer tower, monitor, external drives, speakers, DSL modem, printer all with varying sizes, orientations, and types of plugs... ???

From the little bit of shopping around I've been doing, the layout of the outlets hasn't improved in the last 5 years... sheesh....

 

[Pocketdiggers77]

I've never experienced a problem plugging a power strip into a UPS. It sounds like you might need a power line conditioner to regulate the power coming in to your house instead of a UPS if you are experiencing voltage spikes.

 

[Mousey]

No problem with voltage spikes specifically... but we do have problems with local power outages and 'hiccups' during stormy weather. I'm in the southern US and thunderstorms (and brief power outages and brownouts) are very common Feb - Nov.

The last time our power went out, my old UPS barely stayed up long enough for me to shut down the computer, where once it would stay up and running a good 15 - 20 minutes. I'm just assuming the battery is weak and on its way out. I plugged the tower into another UPS which will do until I track down a UPS I like on sale (and with free shipping LOL).