APC Smart-UPS 1500 uninterruptible power supply: overview, specifications and reviews

Linear-interactive sources of uninterrupted power supply are unlikely to ever lose their relevance in the market of computer equipment. The whole fault is their purpose - to maintain power supply during short-term power outages and to protect the computer from sudden voltage drops in the network.

The focus of this article is the best UPS in the world in terms of price-performance ratio APC Smart-UPS 1500. The review, characteristics and feedback of owners will provide potential buyers with more information about a remarkable device that can significantly extend the life of all components of a personal computer and server equipment .

All in an adult way

The market of autonomous power supply systems is full of products from different manufacturers, which offer buyers to purchase powerful devices at a low price, while APC is asking for fabulous money for its product - 40,000 rubles. Naturally, the question arises - what for? Buying an APC Smart-UPS 1500 VA, the user receives an honest output power of 980 watts, which will not decrease at high loads, as it does with competitors' devices.

Often, more powerful devices (1200 watts) are connected to this uninterruptible power supply - the UPS produces terrible sounds during overloads, flashes all indicators, but does not turn off. This is the whole beauty of the expensive product of APC, its name is fault tolerance. Therefore, people buy such UPSs and connect them not only to personal computers, but also to servers, network equipment and multimedia centers.

Tactical and technical characteristics

To the APC Smart-UPS 1500 UPS, potential buyers will certainly have questions not only about the price, but about the big weight - 25 kilograms in full for a small device really a lot. Literally half of them weigh batteries (lead-acid - as in a car), and a quality transformer inside the case is not at all easy.

As for the technical characteristics, there is nothing to complain about. The time of charging the batteries from scratch is 3 hours. One charge lasts for 7 minutes (at a consumption of 800-980 watts). At lower loads (350-600 W), the UPS is capable of maintaining uninterrupted power supply for 20-40 minutes. As for the overload (1200 watts), then the device is capable of working for about 2-3 minutes. The range of input voltage from the network is 160-286 V, and the impulse protection is 480 Joules.

First introduction to the UPS

Owners of the device in their reviews recommend all customers to keep the instruction and disks with the software coming in the bundle. The fact is that the official site of the manufacturer does not contain the necessary information, and therefore, when there is a need for fine-tuning, it will be impossible to perform the task. APC Smart-UPS 1500 instruction (paper version) is quite primitive, the description is more about safe replacement of batteries and correct connection of computer equipment. But the manual, recorded on an optical disc, is respected by all users.

When the UPS is turned on for the first time, the manufacturer requires charging fully the batteries (leaving the device connected to the network for 8 hours) and calibrating. This action is mandatory for performing only with APC batteries. In other cases (installation of non-standard batteries) calibration is prohibited.

Support for all kinds of batteries

Quite a strange policy in the manufacturer for relatively unattended sealed batteries. The manufacturer requires (in the instruction there is a warning) that the user installs only branded batteries in the APC Smart-UPS 1500 (12 volt and 7.5 ampere battery), while warning the wearer about problems with calibration and recommends not to install the tank with Characteristics that go beyond the limits of 11.5 - 12.5 V and 7-7.7 A).

In fact, the user's hands are untied - why buy expensive branded batteries (a set worth 10-15 thousand rubles), if you can take Chinese at a price not higher than 3000 rubles per set. This loophole is used by many owners who use this APC product.

Calibration Features

The manufacturer is silent about the small inconvenience that awaits the owner. The fact is that the usual calibration of the APC Smart-UPS 1500 takes a lot of time and requires constant attention of the user. The procedure looks something like this:

• You need to connect the UPS to the computer via a USB or COM cable;
• Install the driver and software;
• Start the calibration and follow the messages of the program:
• Submit a load of 50% of the maximum power (you need to find a device with a capacity of 490 watts);
• Submit the maximum load (respectively 980 watts);
• Disconnect all devices and wait for the completion of the procedure (about one hour).

Not every user will agree to a calibration. Naturally, the question arises - what will happen if you simply insert batteries, charge them and connect a computer to the UPS. By the time of battery life, there is no difference, only the warning system (indicator lights and built-in speaker) will make a howl of discharged batteries that are not calibrated (warning of a shutdown).

Pleasant features of the UPS

Speaking about the advantages of APC Smart-UPS 1500, many owners do not forget to mention in their feedback about the function "Cold start". For uninterruptible power supplies, this is one of the best features that allows you to turn on your computer from batteries, in the absence of electricity. The only drawback - the battery life of the connected computer equipment is doubled, but, as practice shows, this inclusion is enough to make the necessary actions with files or documentation.

The second interesting feature in this UPS is the function of rectifying the voltage in the network. In older buildings, weak wiring under heavy loads does not always produce an honest voltage of 220 volts. Often, the indicator "jumps" in the range of 170-250 V. For a transformer built into the device, this is not a problem - the user will hear only the clicks the UPS issues when the rectifier is turned on .

Hardware Management

Officially, in the world market, the manufacturer introduced APC Smart-UPS SC 1500 in the segment of server and communication equipment. Hence, as many users believe in their reviews, and such a high price. When it comes to servers, many owners of the UPS immediately have thoughts about remote management of an uninterruptible power supply and about the possibility of programming a device controller .

In fact, APC can customize any user - you just need to connect the UPS to the computer with an interface cable, install drivers and software. The programming functionality is extensive - from controlling the battery alarm to the correct shutdown of all connected computer equipment. And the program is able to complete problem processes with redundancy of the executed data.

Problems and solutions

As with any electronic equipment, APC Smart-UPS 1500 may experience malfunctions during operation, which are often solved by users on the spot. The actual problem is the lack of charge in the batteries - when the power is turned off, the UPS issues a continuous squeak (the indicator light is red) and spontaneously turns off, preventing the computer from completing the correct operation. The situation is corrected by replacing the batteries.

If the device is operated for a longer time in a humid and unheated room (5-6 years), a more serious problem may arise - the UPS, if it touches the housing with its hand, beats current and often makes strange sounds (intermittent hum). It's all about the transformer, which has a damp winding. In such cases, specialist intervention is required, otherwise a short circuit will not be avoided in the future - strangely enough, the electrical wiring burns, not the connected equipment.

Owner feedback

It is quite difficult to provide negative feedback in the media regarding the health of the APC Smart-UPS 1500 device. They simply do not exist. You can meet only recommendations for improving the work with the software and hardware, which the manufacturer has not mentioned in the user's manual. Absence of shortcomings says a lot - a unique source of uninterruptible power really deserves the respect of all owners.

But if you try hard, the negative can always be found. The main disadvantage of the APC Smart-UPS 1500 is the price (40 000 rubles). For such money you can buy a good laptop for games and entertainment. Naturally, potential buyers have questions about this topic, but only those who do not understand computer equipment and have not heard anything about fault tolerance.

Finally

The conclusion suggests only one: APC Smart-UPS 1500 is the best purchase for all users who are looking to themselves a decent source of uninterrupted power for work or home use. In the "price-quality" ratio, there are simply no analogues on the market, and it will be confirmed not only by any owner, but also by the system administrator who constantly works with server equipment and probably knows the UPS in a good sense.