Belkin - Office Series 750VA UPS (F6C750-AVR)
and Universal 800VA UPS (F6C800-UNV)
Belkin
has a full line of Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPS) ranging from their
375VA UPS ($43.99) to the 1500VA Dual Form Factor Small Enterprise model
($199.99). They even offer a 1400VA pure sine wave version ($599.99) for
those who need an ideal power signal. We looked at a couple of their low-cost
UPS models for this review. The Office Series 750VA UPS (model F6C750-AVR)
is a compact design that offers power backup protection from brownouts
and blackouts. The unit is designed to handle loads as high as 400 watts,
which works great for most PCs (including monitor) as well as some home
electronics. Four of the six outlets are fully protected from power outages
using the internal battery backup, while the remaining two outlets are
only protected from voltage surges. The design features Automatic Voltage
Regulation (AVR) for line conditioning and protection against brownouts,
during which the voltage sags momentarily. The back of the unit has three
RJ11 Telephone/Fax Surge Protection jacks (1-In, 2-Out) to protect connected
phone line equipment. A USB port is also available for connecting the
unit to a computer for complete monitoring and controlling capabilities.
The front panel has a power button and three LEDs for status. The green Power LED indicates power is on and begins to flash if the AVR circuitry kicks in. The yellow On Battery LED illuminates when power is interrupted and the UPS is running from the batteries or if the battery power is running low. The red Fault/Overload LED comes on if there is a problem with the unit or if the battery is weak or bad. It will begin to flash if the load is too high. The red rear panel LED lights up if there is a wiring problem, such as reversed hot/neutral or a floating ground.
Monitoring
Software
The
Belkin Bulldog Plus Monitor software included with the unit provides
the user with the ability to monitor vitals such as input and output voltages,
loading level, messaging, diagnostic support, history event logs, scheduled
shutdowns, and log management.
The
scroll screen displays the voltage history just like a strip chart recorder
from the old days. Users can see both the input voltage and output voltage
together on a single screen. Once a power failure has been detected, the
software launches a broadcast message that counts down from 5 minutes.
This gives users enough time to save critical data. The F6C750-AVR also
includes a $75,000 Connected Equipment Warranty, a Data Recovery
Warranty, and a 3-Year Product Warranty (See manufacturer for
details). The Office Series 750VA UPS (F6C750-AVR) retail for $109.99
making it very affordable.
The
Universal UPS 800VA is another affordable UPS that has a slightly higher
output rating than the Office Series 750VA mentioned above. The 800VA
UPS is designed to handle loads as high as 450 Watts and is noticeably
heavier than the 750VA UPS. Like the Office Series 750VA, four of the
six outlets are fully protected from power outages and the remaining two
outlets are only protected from voltage surges. The Automatic Voltage
Regulation (AVR) circuitry is also included in this design to protects
against brownouts. The rear panel has two RJ11/RJ45 Surge Protection jacks
(1-In, 1-Out) that protect phone or computer LAN equipment. A USB port
and RS232 port offer a bit more flexibility than the earlier UPS, yet
the same Bulldog Plus software is used to monitor, control and
configure the unit. The F6C800-UNV also includes a $150,000 Connected
Equipment Warranty, a Data Recovery Warranty, and a 3-Year
Product Warranty (See manufacturer for details). The Universal 800VA
UPS (F6C800-UNV) retails for $119.99, only $10 more than the 400 watt
model. The
same set of LED indicators are present on this unit providing the user
with information about the state of the UPS.
Modified
Sinewave Output
Both models reviewed here generate modified sinewave AC waveforms when
running on batteries. These outputs have the advantage of simplifying
the electronics within the UPS unit, yet can cause problems with some
electronic components. Rather than rising slowly and falling slowly following
the sine function, these units switch between a V+ voltage, ground and
a V- voltage. By controlling the amount of time the pulse is positive
and then negative, the UPS can create an effective RMS voltage similar
to the incoming utility power.
Conclusion
Belkin's new 750VA (400 watt) and 800VA (450 watt) UPS units provide an
economical way of insuring continuous power to critical products in the
event of a brownout or complete power failure. Both systems worked very
well and the Bulldog Plus software included with the units provided us
with complete control over the UPS.
The downside to these type of power inverters is the modified sinewave
output. True sinewave designs are available, but are considerable more
expensive. If you can live with a modified sinewave UPS, these units offer
exceptional value and performance.
- Rita Nakano