UPS solution for audio and visual systems

[leonpjhb]

My word... These forays into the unknown sure can be interesting!  A lot has transpired in the meanwhile...  I had two UPS companies out to test the current draw on my DB board while both systems were going at full tilt! My ears are still bleeding!!

Actual measured current draw is between 4 and 11 amps per system. This means that one 3kVA UPS is borderline sufficient to run an entire system! And that is at volumes that are far from comfortable, since each 3kva ups is rated at 2100watts. 2100w / 230 volts = 9Amps...   This also explains why I have not been tripping my circuit-breaker - I am still well below the 15amp circuit breaker limit!

What is interesting is that the calculated current draw based on manufacturers specs is in fact
For system 1: 6376watts - 27.72Amps (as opposed to 2000 watts and 9 amps measured)
For system 2: 1350watts -  5.87Amps (as opposed to 2530watts and 11 amps measured)

Could this mean that the manufacturers specs are out? Admittedly I wasn't playing at max volume, but at the loudest I could stand.

[LAV]

Manufacturers have to state worst case, so for example that would mean an amplifier being driven to full rated output.(Very difficult to duplicate in a domestic environment, usually done in a lab / test facility using signal generators and dummy loads, amongst others.)

[windshear]

My word... These forays into the unknown sure can be interesting!  A lot has transpired in the meanwhile...  I had two UPS companies out to test the current draw on my DB board while both systems were going at full tilt! My ears are still bleeding!!

Actual measured current draw is between 4 and 11 amps per system. This means that one 3kVA UPS is borderline sufficient to run an entire system! And that is at volumes that are far from comfortable, since each 3kva ups is rated at 2100watts. 2100w / 230 volts = 9Amps...   This also explains why I have not been tripping my circuit-breaker - I am still well below the 15amp circuit breaker limit!

What is interesting is that the calculated current draw based on manufacturers specs is in fact
For system 1: 6376watts - 27.72Amps (as opposed to 2000 watts and 9 amps measured)
For system 2: 1350watts -  5.87Amps (as opposed to 2530watts and 11 amps measured)

Could this mean that the manufacturers specs are out? Admittedly I wasn't playing at max volume, but at the loudest I could stand.

I went through a similar exercise about a month ago regarding measuring the total current draw in the room. I also only had a worst case scenario of 13 amps with everything running, except a spike when the aircon turned on , resulting in a momentary 27A spike(However i have dedicated 60A DB in my room). The amazing thing i found was my CA5300 was only drawing just over 1 A. As mentioned by LAV real world versus the Lab is literally a world apart.

[leonpjhb]

Ok. The units are installed and working a treat! I ended up ( after serious research) with 3 Tescom 3.3kVa 2500w true online, pure sinewave, double conversion UPS's.

All my components now get pure, steady, spike and sag free 230v power with emi and rfi filtration applied. To boot I have 45mins backup time at a decent volume for my main and bedroom systems.

The fans are a tad noisy as I expected, but that is a compromise I am happy live with.

Thanks for everyone that contributed to the decision.

[chrisg]

Ok. The units are installed and working a treat!

As a matter of interest, are your ups'es fed from "regular" power points on earth leakage circuit or you have dedicated power points.

[leonpjhb]

Regular power points. No fancy connections here.

[chrisg]

I guess advantage of having dedicated "clean" power plug for audio wired completed outside DB (after meter and main isolator) would be far less "noisy" power point, free from interference from many home appliances.
When I had problem with my UPS, service technician recommended having dedicated power point as there was some small current leakage in the unit I returned, he said this is normal thing.
Anyway, you are good example to follow, leonpjhb. Good luck with your new ups system   

[leonpjhb]

Thanks Chris. Running permanantly on UPS power now on both sytems for 2 full days now.

Nothing has reset itself. Nothing has tripped. Power has gone of three times and the music just keeps playing. Nothng skips a beat!! I have also realised that I have backup time of about two hours.

For those who are concerned about the effect on sound quality... I have done some direct A to B listening comparisons and found that there is a slight improvement in the midrange. It is fuller than before. Not to mention the obvious effect of being able to play music and watch movies knowing that all the equipment is safe!!

In addition, in my bedroom system there was a humming noise that was present on my loudspeakers when the pre-amp was switched off. This has now made way for silence.

In my experience there is nothing wrong with using a good UPS to power your AV Gear, but buy real online (some companies claim oline but aren't), pure sinewave double conversion systems. They are not cheap, but can be a solution to really bad power and may pay for themselves by saving your equipment and your blood pressure...  Also, go to the effort of listing ALL your equipment into a spreadsheet and listing the manufacturers wattage requirement next to each component. Spec your UPS according to that and you will have a system that can handle the requirements of you components but that will probably only run at 30% or so most of the time. This will also give you long backup times and your batteries will last much longer.

Most UPS's in this league run off 7ah batteries inside the unit that can be replaced cheaply at a variety of ups companies. You can also order additional battery packs that use the same kind of batteries, or that contain larger batteries that have higher capacity that provide longer backup time. These batteries are more expensive but could last longer...

If noise issues are very important to you these ups units can be wired into your db and placed in another room. The quotes I got was about R2500, but ofcourse this can vary greatly from installation to installation...

I also got the Snmp modules with my ups's. (they are avaipable with most good systems). This means that I can via my VPN, log on to each of my units and monitor iput and output power, switch them off and also remotely turn off my pc's and sound equipment from my ipad, iphone or work pc.
Good luck if you intend on getting a UPS.  I am not affiliated with any of these, but found the following companies to offer good products and good service:
PHD Powerhouse (AEC brand),
UPS Direct (Tescom brand),
Rectifier.co.za (Delta brand),
Hyperactive computers (APC brand)

Prices varied from about R4500 for a high quality fully featured 3kva unit with own batteries to about R17000 for the same at the upper end of the scale.

Good luck

LP