Battery Backup is Important – It Saved My Parent’s Computer
Written: Jun 22 '05 (Updated Jun 22 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Reliable, easy install, can select alarm sound, comes with software and cables
Cons: Despite being advertised as having a replaceable battery, there are no batteries yet available
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line has spent two hours trying to find information on a replacement battery that does not exist.
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| dlstewart's Full Review: Belkin Office Series (F6C550-AVR ) UPS |
A range of severe power fluctuations sent my parent’s computer into shut down. Thankfully their machine was connected to a Belkin UPS Battery Backup. The only problem was that the UPS was about five years old. While it saved the computer, the UPS breathed its last saving the machine. It was time to replace the old UPS with a new one. My parents sent me shopping, and I selected the Belkin UPS Emergency Battery Backup with Surge Protection (model # F6C550-AVR).
What is a UPS?
For those unfamiliar with the term, UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Source. A UPS provides continual power by automatically transferring from AC to battery backup when there is an interruption in power. Should a power outage or interruption occur, the UPS switches from AC to battery backup, and when power returns, switches from battery backup to AC. It’s a seamless transfer that prevents loss of data and damage to machinery.
This Belkin model provides battery backup for up to 28 minutes. This time could be shorter depending upon what computer peripherals are plugged into the UPS unit. The more watts consumed by the devices plugged into the UPS determines the amount of battery backup time the user has. For instance, a CRT monitor uses more watts than an LCD monitor.
A UPS gives the user time to save work, close programs and properly shut down the computer.
What is AVR?
AVR stands for Automatic Voltage Regulation. A voltage regulator smoothes any spikes or sags in electrical current, producing what is called “clean electricity”.
Highlights About this Belkin UPS System
* Up to 28 minutes of battery backup
* 550 VA / 330 Watt capacity / 890 Joules
* Automatic voltage regulation (AVR)
* 6 surge-protected outlets (4 of them provide battery backup)
* USB plug-and-play setup
* Telephone protection for phone/fax/modem
* RJ11 surge protection for telecommunications equipment
* Compatible with Windows XP, ME, 2000, 95, 98, NT and Mac OS X
* Comes with Belkin Power Management software
* Battery can be replaced in the unit (supposedly ... see below)
What comes in the box?
The box is heavy … so heavy that it comes with a convenient plastic handle on top to carry it.
The box contains:
* One External UPS Unit (Black & Gray in color)
* Bulldog Shutdown Software (on CD)
* USB Cable
* Phone Line Cable
* Serial Port Cable
* Large one-page double-sided instruction sheet
UPS Unit Description
The Front
The front of the UPS unit features three LED lights. A green light glows when the AC power is on, and the light flashes when the AVR is active. A yellow LED shows the battery power status. The red light indicates if there is a fault or overload and when to replace the battery. There is also an on/off button and a button that tests to make sure the unit is properly working.
Top of the UPS Unit
This is where the outlet plugs are. The two surge-protected only outlets are set slightly apart from the four battery-backup/surge-protected outlets. They are marked so that it is easy to tell which outlet is which.
Back of the Unit
This is where the phone/fax/modem outlets are located. The USB port is here, too, along with the AC power cord. There is also an AC circuit breaker, which triggers if a power overload occurs. A LED light will turn on at the back of the unit if there is a wiring fault.
The LED Indicators (on the front)
On Line
When this light is solid green, the AC power is on. Flashing green indicates the AVR is active.
On Battery
When this light is flashing yellow, an audible alarm beeps to warn of a problem. There are two situations that can apply to this warning.
1. The UPS is on battery backup, an audible alarm sounds, and the UPS begins the shutdown procedure.
2. The battery is low, an audible alarm buzzes, and the UPS will shutdown.
Fault Overload
If there is a fault or if the battery is weak, a solid red light will appear, and the UPS alarm will sound for 10 seconds. The red light flashes when the battery output draws more power than the UPS can provide.
Site Wiring Fault
When this light remains a solid red, the unit has detected a possible wiring fault.
Alarms
A great feature is that the user can choose whether a buzzing alarm sounds, or the user can select an audible alarm from a “.wav” file. My parents like the soothing female voice with an English accent to warn of impending trouble.
Installing the UPS Unit
It was easy to install this UPS unit. All I had to do was connect the AC power cord into a wall outlet. The manufacturer recommends letting the battery charge eight hours before using the unit for the first time. Once the unit is ready to use, just plug the power cords into the outlets on the UPS. I plugged the tower and monitor into the battery-backup/surge-protected outlets.
The manufacturer also cautions not to connect a laser printer or scanner to the backup outlets since both of those machines draw a lot of power when in use. They draw so much power that it could cause the UPS to overload.
My parents have a cable connection for internet access, so I did not connect any telephone, fax or modem lines into the UPS.
Installing the Bulldog Shutdown Software
This Belkin UPS unit can operate without the software being installed. However, the software offers a lot of bells and whistles such as monitoring battery power and providing a history log of power events. The software can also be networked to two computers. A cool feature of this software is that you can configure it to send pager or e-mail messages to users when a power failure or event occurs.
It is easy to install the Bulldog software and only took me a few minutes. First, place the Bulldog Shutdown CD into the CD-ROM drive. Follow the step-by-step installation instructions. This software also offers a large array of language choices: English, German, French (spoken in France), French (spoken in Canada), Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese.
This software is compatible with Windows XP, 2000, NT, 95, 98, Me, Linux and Mac OS X.
The main page of the Bulldog Monitor displays lots of helpful information such as the battery voltage output and input levels (displayed as round dials). A bar graph shows the percentage of battery power remaining as well as the loading level. The window also has icons for the Configuration, Meters (view up to 12 different monitoring meters), Event Log and History pages. There is a Help menu to explain how the software works. The Belkin website also offers a manual in PDF format for both the Bulldog software and UPS unit.
The Bulldog Shutdown software senses power fluctuations and will initiate shutdown of the computer should a power outage or interruption occur. The software can be customized and runs unnoticed in the background. A Bulldog icon is visible in the System Tray to indicate the UPS status. There are many configurations possible to customize the software. Here are some features of the software:
* A numbered countdown so that the user knows how much time is remaining until Bulldog (in the event of a power interruption) will shut down the computer
* When a power interruption occurs, a broadcast dialog box appears to inform the user what is happening
* Choose the type of alarm -- Ex: Buzzer or Audio Message (customizable using .wav files)
* Bulldog keeps an Event Log of power interruptions
* Bulldog keeps track of battery replacement dates
Battery Replacement – And False Advertising
One of the features that attracted me to this product was the battery replacement feature. The instruction sheet includes detailed instructions with illustrations on how to uninstall the old battery and install a new one. The only catch is that nowhere could I locate any information on the replacement battery. I searched the internet and then telephoned Belkin’s customer service number.
The helpful customer service representative told me that there were NO replacement batteries for this unit. I asked the next logical question, "When will the replacement batteries be available?" He said that he had not been given a date and had no idea when the batteries would be made available.
As a customer, I feel misled by Belkin. How can they promote a replacement battery when there are none available for sale? There is even a photograph on the back of the box showing the Easy-Access Battery Door located on the back of the unit. The text next to the photograph says, "... for non-hassle battery replacement and extended product life". On the package, they even explain the "EcoBattery Replacement Program".
This is a quote from the packaging: "In the event that the Battery Backup needs a battery replacement, Belkin offers its EcoPower Battery Replacement Program. This Program offers a battery replacement and ensures that the battery is discarded properly in an effort to keep our environment clean. All replacement batteries also have a two-year warranty."
Purchasing
I bought this Belkin UPS unit from Buy.com for $55.58. It has a list price of $76.99. Buy.com offered free shipping and packed the UPS inside a brown cardboard box with no protective packaging. The UPS arrived in excellent condition.
Summary
I’m delighted my parents’ computer is once again protected against power surges and power failures. This is my third Belkin UPS during my many years of owning computers, and I’m pleased with the product. I just wish Belkin had not advertised that this unit’s battery could be replaced when, at this point in time, the battery obviously cannot be replaced since there are no replacement batteries available.
I hope you have found this review helpful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Belkin Corporation
501 West Walnut Street
Compton, CA 90220
Phone: 310-898-1100
Customer Service: 800-223-5546
Warranty
The Belkin box says there is a $75,000 Connected Equipment Warranty and 3-Year Product Warranty. There is also a Data Recovery Warranty, which states that Belkin will provide professional data recovery services at no cost should the UPS fail to work (provided it is properly connected).
Specifications
Size: 12” long x 4 1/2” wide x 9” high
Weight: 15 pounds
4 Battery-Backup Outlets
2 Surge-Protected Only Outlets
Phone Lines: 1 in / 1 out
Ports: USB
Under/Overage Transfer to Battery:
90-136 +/- 3VAC
Output Voltage on Battery:
120VAC +/- 5%
AVR Voltage Detection Tolerance:
+/- 3VAC
AVR Smart Boost:
Increase 20% of input of voltage if input is 90-108VAC
Battery Recharge Time: 8-12 hours
Typical Battery Life: 2-4 years
550 VA / 330 Watt capacity / 890 Joules
Frequency: 60Hz
Safety Standards:
Electrostatic Discharge: IEC 1000-4-2 Level 3
Fast Transient Burst: IEC 1000-4-4 Level 2
Lightning Surge: IEC 1000-4-5 Level 3
IC: CS-03
Please read my other reviews:
Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computer
Sony MicroVault USB 2.0 Flash Drive
Canon PowerShot A400 Digital Camera
Concord Eye-Q Digital Camera
LiteOn LVW-5005 DVD Player/Recorder
Sterilite Hinged Storage Boxes
Pendaflex Reinforced Hanging File Folder with InfoPocket
Sharpie Silver Metallic Permanent Markers
Ott Lite True Color Flex-Arm Plus Lamp
Cush Pillow for Comfort & Stress Relief
Staples.com (online store)
Buy.com (online store)
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
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