A little over 5 years ago, I was not using any ups. Then this happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3KF7dVXYoE Well, the computer went on, off, on, off, on then off. (Power totally dropped and did not come back up for 3 days.) Thankfully, the computer did not sustain any damage. However, from that point on, I use a ups and got that one I have about 1 year ago. It also gives me peace of mind when I am flashing the mainboard bios.
Techguy, a ups is worth it and not something you want to cheap out on. (Otherwise, you can end up with, "WTH! What happened to all my work, it is GONE!")
Lead-acid batteries used in the UPS for a desktop will hold a charge for a few years. The usual problem here is that you believe these batteries will last forever and forget about them. They need to be maintained by adding distilled water on occasion - just like your car battery.
The Lithium-Ion batteries in the laptop will hold a charge for a longer time - but they can't provide the current needed by a desktop. All batteries will charge and discharge a fixed number of times.
I have a few car batteries that have lasted for 5 years - these are the ones that are in working cars - driven at least a few times a week. The batteries that sit in the broken cars get recharged every Spring when I remember to wheel the charger over there. They don't last the 5 years because they get frozen or evaporate the water in the electrolyte.
You also have to clean the crud off the connections. Since there are dissimilar metals involved in there, you will have electroplating happening. Use Copper for all the wiring if possible. This doesn't always happen.
Comments
A little over 5 years ago, I was not using any ups. Then this happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3KF7dVXYoE Well, the computer went on, off, on, off, on then off. (Power totally dropped and did not come back up for 3 days.) Thankfully, the computer did not sustain any damage. However, from that point on, I use a ups and got that one I have about 1 year ago. It also gives me peace of mind when I am flashing the mainboard bios.
Techguy, a ups is worth it and not something you want to cheap out on. (Otherwise, you can end up with, "WTH! What happened to all my work, it is GONE!")
The Lithium-Ion batteries in the laptop will hold a charge for a longer time - but they can't provide the current needed by a desktop. All batteries will charge and discharge a fixed number of times.
I have a few car batteries that have lasted for 5 years - these are the ones that are in working cars - driven at least a few times a week. The batteries that sit in the broken cars get recharged every Spring when I remember to wheel the charger over there. They don't last the 5 years because they get frozen or evaporate the water in the electrolyte.
You also have to clean the crud off the connections. Since there are dissimilar metals involved in there, you will have electroplating happening. Use Copper for all the wiring if possible. This doesn't always happen.