Life expectancy

First, a transient is sent from left to right down a wire.
Where does a wave first appear? At left end; where the
transient enters? Of course not. This is basic electrical
knowledge. A wave first appears on the right side - at the
far end. Nothing new here. One who did not know this would
jump to wild assumptions that electricity travels like ocean
waves. It does not, as demonstrated where an electrical wave
first appears. Point #1: plug-in manufacturers hope you will
erroneously 'assume' electrical transients are like ocean
waves.

More about how electricity works. First the current appears
everywhere in that circuit. Then as voltage increases,
something (or many things) in that circuit fails. Computer and
UPS are confronted by same transient equally - in direct
contradiction to popular myths.

Second, how does a protector circuit connect to AC mains?
Well disconnect computer from UPS. Plug both UPS and computer
into the same wall receptacle. To a destructive transient,
the circuit has not changed. Protector circuit connects in
parallel to that computer - not in series as you have
assumed. They are not called 'series' mode protectors for
good reason. They are called 'shunt' mode protectors because
they connect in parallel - not in series.

Third, the protector circuit is constructed using MOVs. Do
MOVs sit between the computer and AC mains? If yes, then
computer would never get power. MOVs connect to AC mains just
like another light bulb. They connect in parallel. Their
'protection' is found on both sides on the UPS. In the
meantime, a destructive transient is longitudinal mode. That
means MOVs either will not see the transient (voltage is
equal on both sides), or MOVs provide the transient with more
destructive paths into an adjacent computer. Learn the
different transient modes so that myth purveyors cannot lie.
The manufacturer hopes you will assume all transients are
normal mode - to hype ineffective protection. More electrical
engineering terms that say the UPS does not provide effective
protection. More information that becomes obvious with
numerical specs from that manufacturer.

A transient confronted UPS and computer simultaneously.
Internal protection inside computer was sufficient. Computer
not damaged while adjacent UPS was damaged. Protection inside
UPS was grossly undersized - to promote more myths. An
effective protector is not damaged by a transient. #4 reason
why that UPS was not effective protection.

To sell ineffective protectors on myths, a UPS manufacturer
hopes you don't learn how electricity works. If one does not
know #1 - where the transient first appears - then one is a
target for myths encouraged by that plug-in UPS manufacturer.
If one did not know that protector is shunt mode - point #2 -
then again they promote myths. Without knowledge of MOVs and
longitudinal transients, then myth purveyors hope you never
learn point #3.

But again, the bottom line. A surge protector is only as
effective as its earth ground. Where is earth ground in that
UPS? Notice I did not say safety ground or equipment ground.
Earth ground. Major difference. UPS has all but no earth
ground. Therefore UPS does not even claim protection from the
typically destructive transient. No earth ground means no
effective protection.

Three fundamental facts of electrical engineering and a
fourth about MOVs say the plug-in UPS does not provide
effective protection. I learned far more than laws of
physics. I have a few generations of doing this stuff - both
theory and 'electrons under my fingernails'. Plug-in
protectors do not even claim to protect from a typically
destructive transient.

notritenottteri wrote:
gee guy with no CV HAve you new laws of physics where you are? MAYbe
you should stop wiring UPSs and PC in parallel? T hen they wouldn't see
the surge at exactly the same time. LAst I heard but maybe on your
planet it is different but the first device in a series "sees" the surge
before the next one up stream. Do you know something different?

Please share!

The technicals are posted to notritenottteri who is more
interest in learning. You clearly do not have UPS schematics
nor do you comprehend how those protector circuits work.
However, how many protectors have you built in the past few
decades? How many transients did your designs stop or fail to
stop. You see, Michael, I have built this stuff before there
were PC. Had some interesting successes and a few spectacular
failures. IOW I learned the concept both from theoretical
sources (the manufacturer data sheets and application notes)
AND buy building and testing this stuff with lightning.

Now maybe you want to apologize for your unfounded
statement:
If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work ...

Plug the computer into a UPS or plug same computer into the
wall receptacle shared by the UPS. To destructive surges, it
remains the same circuit. Again, I provide facts to
notritenottteri who was instead interested in learning before
he knew things. Read that reply if you want to learn about
surge protection.

"Michael W. Ryder" wrote:
If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work you wouldn't be
making the statements you are. The UPS is before the computer in the
circuit. The transient has to go Through the UPS to affect the
"protected" components. The protected components do NOT have to see the
same transient that the UPS does. The UPS can be destroyed and not allow
any power through. This may not always be the case but in most cases
this is true. While other means of protecting equipment should be
considered no One method is enough.

The UPS provides no effective protection. Therefore its
components (necessary so they can claim some microscopic
protection) were destroyed by a transient too small to harm
the adjacent computer. Tell me where the protection was?

Power strips downline of the UPS are suppose to do any
better? The UPS contains the exact same protector circuit as
in those power strips. You tell me. If the UPS does not
provide effective protection, then why are power strips with
the same circuit suppose to do anything better? The reason he
recommends those power strips? He read on retail shelves that
is it a surge protector. Therefore he assumed it is surge
protection. He used called junk science reasoning.

Effective protector shunt transients 'less than 10 feet' to
earth AND must not be damaged. Both that UPS and power strips
forget to mention earthing and the necessary 10 feet. Then
Ken Marsh will promote a myth. Had he first learned the
numbers and principles, then he could have seen through their
half truths. He did not. He even promoted the myth about
filtering inside a power strip. They got Ken Marsh to ignore
THE most critical protection component - earth ground. Ken
Marsh recommends protectors that have no effective earth
ground connection.

The UPS provided protection from blackouts and brownouts.
Neither damage electronics. The UPS does not claim effective
protection from harmonics, noise, or destructive transients.
Protection is provided inside the computer power supply in
conjunction with the properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Why did other equipment die? IOW everything else in the
building including smoke detectors, GFCI outlet, dimmer
switches, furnace controls, dishwasher, etc all were
destroyed? What protected them? Oh. Some other household
devices survived without any protector? Ken Marsh - your
conclusions are not valid until you can explain other
electrical devices survived.

Ken Marsh recommends we spend hundreds or thousands of
dollars on protectors that don't even claim protection from
the one type of destructive transient. They are not even
effectively earthed - therefore could never accomplish what he
claims. However Ken Marsh could have protected those
electronics - and many other household electronics - for $1
per protected appliance. Even the money is damning numbers
that say Ken has promoted a scam.

Ken Marsh wrote:

Paul wrote:
#Cheap UPSes offer no protection at all, as they are
#actually SPS (standby power supplies) - they are a "straight wire"
#to power spikes, and the unit only cuts over to batteries if
#the AC power dies for enough milliseconds.

I agree with part of the statement, about spikes... which is why each of
my cheap UPS's are downstream of a good ($50-$75) power strip, which are
equipped with EMI/RFI filtering, few-nanosecond clamping, etc.

But really, "no protection at all"? That's a very strong statemnent. I
beg to differ. At work we had a UPS "take the hit" and save a PC while
other equipment died.

In addition, I live in an area of frequent, spontaneous electrical
events, and our home computers used to reboot or shutdown a lot. I got a
couple of cheap UPS's (SPS, whatever), now the UPS clicks when the
lights flicker but the computers keep on running. I haven't had one
spontaneous reboot/shutdown since I plugged them in. During a couple of
power outages they have allowed sane, unhurried shutdowns.

I'm sure there are any number of electrical conditions that would fry
the cheap UPS/SPS, and sometimes the computer with it, or cause a
spontaneous shutdowns/reboots. But given the money invested versus the
protection I've received, I think a cheap consumer UPS is a good deal
all around, certainly a lot of protection for the money, especially when
team with a good filtering, clamping power strip.

Ken.

w_tom wrote:

The technicals are posted to notritenottteri who is more
interest in learning. You clearly do not have UPS schematics
nor do you comprehend how those protector circuits work.
However, how many protectors have you built in the past few
decades? How many transients did your designs stop or fail to
stop. You see, Michael, I have built this stuff before there
were PC. Had some interesting successes and a few spectacular
failures. IOW I learned the concept both from theoretical
sources (the manufacturer data sheets and application notes)
AND buy building and testing this stuff with lightning.

Now maybe you want to apologize for your unfounded
statement:


You sound just like a tech I used to know more than 20 years ago, just
enough knowledge to be dangerous. The first time I met him was when he
told one of our customers that they had lost all their data. All that
was wrong was that the belt on the hard drive had gone bad. 5 minutes
after he replaced the belt the machine was up and running with No data
loss. Next he told another customer that the reason they were having
all their hard drive problems was that they were too close to the dam
(Hoover Dam)!
The hard drive problems were caused by transients in the line from a
number of heavy industrial machines in the area. Placing a whole
building isolator fixed part of the problem. Going to a UPS where All
the power was generated by the battery solved the rest of the problem.
Just because you have solved a problem in the past does not mean you are
now omniscient or that all problems can be fixed the same way. If you
are so good at power solutions how come you are not working for some one
like APC?


If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work ...


Plug the computer into a UPS or plug same computer into the
wall receptacle shared by the UPS. To destructive surges, it
remains the same circuit. Again, I provide facts to
notritenottteri who was instead interested in learning before
he knew things. Read that reply if you want to learn about
surge protection.


How much electrical engineering training have you had?


"Michael W. Ryder" wrote:

If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work you wouldn't be
making the statements you are. The UPS is before the computer in the
circuit. The transient has to go Through the UPS to affect the
"protected" components. The protected components do NOT have to see the
same transient that the UPS does. The UPS can be destroyed and not allow
any power through. This may not always be the case but in most cases
this is true. While other means of protecting equipment should be
considered no One method is enough.


The UPS provides no effective protection. Therefore its
components (necessary so they can claim some microscopic
protection) were destroyed by a transient too small to harm
the adjacent computer. Tell me where the protection was?

Power strips downline of the UPS are suppose to do any
better? The UPS contains the exact same protector circuit as
in those power strips. You tell me. If the UPS does not
provide effective protection, then why are power strips with
the same circuit suppose to do anything better? The reason he
recommends those power strips? He read on retail shelves that
is it a surge protector. Therefore he assumed it is surge
protection. He used called junk science reasoning.

Effective protector shunt transients 'less than 10 feet' to
earth AND must not be damaged. Both that UPS and power strips
forget to mention earthing and the necessary 10 feet. Then
Ken Marsh will promote a myth. Had he first learned the
numbers and principles, then he could have seen through their
half truths. He did not. He even promoted the myth about
filtering inside a power strip. They got Ken Marsh to ignore
THE most critical protection component - earth ground. Ken
Marsh recommends protectors that have no effective earth
ground connection.

The UPS provided protection from blackouts and brownouts.
Neither damage electronics. The UPS does not claim effective
protection from harmonics, noise, or destructive transients.
Protection is provided inside the computer power supply in
conjunction with the properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Why did other equipment die? IOW everything else in the
building including smoke detectors, GFCI outlet, dimmer
switches, furnace controls, dishwasher, etc all were
destroyed? What protected them? Oh. Some other household
devices survived without any protector? Ken Marsh - your
conclusions are not valid until you can explain other
electrical devices survived.

Ken Marsh recommends we spend hundreds or thousands of
dollars on protectors that don't even claim protection from
the one type of destructive transient. They are not even
effectively earthed - therefore could never accomplish what he
claims. However Ken Marsh could have protected those
electronics - and many other household electronics - for $1
per protected appliance. Even the money is damning numbers
that say Ken has promoted a scam.

Ken Marsh wrote:


Paul wrote:
#Cheap UPSes offer no protection at all, as they are
#actually SPS (standby power supplies) - they are a "straight wire"
#to power spikes, and the unit only cuts over to batteries if
#the AC power dies for enough milliseconds.

I agree with part of the statement, about spikes... which is why each of
my cheap UPS's are downstream of a good ($50-$75) power strip, which are
equipped with EMI/RFI filtering, few-nanosecond clamping, etc.

But really, "no protection at all"? That's a very strong statemnent. I
beg to differ. At work we had a UPS "take the hit" and save a PC while
other equipment died.

In addition, I live in an area of frequent, spontaneous electrical
events, and our home computers used to reboot or shutdown a lot. I got a
couple of cheap UPS's (SPS, whatever), now the UPS clicks when the
lights flicker but the computers keep on running. I haven't had one
spontaneous reboot/shutdown since I plugged them in. During a couple of
power outages they have allowed sane, unhurried shutdowns.

I'm sure there are any number of electrical conditions that would fry
the cheap UPS/SPS, and sometimes the computer with it, or cause a
spontaneous shutdowns/reboots. But given the money invested versus the
protection I've received, I think a cheap consumer UPS is a good deal
all around, certainly a lot of protection for the money, especially when
team with a good filtering, clamping power strip.

Ken.

x-no-archive: yes:
left to right? Christ what are you doing directing traffic? Do you make
this stuff up yourself or do you have a sentence generator of some sort?
First, a transient is sent from left to right down a wire.
Where does a wave first appear? At left end; where the
transient enters? Of course not. This is basic electrical
knowledge. A wave first appears on the right side - at the
far end. Nothing new here. One who did not know this would
jump to wild assumptions that electricity travels like ocean
waves. It does not, as demonstrated where an electrical wave
first appears. Point #1: plug-in manufacturers hope you will
erroneously 'assume' electrical transients are like ocean
waves.

More about how electricity works. First the current appears
everywhere in that circuit. Then as voltage increases,
something (or many things) in that circuit fails. Computer and
UPS are confronted by same transient equally - in direct
contradiction to popular myths.

Second, how does a protector circuit connect to AC mains?
Well disconnect computer from UPS. Plug both UPS and computer
into the same wall receptacle. To a destructive transient,
the circuit has not changed. Protector circuit connects in
parallel to that computer - not in series as you have
assumed. They are not called 'series' mode protectors for
good reason. They are called 'shunt' mode protectors because
they connect in parallel - not in series.

Third, the protector circuit is constructed using MOVs. Do
MOVs sit between the computer and AC mains? If yes, then
computer would never get power. MOVs connect to AC mains just
like another light bulb. They connect in parallel. Their
'protection' is found on both sides on the UPS. In the
meantime, a destructive transient is longitudinal mode. That
means MOVs either will not see the transient (voltage is
equal on both sides), or MOVs provide the transient with more
destructive paths into an adjacent computer. Learn the
different transient modes so that myth purveyors cannot lie.
The manufacturer hopes you will assume all transients are
normal mode - to hype ineffective protection. More electrical
engineering terms that say the UPS does not provide effective
protection. More information that becomes obvious with
numerical specs from that manufacturer.

A transient confronted UPS and computer simultaneously.
Internal protection inside computer was sufficient. Computer
not damaged while adjacent UPS was damaged. Protection inside
UPS was grossly undersized - to promote more myths. An
effective protector is not damaged by a transient. #4 reason
why that UPS was not effective protection.

To sell ineffective protectors on myths, a UPS manufacturer
hopes you don't learn how electricity works. If one does not
know #1 - where the transient first appears - then one is a
target for myths encouraged by that plug-in UPS manufacturer.
If one did not know that protector is shunt mode - point #2 -
then again they promote myths. Without knowledge of MOVs and
longitudinal transients, then myth purveyors hope you never
learn point #3.

But again, the bottom line. A surge protector is only as
effective as its earth ground. Where is earth ground in that
UPS? Notice I did not say safety ground or equipment ground.
Earth ground. Major difference. UPS has all but no earth
ground. Therefore UPS does not even claim protection from the
typically destructive transient. No earth ground means no
effective protection.

Three fundamental facts of electrical engineering and a
fourth about MOVs say the plug-in UPS does not provide
effective protection. I learned far more than laws of
physics. I have a few generations of doing this stuff - both
theory and 'electrons under my fingernails'. Plug-in
protectors do not even claim to protect from a typically
destructive transient.

notritenottteri wrote:

gee guy with no CV HAve you new laws of physics where you are? MAYbe
you should stop wiring UPSs and PC in parallel? T hen they wouldn't see
the surge at exactly the same time. LAst I heard but maybe on your
planet it is different but the first device in a series "sees" the surge
before the next one up stream. Do you know something different?

Please share!

x-no-archive: yes:
Tommy boy go get yourself a dictionary and look up the words full of
****. They all apply to you.
The technicals are posted to notritenottteri who is more
interest in learning. You clearly do not have UPS schematics
nor do you comprehend how those protector circuits work.
However, how many protectors have you built in the past few
decades? How many transients did your designs stop or fail to
stop. You see, Michael, I have built this stuff before there
were PC. Had some interesting successes and a few spectacular
failures. IOW I learned the concept both from theoretical
sources (the manufacturer data sheets and application notes)
AND buy building and testing this stuff with lightning.

Now maybe you want to apologize for your unfounded
statement:

If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work ...


Plug the computer into a UPS or plug same computer into the
wall receptacle shared by the UPS. To destructive surges, it
remains the same circuit. Again, I provide facts to
notritenottteri who was instead interested in learning before
he knew things. Read that reply if you want to learn about
surge protection.

"Michael W. Ryder" wrote:

If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work you wouldn't be
making the statements you are. The UPS is before the computer in the
circuit. The transient has to go Through the UPS to affect the
"protected" components. The protected components do NOT have to see the
same transient that the UPS does. The UPS can be destroyed and not allow
any power through. This may not always be the case but in most cases
this is true. While other means of protecting equipment should be
considered no One method is enough.


The UPS provides no effective protection. Therefore its
components (necessary so they can claim some microscopic
protection) were destroyed by a transient too small to harm
the adjacent computer. Tell me where the protection was?

Power strips downline of the UPS are suppose to do any
better? The UPS contains the exact same protector circuit as
in those power strips. You tell me. If the UPS does not
provide effective protection, then why are power strips with
the same circuit suppose to do anything better? The reason he
recommends those power strips? He read on retail shelves that
is it a surge protector. Therefore he assumed it is surge
protection. He used called junk science reasoning.

Effective protector shunt transients 'less than 10 feet' to
earth AND must not be damaged. Both that UPS and power strips
forget to mention earthing and the necessary 10 feet. Then
Ken Marsh will promote a myth. Had he first learned the
numbers and principles, then he could have seen through their
half truths. He did not. He even promoted the myth about
filtering inside a power strip. They got Ken Marsh to ignore
THE most critical protection component - earth ground. Ken
Marsh recommends protectors that have no effective earth
ground connection.

The UPS provided protection from blackouts and brownouts.
Neither damage electronics. The UPS does not claim effective
protection from harmonics, noise, or destructive transients.
Protection is provided inside the computer power supply in
conjunction with the properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Why did other equipment die? IOW everything else in the
building including smoke detectors, GFCI outlet, dimmer
switches, furnace controls, dishwasher, etc all were
destroyed? What protected them? Oh. Some other household
devices survived without any protector? Ken Marsh - your
conclusions are not valid until you can explain other
electrical devices survived.

Ken Marsh recommends we spend hundreds or thousands of
dollars on protectors that don't even claim protection from
the one type of destructive transient. They are not even
effectively earthed - therefore could never accomplish what he
claims. However Ken Marsh could have protected those
electronics - and many other household electronics - for $1
per protected appliance. Even the money is damning numbers
that say Ken has promoted a scam.

Ken Marsh wrote:


Paul wrote:
#Cheap UPSes offer no protection at all, as they are
#actually SPS (standby power supplies) - they are a "straight wire"
#to power spikes, and the unit only cuts over to batteries if
#the AC power dies for enough milliseconds.

I agree with part of the statement, about spikes... which is why each of
my cheap UPS's are downstream of a good ($50-$75) power strip, which are
equipped with EMI/RFI filtering, few-nanosecond clamping, etc.

But really, "no protection at all"? That's a very strong statemnent. I
beg to differ. At work we had a UPS "take the hit" and save a PC while
other equipment died.

In addition, I live in an area of frequent, spontaneous electrical
events, and our home computers used to reboot or shutdown a lot. I got a
couple of cheap UPS's (SPS, whatever), now the UPS clicks when the
lights flicker but the computers keep on running. I haven't had one
spontaneous reboot/shutdown since I plugged them in. During a couple of
power outages they have allowed sane, unhurried shutdowns.

I'm sure there are any number of electrical conditions that would fry
the cheap UPS/SPS, and sometimes the computer with it, or cause a
spontaneous shutdowns/reboots. But given the money invested versus the
protection I've received, I think a cheap consumer UPS is a good deal
all around, certainly a lot of protection for the money, especially when
team with a good filtering, clamping power strip.

Ken.

x-no-archive: yes:
Tommy is an expert by definition that's a guy from 50 miles out from the
location he needed. Unfortunately the industry is full of them. The
usually masquerade under the guise of consultants.
Lincoln was wrong you can fool some of the people ALL the time!
w_tom wrote:

The technicals are posted to notritenottteri who is more
interest in learning. You clearly do not have UPS schematics
nor do you comprehend how those protector circuits work. However, how
many protectors have you built in the past few
decades? How many transients did your designs stop or fail to
stop. You see, Michael, I have built this stuff before there
were PC. Had some interesting successes and a few spectacular
failures. IOW I learned the concept both from theoretical
sources (the manufacturer data sheets and application notes)
AND buy building and testing this stuff with lightning.

Now maybe you want to apologize for your unfounded
statement:


You sound just like a tech I used to know more than 20 years ago, just
enough knowledge to be dangerous. The first time I met him was when he
told one of our customers that they had lost all their data. All that
was wrong was that the belt on the hard drive had gone bad. 5 minutes
after he replaced the belt the machine was up and running with No data
loss. Next he told another customer that the reason they were having
all their hard drive problems was that they were too close to the dam
(Hoover Dam)!
The hard drive problems were caused by transients in the line from a
number of heavy industrial machines in the area. Placing a whole
building isolator fixed part of the problem. Going to a UPS where All
the power was generated by the battery solved the rest of the problem.
Just because you have solved a problem in the past does not mean you are
now omniscient or that all problems can be fixed the same way. If you
are so good at power solutions how come you are not working for some one
like APC?


If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work ...



Plug the computer into a UPS or plug same computer into the
wall receptacle shared by the UPS. To destructive surges, it
remains the same circuit. Again, I provide facts to
notritenottteri who was instead interested in learning before
he knew things. Read that reply if you want to learn about
surge protection.


How much electrical engineering training have you had?


"Michael W. Ryder" wrote:

If you even had a clue as to how most UPS systems work you wouldn't be
making the statements you are. The UPS is before the computer in the
circuit. The transient has to go Through the UPS to affect the
"protected" components. The protected components do NOT have to see the
same transient that the UPS does. The UPS can be destroyed and not allow
any power through. This may not always be the case but in most cases
this is true. While other means of protecting equipment should be
considered no One method is enough.


The UPS provides no effective protection. Therefore its
components (necessary so they can claim some microscopic
protection) were destroyed by a transient too small to harm
the adjacent computer. Tell me where the protection was?

Power strips downline of the UPS are suppose to do any
better? The UPS contains the exact same protector circuit as
in those power strips. You tell me. If the UPS does not
provide effective protection, then why are power strips with
the same circuit suppose to do anything better? The reason he
recommends those power strips? He read on retail shelves that
is it a surge protector. Therefore he assumed it is surge
protection. He used called junk science reasoning.

Effective protector shunt transients 'less than 10 feet' to
earth AND must not be damaged. Both that UPS and power strips
forget to mention earthing and the necessary 10 feet. Then
Ken Marsh will promote a myth. Had he first learned the
numbers and principles, then he could have seen through their
half truths. He did not. He even promoted the myth about
filtering inside a power strip. They got Ken Marsh to ignore
THE most critical protection component - earth ground. Ken
Marsh recommends protectors that have no effective earth
ground connection.

The UPS provided protection from blackouts and brownouts.
Neither damage electronics. The UPS does not claim effective
protection from harmonics, noise, or destructive transients.
Protection is provided inside the computer power supply in
conjunction with the properly earthed 'whole house' protector.

Why did other equipment die? IOW everything else in the
building including smoke detectors, GFCI outlet, dimmer
switches, furnace controls, dishwasher, etc all were
destroyed? What protected them? Oh. Some other household
devices survived without any protector? Ken Marsh - your
conclusions are not valid until you can explain other
electrical devices survived.

Ken Marsh recommends we spend hundreds or thousands of
dollars on protectors that don't even claim protection from
the one type of destructive transient. They are not even
effectively earthed - therefore could never accomplish what he
claims. However Ken Marsh could have protected those
electronics - and many other household electronics - for $1
per protected appliance. Even the money is damning numbers
that say Ken has promoted a scam.

Ken Marsh wrote:


Paul wrote:
#Cheap UPSes offer no protection at all, as they are
#actually SPS (standby power supplies) - they are a "straight wire"
#to power spikes, and the unit only cuts over to batteries if
#the AC power dies for enough milliseconds.

I agree with part of the statement, about spikes... which is why
each of
my cheap UPS's are downstream of a good ($50-$75) power strip,
which are
equipped with EMI/RFI filtering, few-nanosecond clamping, etc.

But really, "no protection at all"? That's a very strong statemnent. I
beg to differ. At work we had a UPS "take the hit" and save a PC while
other equipment died.

In addition, I live in an area of frequent, spontaneous electrical
events, and our home computers used to reboot or shutdown a lot. I
got a
couple of cheap UPS's (SPS, whatever), now the UPS clicks when the
lights flicker but the computers keep on running. I haven't had one
spontaneous reboot/shutdown since I plugged them in. During a
couple of
power outages they have allowed sane, unhurried shutdowns.

I'm sure there are any number of electrical conditions that would fry
the cheap UPS/SPS, and sometimes the computer with it, or cause a
spontaneous shutdowns/reboots. But given the money invested versus the
protection I've received, I think a cheap consumer UPS is a good deal
all around, certainly a lot of protection for the money, especially
when
team with a good filtering, clamping power strip.

Ken.