The Back-UPS ES line from APC are 6, 8, and 10 outlet devices that provide both surge protection and backup battery service to their connected devices, with total potential power output ranging from 50 to 400 watts, depending on model. While all of the outlets feature support for surge protection, only half of the outlets on each model are actually battery protected.

The devices are targeted to desktop implementations, and provide from two minutes to an hour and twenty-five minutes of backup power to connected devices, depending on the model of the UPS and the total power draw required. For example, the low end 350 model, with three battery protected outlets (six outlets total), can provide 200 watts of output for two minutes or 50 watts of output for 24 minutes; while the high-end 750 model can provide 400 watts for three minutes and 50 watts for an hour and twenty-five minutes. At 200 watts of output, the devices range from two to fourteen minutes of backup power.

As mentioned above, the low end 350 model of the UPS has six total power outlets, three with battery backup; and the high end 750 has ten outlets, five with battery backup. In between these two are the 450, 550, and 650 models, all with eight outlets (4 with battery backup). All models have NEMA 5-15R outlets and are themselves driven via 120 Volt connections.

Other features common to all models are the vendor's $75,000 lifetime Equipment Protection Policy, which covers "properly" connected equipment (see the vendor's site for details); at least a pair of transformer-block spaced outlets on each model; RoHS compliance; and dataline (telephone/Fax/DSL) surge protection. The 450 through 750 models additionally support a data port facilitating communications with the vendor's PowerChute software, which is able to automatically shut down an unattended PC in the event of an extended power outage; and the 650 and 750 models also add Ethernet and Coax protection ports.

Specific to the 750 model is the vendor's SmartShedding technology, which enables the device to sense when a PC attached to the master outlet has either been shut down or has been put into sleep mode, and automatically shuts down the power to all other "controlled" outlets--which would typically power peripheral devices attached to the main PC. More precisely, the controlled outlets shut down when the power draw on the master outlet is less than 25 watts for a period of 4 seconds or more; and light up again when the master outlet draws 25 watts or more for over 4 seconds (the 25 watt setting can be changed to 10 or 60 watts, per the needs of the user). One of the device's 10 outlets is designated as a master outlet, while 3 of the other outlets can be controlled by that master. (The controlled outlets are not among those protected by battery backup, but the Master Outlet, of course, is.)

All of the Back-UPS ES series devices are available now; with pricing ranging from about $50 to $100. Visit the APC site for further information.

product submission by EITPlanet Staff

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