What do you guys use for backup power for power outages?

[angopop]

Hey all, I'm VERY happy to see TapeOp forum back up.

I live in Los Angeles, and today I had the third power outage in as many months. Fortunately none of these have affected my computers...yet...

I use an APC Back-Ups ES 350/500, which was probably fine for my old system, but can't sustain the power to run my newer G5 and 17" monitor and external hard drive when the power goes out.

I'd like to be able to keep my computer on long enough to just shut down properly, as these are supposed to do...and I'm thinking of moving up to the more expensive model.

Do these really work? What experiernces have other people had with these?

Thanks

[joel hamilton]

I put one in so long ago I can even remember the model number, some big APC thingy... Yes it works well.

We get about 3 minutes Before total shut down...

[angopop]

Hi Joel.

Was it the one the size of a phone book, or the one the size of about six phone books stacked vertically?

[joel hamilton]

Hi Joel.

Was it the one the size of a phone book, or the one the size of about six phone books stacked vertically?

It is actually 4 rack spaces, really deep, with an annoying fan.

It is beige, and has a serial port that was intended to shut the computer down (before USB) in case we werent there and there was a blackout I guess...

I dont know the exact model number. Pretty much, I just got the most robust UPS I could afford at the time, it has served us well, actually.