How do I know what size/power/wattage/whatever UPS to get for my computer?
You can find the Watt requirements of your computer and peripherals in the manufacturer’s specifications.
Most consumer-level APCs will try to summarize it on the back with general stats. The one I bought listed how long the power supply would last with a computer plus several common monitor sizes/types. Unless you’re running multiple monitors, lots of peripherals or a server farm, you can probably do just fine with any off-the-shelf model.
you really only need to power the computer, monitor and external storage to power it down without data loss, those devices go into the receptacles with backup power. your printer, sound amplifier can use surge protected (nonbattery) receptacles either in the UPS or a surge strip.
there are some UPS for sale that are very small, they would only give you 3 minutes or less of time. you would probably like one to give you power for at least 15 minutes so that you can shut programs down, even if you are away from your computer you have time to get to it also.
All of our desktop computers at home and at the Taekwondo school are on APC’s UPS-550 systems. I got them all at Office Depot for around 60 bucks each.
Highly recommended.
I have a APS unit that was fairly inexpensive (about $70 at Sams Club) that has an USB interface with my PC and will shut down the computer when the battery has 5-8 minutes of power left. Total battery time is estimated (by the software the UPS comes with) at 39 minutes. I have my PC, monitor, router, and broadband modem plugged in.
I also bought one for my DVR as I’d hate to have a short outage of a few seconds wipe out a show I am recording.
You do need to add up the wattage of all the deices you want to stay powered up. Don’t just wing it, because if you have to small a unit it won’t work when you need it.
Your computer will consume about 200 watts. So we size the load at maybe 300 watts. Then UPSes are as cheap as possible. Its battery will degrade to maybe fail in 3 years. So increase its ‘today’ power to maybe 500 watts so that is can supply 300 watts in later years.