Computer Battery Backup ?

[billt]

I have my desk top computer system on a large battery backup that sits under my desk that I have my computer, monitor, and speakers hooked up to. This morning we had a power failure. (The first one we've had in a long while). The house went dead, but the battery backup kicked in instantly just like it's supposed to, and the computer didn't skip a beat. It only lasted about 3 minutes, then everything came back on. The battery backup did everything it was supposed to do.

That got me thinking. I'm wondering if I should deliberately pull the plug once and a while, and allow the battery to run down and recharge itself? I know I do that with my laptop from time to time because I read it is good for the battery to deep cycle it by running it down on battery power only, (to about 10%), then allow it to completely recharge itself. But I don't know if these desk top backup batteries are the same type? This thing is heavy, and about the size of a small car battery, with a bunch of outlets spaced across the top.

[Pathfinder]

Depends on the battery technology IMHO. If it's the old lead-acid type (from the weight you describe, it might well be), it's probably not necessary as these are the same batteries used in your car.

If the technology is Ni-Cad, it's probably not a bad idea. Newer stuff like Li-ion doesn't need it; these are used in your cell phones.

Note: lead-acid batteries do go bad - at a couple companies I worked at replacing the batteries in the UPS was a major expense. The Chinese office had 12 out of 14 bad and needed to be replaced. Luckily, the other company got that UPS! 

That said, it couldn't hurt to test them periodically. The label should tell you the capacity and use an ammeter to determine the actual output. Sadly, batteries in consumer-grade UPS typically are not serviceable, but if the warranty is expired, you can always crack the case and try replacing them. I've never done it tho.

[Timothy]

The type I've used in the office included a software application to do a diagnostic test on the UPS at preset intervals.  Ours worked for about 30-45 minutes in a power failure.

[GASPASSERDELUXE]

The type I've used in the office included a software application to do a diagnostic test on the UPS at preset intervals.  Ours worked for about 30-45 minutes in a power failure.

They were designed to give you enough time to safely shut down your computer without loosing any thing that hadn't been saved.

[Timothy]

They were designed to give you enough time to safely shut down your computer without loosing any thing that hadn't been saved.

Yes, the only people that had them were us high tech Solidworks guys.  The regular office personnel didn't get them as everything ran off the server.  We stored nothing locally.  It's a lot easier to restore an office document vs a model or assembly we were working on.  I set my autosave to about five minute intervals.  Other guys had to learn the hard way.

[Sponsor]

[Pathfinder]

Yes, the only people that had them were us high tech Solidworks guys.  The regular office personnel didn't get them as everything ran off the server.  We stored nothing locally.  It's a lot easier to restore an office document vs a model or assembly we were working on.  I set my autosave to about five minute intervals.  Other guys had to learn the hard way.

Optimist!

Mine are all set to 3 minutes.

[Timothy]

Optimist!

Mine are all set to 3 minutes.

I'm also highly trained to hit the save button without thinking about it!  With CAD/CAMM applications, they generally make a backup copy with every save as well or you can set it up that way.  I've had a keyboard in front of me nearly all of my adult life!

 

[TAB]

with cam  I like to save after every G code

 


I miss my 3 axis CNC router.   

[Timothy]

with cam  I like to save after every G code
 
I miss my 3 axis CNC router.   

I assume you're using direct input methods?

Find a CAMM software package to do that for you.  SollidWorks has one that I hear is good and then there is the old standby MasterCam.  Then, you have a parametric solid model to export to anything and anyone that is readily modified.  Again, I'm not a machinist but was about to go for some MasterCam training to get into the programming side.

[TAB]

when your doing what ammounts to square panels with "tabs"  its faster to do dircet coding then work with a program like solid works.  Atleast it was for me.   Now diffrent shapes is another matter.