Leaving a comp on all the time + UPS

[jameshanley39]

if you leave a comp on for day and nights.. with no UPS, how long
would it last on average? woudl it be better to turn it off if no UPS?

is there a nto too expensive way to measure and record fluctuations so
you know that if a comp has died, it was due to a voltage fluctuation?

is it just voltage fluctuations.. how about current fluctuations?

 

[Smith]

Well, my brother has left his on pretty much 24/7 for 3+ years with no UPS
and it's still going strong. I only put a UPS on it three weeks ago (they
were one sale .

 

[Rod Speed]

if you leave a comp on for day and nights..
with no UPS, how long would it last on average?

Just as long as if you turn it off every night.

woudl it be better to turn it off if no UPS?
Nope.

is there a nto too expensive way to measure and record fluctuations so
you know that if a comp has died, it was due to a voltage fluctuation?

Nope, those dont come cheap.

is it just voltage fluctuations..
Yes.

how about current fluctuations?

Those can only be due to voltage fluctuations.
Its the voltage and resistance that determines the current.

 

[kony]

if you leave a comp on for day and nights.. with no UPS, how long
would it last on average?

Depends on the system, how cool it runs, quality of parts,
which part is the first failure point. No easy answer, if
we could examine all your parts we might be able to make a
comparison to some other hypothetical system but any one
sample could last significantly longer, or shorter, not even
considering whether you would replace the first part that
failed or throw the whole thing away at that point... since
the bottom line is that "something" has to fail first, and
most parts are replaceable.

woudl it be better to turn it off if no UPS?

An UPS offers you protection by itself. "IF" it had better
power surge protection than a standalone surge protector
(whole house type is prefered) that may help. If it had a
line conditioner that might help. You might instead damage
the UPS and it might cost more to replace than the other
part that would have been damaged if you had no UPS.

is there a nto too expensive way to measure and record fluctuations so
you know that if a comp has died, it was due to a voltage fluctuation?

No. If you had a good background in electronics you could
probably rig something up, but IMO, not worth the bother.

is it just voltage fluctuations.. how about current fluctuations?

Same thing, sort-of, current flows based upon the voltage
difference.

 

[Ashton Crusher]

if you leave a comp on for day and nights.. with no UPS, how long
would it last on average? woudl it be better to turn it off if no UPS?

is there a nto too expensive way to measure and record fluctuations so
you know that if a comp has died, it was due to a voltage fluctuation?

is it just voltage fluctuations.. how about current fluctuations?

I think it will last longer then you will want to keep using it. I
leave mine on all the time 24/7 and us a UPS. The UPS protects
against data loss due to power outages's and also acts as a surge
suppressor. When something makes my lights flicker you don't even
notice it on the computer. I just use a cheap UPS good for maybe 5
minutes with the computer, printer (inkjet, not laser) and monitor
plugged into it so nothing goes out.

 

[Rod Speed]

Depends on the system, how cool it runs, quality of parts,
which part is the first failure point. No easy answer, if
we could examine all your parts we might be able to make a
comparison to some other hypothetical system but any one
sample could last significantly longer, or shorter, not even
considering whether you would replace the first part that
failed or throw the whole thing away at that point... since
the bottom line is that "something" has to fail first, and
most parts are replaceable.

The reality is that very few systems ever fail
due to the number of hours of use they get.

An UPS offers you protection by itself. "IF" it had better
power surge protection than a standalone surge protector
(whole house type is prefered) that may help. If it had a
line conditioner that might help. You might instead damage
the UPS and it might cost more to replace than the other
part that would have been damaged if you had no UPS.

 

[jameshanley39]

I think it will last longer then you will want to keep using it. I
leave mine on all the time 24/7 and us a UPS. The UPS protects
against data loss due to power outages's and also acts as a surge
suppressor. When something makes my lights flicker you don't even
notice it on the computer. I just use a cheap UPS good for maybe 5
minutes with the computer, printer (inkjet, not laser) and monitor
plugged into it so nothing goes out.

can you give me a link to a similar or same UPS?


TIA

 

[w_tom]

Look at its specs. Computer must work just fine even when voltage
drops so low that incandescent lamps dim to less than 40% intensity.
How often does your electricity dim that low? Computer power supplies
must be that robust (which is why power supplies should not be
purchased only on price and watts). Daily voltage fluctuations (and
other electrical parameters) must not cause computer damage.

In fact, what is some of the 'dirtiest' electricity seen by a
computer? When UPS is in battery backup mode. Why can UPS output such
'dirty' electricity that may even damage some small electric motors?
Because computer power supply must be so robust.

Use a computer like a TV, a radio, a light bulb, or any other
appliance. Leaving each on does nothing useful; simply wastes
electricity.

Appliances have internal protection that makes voltage fluctuations
irrelevant. Those rare fluctuations (that may occur typically once
every seven years and may overwhelm internal appliance protection) are
made irrelevant by a 'whole house' protector.

Power off or hibernate the machine when done.

 

[Joel]

if you leave a comp on for day and nights.. with no UPS, how long
would it last on average? woudl it be better to turn it off if no UPS?

is there a nto too expensive way to measure and record fluctuations so
you know that if a comp has died, it was due to a voltage fluctuation?

is it just voltage fluctuations.. how about current fluctuations?

... way way way back to dino-age before Internet was born I used to run a
BBS so the system was running 24/7 (nothing but a good fan to keep them
cool). And I have always had my system running 24/7 for years without UPS
*until* few months ago I ran into few problem with OPPD while a local store
had the UPS onsale so I got one.

I always leave it ON

 

[Rod Speed]

Look at its specs. Computer must work just fine even when voltage
drops so low that incandescent lamps dim to less than 40% intensity.
How often does your electricity dim that low? Computer power supplies
must be that robust (which is why power supplies should not be
purchased only on price and watts). Daily voltage fluctuations (and
other electrical parameters) must not cause computer damage.

In fact, what is some of the 'dirtiest' electricity seen by a computer?
When UPS is in battery backup mode. Why can UPS output
such 'dirty' electricity that may even damage some small electric
motors? Because computer power supply must be so robust.

Wrong, because the power supply rectifys the
mains and that gets rid of any reasonable 'dirt'

Use a computer like a TV, a radio, a light bulb, or any other appliance.
Leaving each on does nothing useful; simply wastes electricity.

Wrong again with a light bulb.

Appliances have internal protection that makes voltage fluctuations irrelevant.

Wrong again, depends on how bad the fluctuations are.

Those rare fluctuations (that may occur typically once
every seven years and may overwhelm internal appliance
protection) are made irrelevant by a 'whole house' protector.

Pity about the cost of those. Its much better
to ensure that your insurance covers those.

Power off or hibernate the machine when done.

No thanks.

 

[w_tom]

can you give me a link to a similar or same UPS?

Most any computer grade UPS does as was described. If in doubt, look
at numbers in their specifications. A computer grade UPS connects
computer directly to AC mains when not in battery backup mode - just
like a computer connected directly to wall receptacle. But when power
is lost, the UPS must switchover to battery in less than 15
milliseconds. A switchover time that is well shorter than period a
computer must keep running, uninterrupted and without power. Just
about any UPS including the cheapest type (computer grade) will
accomplish that data protection. But again, don't just take anyone's
word for it. Get the numerical specifications.

If it doesn't provide those spec numbers, then go find an honest
manufacturer.