On Dec 26, 1:59 pm, Anne Keller-Smith <earth...@ptd.net> wrote: >...I like to get a Uninterruptible Power Supply ... I heard > that's hard on the motherboards, even when it's a slump > in voltage. The UPS makes sure the Mac gets a consistent > voltage at all times ...
Low voltage is not hard on motherboards. Electronics has been required to not be harmed by low voltage for generations - even long before PCs exists. However myths to promote UPSes live on. In fact a chart from an industry standard 30 some years ago defines low voltage as not destructive by using this expression even in capital letters: "No Damage Region" UPS provides consistent voltage? How consistent? This 120 volt computer grade UPS outputs two 200 volt square waves with a spike of up to 270 volts between those square waves. That UPS electricity is so 'dirty' as to be harmful to some small electric motors and Monster Cable surge protectors. But since computers are so robust, that same 'dirty' voltage is irrelevant. Computer grade UPS does not protect hardware. Does not even claim to. It claims to protect from a power loss. The claim is worded so that you will assume it also provides hardware protection. Read what even the manufacturer admits in: http://tinyurl.com/6zn9sr > APC's Back-UPS line is designed for use with > Computer-type loads only. They are not designed to > be used with motor loads such as fish filters, air > conditioning units, space heaters, vacuum cleaners > or any other machinery. Why? Some of the 'dirtiest' electricity comes from a UPS when in battery backup mode. Its purpose is to protect data from blackouts - not to protect hardware. Low voltage is not harmful to motherboards. If it were, then low voltage would also cause electronics inside a UPS (that recharges the battery) to be destroyed. Damage from low voltage is a popular urban legend where claims are provided without numbers - with speculations. >From Intel standards for power supplies so long ago: voltage must drop so low that incandescent bulbs glow at only 40% intensity - and the computer must work just fine. Low voltage must not cause electronics damage - despite popular urban myths. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed Low End Mac's G3-5 List, a group for those using G3, G4, and G5 desktop Macs - with a particular focus on Power Macs. The list FAQ is at http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml and our netiquette guide is at http://www.lowendmac.com/lists/netiquette.shtml To post to this group, send email to g3-5-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to g3-5-list-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/g3-5-list?hl=en Low End Mac RSS feed at feed://lowendmac.com/feed.xml -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
