UPS/Power surge - What V/A do I need?

[Jodie99]

Hi Brian - Looking for a UPS and power surge device for my new iMac M4. There's a few options available for the V/A and watts. How do I work out what I would need to buy? 

I had no idea they came with different options, My old power surge  is like an extension lead and cost ten quid!  Thanks!

[Brian]

I've done the smaller APC UPS units with my Mac. They don't last very long and honestly, I'd get the APC BR1600SI Back-UPS Pro 1600VA/960W 230V Line Interactive UPS, Sinewave model since you are over in the UK. I have the 1500 VA Sinewave Model at my feet as I type this. I also have a APC 1300VA Sinewave Model for my Home Theater. 

I know, it's expensive.

The thing with UPS units, is it's a balancing act. You want to have enough VA to support the equipment, but not too little. You also have to take into consideration of the Apple Studio Display and any other peripherals. I used to use 850VA for the longest time, until I got my 2017 iMac. Turns out, my APC couldn't handle the new computer and the two external HDs I had plugged into it. Now, it's possible that the new Mac Studios are more power efficient, but it seems that it can go up to 170 Watts or so, even though Apple says 145 Watts.  The Mac Studio Display seems to draw about 35 Watts, but I'm going to round that up to 50 Watts. So 170+50=220 Watts. Now add any External HDs, and it's not out of the realm of possibility of you having 300 Watts or so. That's 375 VA.  

OK...so why am I recommending 1600 VA? 

For Run-Time. If you put a 375VA UPS on a M4 Mac Studio setup, you probably have 30 seconds of run-time, or less. LOL!! 850VA...Maybe 5-10 minutes, which might be fine. I even upgraded to a 900VA APC UPS because I thought my 850VA was broken. It didn't work any better.

Personally, I would have told you to purchase a 1500VA but they seem to be replacing it with a 1600 VA Model. So there's that. 

[Brian]

In case you are wondering why I'm recommending a Sinewave UPS. Basically, it's an extra layer of protection and monitors the current a little better. Here is what Amazon has on their website: 

 

Quote

"Sinewave UPS with Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR), designed for high-end electronics, ideal battery backup for computer" 

Here is my UPS: 

The other cool part, is that UPS' batteries are replaceable!!! So when they wear out in about 3-5 years (on average,) you can just get a new battery from APC and swap it out. Also, I don't recommend using 3rd Party UPS Batteries. In my personal experience, you get about 18 months out of them, since APC's units like to have a little more current going to the batteries than other manufacturers. (I won't make your eyes glaze over with the techy-details, just trust me.) Basically, APC UPS Units really-really-really work the best with APC OEM Batteries. Got it?  

As for any other brands that I would recommend in place of APC...I don't. When I walk into multi-million dollar Server Rooms, guess who's products I see? APC UPS units, along with all sorts of Line Conditioners and other fancy equipment. I've used APC's products since the early 1990's. It's the only brand I trust and recommend. 

[Jodie99]

Thanks for all the information Brian, I get regular power cuts in my village, so makes sense to get sorted with a decent one. 

[Brian]

Also with this model, is that it has connectivity with your Mac via a USB cable. One proprietary end goes into the UPS, the other goes into a USB port. What this does is allows your Mac to "talk" to the UPS, and vice-versa, so you can set your Mac to power down when it reaches a certain level on the battery. You just have to head into your Power Settings in the macOS' Preferences. For example: 

 

 

I have my Mac set for 5 minutes, but you might want to set yours for 10 min if your power is often unpredictable. 

Oh! One thing to keep in mind, there is a "Battery Side" and a "Regular Surge Protector" Side. The Battery Side is mean for your Mac Studio, Display, and any external HDs. The Surge Protection Side is mean for things like speakers, lamps, Laser Printers, and the other non-important things. You never-ever want to hook up a Laser Printer to a UPS' Battery Side, it's too much Wattage and will kill the Batteries Prematurely. 

Speaking of External Hard Drives, you might find it's not easy to hook them all up, especially when dealing with Power Bricks. This is where 1 Foot Power Cables such as these come in handy: 

Cable Matters 2-Pack 16 AWG Heavy Duty 13A Short Power Extension Cord - 1ft, 3 Prong Power Cord Extension, NEMA 5-15P to NEMA 5-15R, Black  

Of course, you will need to find the equivalent by you, but I think you get the idea. Actually, I found this:  UK British Standard Power M/F Extension Cord Cable,UK BS1363 Extension Cord, IEC UK 3Pin Male Plug to UK 3Pin Female Socket Power Adapter Cable,13A/250V (0.3m/1ft) You simply plug one of the Power Bricks into one of those 1 Foot Cables, then the other end goes into the UPS. They make things much easier to get things hooked up and fitting nicely. Of course, this is just a guide...PLEASE choose the correct cable for your area. I have no real-world experience with UK Power.

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