How to connect a UPS to a computer

According to statistics, 45% of the reasons why electrical equipment fails are power problems, so in no case should you neglect solving them.

If you have finally purchased an uninterruptible power supply (or, as it is also called, UPS), it seems that now all problems with voltage drops and power outages for the computer that will be connected to the device will definitely be solved. The main task solved by this small but extremely important electronic device is the elimination of voltage fluctuations in the network and the ability to maintain the functioning of a PC or peripheral devices connected to the network through it for a short time after even a complete and sudden blackout in the house. The ability to work fully on the device for a certain time (for some models - up to an hour) will allow you to save important changes in work documents or finish completing a level in your favorite game.

All problems will be solved, however, only after the uninterruptible power supply is correctly connected - for some reason this very moment causes great difficulties for many people who use it. Often, even from the instructions translated into Russian that come with the device, it is difficult to understand how to connect a computer without the proper level of training.

Therefore, in our short review we will talk about how to properly connect an uninterruptible power supply in order to
protect the software and hardware components of the PC from power outages. He will help him a lot with this.

Serial connection

The voltage stabilizer for a computer is turned on like this.

You must use the power cord included in the package.
Once connected, the battery begins to charge.
When connecting the device, you must temporarily turn off the UPS and computer.
If the design provides for communication lines, then they should be connected immediately.
That's it, when the battery is charged, you can use it successfully.

Detailed instructions with images have already been given above.
Video instructions will also help

Turning on the UPS and PC

First, the uninterruptible power supply is activated, only then the PC - power goes from the UPS to the computer, and not vice versa. Connection diagram:

Connect the UPS to the network. The power cord must be plugged into the outlet, so all that remains is to press the ON button.
Wait until the device turns on. There is an indicator light on the case - it will light up green.
The computer turns on. After the indicator lights up, you can click on the ON button located on the PC case.
Turn on the monitor.

Consistency will help avoid “conflicts” between the UPS and the PC power supply. All that remains is to install the drivers on the UPS if they have not been installed beforehand.

Rules for using a connected device

The rules for successful operation are as follows:

Charge the batteries; after purchase they are usually not charged;
Constantly re-test the device to ensure its functionality;
Make sure that the power of the uninterruptible power supply is maintained at the required level, do not overload it under any circumstances;
It should not be connected to laser printers;
If you turn off the device, you do not need to turn off the UPS.

How to connect correctly?

Connecting a UPS to a computer is not too difficult a task .

How to properly connect a UPS to a computer? First decide which devices you will connect. Let's start with the computer system unit. It is important to know a few steps for connecting a UPS to it (it is very simple here, so for now we will do without illustrations, they will be below).

The first step is to connect the UPS to the network through a protective filter to charge its batteries.
The second step is to remove the network cable from the system unit and connect it to the connector on the case of the uninterruptible device.
The third step is to connect the UPS to the network by inserting the cable into the surge protector and waiting until its indicator lights up.
The fourth step is to turn on the device by simply pressing the “Start” button on the system unit.

When the UPS turns on or off, it turns off the computer monitor (not always, but quite often).

And this happens because the performance of the uninterruptible power supply at the time of purchase is not calculated on the performance of the monitor. In short, the monitor is usually connected directly to the network.

What does it mean? This is very simple, the uninterruptible power supply system itself is not designed to power such a load . To avoid this, it is very important to consider the performance of the monitor when purchasing it.

It is worth noting that to connect the monitor to the UPS you need to purchase a special cable with special connectors for this purpose. Further actions will not be difficult.

In addition to the PC itself, you can also connect peripherals .

The pictures above clearly show how to connect absolutely any device .

Separately, it is worth considering the question of whether it is worth using an uninterruptible power supply for a laptop? Answer: of course not.

The battery in the laptop already ensures its stable operation, so it simply does not need an uninterruptible power supply, although technically connecting it is quite possible.

FAQ

What to do if the UPS does not turn on? — Check that its socket is suitable for the network and that the protective fuse is working properly.
What to do if it turns off spontaneously during operation? — It’s best to immediately contact a specialist and/or replace the device under warranty. But it is possible that the problem is in your network: if the electricity stops flowing, the device will work for a while and a regular shutdown will occur.
The UPS is clicking, is this normal? - Yes, but the sound should not be very loud, otherwise you should also consult with the service center professionals.
How to choose the right uninterruptible power supply? - It depends not so much on what devices you plan to connect, but on what kind of electrical problems arise in your home, office or other place where you plan to use it. As a rule, this determines what degree of protection should be taken. For example, in case of unstable energy supply, the so-called. line-interactive UPS. The most efficient are online UPSs, but they are also the most expensive.

UPS application

An uninterruptible power supply is needed to ensure the correct network load during sudden surges or voltage drops, as well as during short-term autonomous operation of devices in the complete absence of electricity. Modern models come in 3 types:

Reserve;
With double conversion;
Linear interactive.

Their internal structure and functionality differ from each other, but the scope is the same.

For computers, a backup interrupter is used. It is most often used for household appliances and multimedia devices. Interaction scheme: in standard mode, the load is transferred from the network, but if the voltage drops sharply, the device switches to internal power. The UPS changes operating modes over a non-zero period of time. Backup uninterruptible power supplies are cheap and help protect computers from unstable voltage or short-term power outages. This is especially important if the PC is used for the work of designers, planners, musicians, etc. The user does not need to save materials every 10 minutes, fearing power outages.

Where to begin

Before you start connecting the uninterruptible power supply, you need to check the battery. According to transportation rules, uninterruptible power supplies are transported with the battery disconnected, which eliminates the possibility of spontaneous activation. To connect the battery, you need to open the compartment in which the battery is stored. There you can see two connectors that need to be connected to each other.

You should always start connecting an uninterruptible power supply by connecting the load. Typically, the output connectors are located on the rear panel of the UPS. The number of output connectors and their type may vary. For this reason, you need to have the necessary cables for connection in an appropriate quantity.

What can be connected to a UPS? You can connect any equipment to the UPS, except for high-power loads. This includes multifunctional devices, electric kettles, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, laser printers and similar equipment. If you use a multifunction printer or printer, then the UPS connection diagram to the network must include a surge protector to which the UPS and powerful load consumers are connected.

How to connect a UPS to a laptop

See also:
How to make an uninterruptible power supply? https://euroelectrica.ru/kak-sdelat-bespereboynik/.
Interesting on the topic: How to choose an uninterruptible power supply for your home?
Tips in the article “How to use a gasoline generator?” Here.

Some “Kulibins” try to connect their laptops to an uninterruptible power supply, without even thinking about the meaning of such actions. If you ask them “what does this give?”, you can get a whole bunch of ambiguous answers, of which there is not a single clear and understandable explanation.

In fact, there is no point in connecting a laptop to a UPS since it has a backup power source in its device. According to its purpose, the battery in a laptop is a prototype or an analogue of an uninterruptible power supply, only built-in.

What can you connect to a UPS besides a computer?

It is important to protect electrical equipment that heats residential or public premises from malfunctions. It’s not difficult to figure out how to connect an uninterruptible power supply to a heating boiler and circulation pump. Assembly is carried out according to the principle of connecting computer equipment or household appliances. The use of varieties operating on the off-line or on-line inteactive principle leads to a short-term blackout of the boilers before switching to offline mode.

Long-lasting and stable operation is guaranteed by the on-line type, since such a connection of the UPS to the boiler ensures continuous operation of the system in the absence of mains voltage. You can increase the duration of online operation using an additional external battery or several batteries. During the cold season, connecting UPS to heating units contributes to a comfortable atmosphere in the apartment or office.

How to connect a transformer from an uninterruptible power supply?

When the battery fails and replacement is not economically feasible, then there are options for reusing the remaining structural elements inside the UPS. It is allowed to operate, as a power supply or portable charger, a functional transformer from an uninterruptible power supply. Electrical connection and load capacity depend on the specific model or power of the non-operating device.

The methods of application are related to the technical parameters and the safety of the internal windings of the transformer from the uninterruptible power supply. A practicing electrician will tell you how to safely connect the device to the network. The question: is it possible to connect a UPS to a UPS is also answered positively.

Rule 1.

Care should be taken to ensure that the UPS is configured correctly. If the upper and lower thresholds for switching to power from the UPS are set extremely strictly (for example, the lower level is set to 210 volts and the upper level to 230), then the UPS will have to switch to operating mode several times a day, which will have a very bad effect on battery capacity. As a result, it may happen that just during a real power outage there will not be enough of them to shut down computers regularly.

You can adjust the switching parameters manually (via the UPS control panel), or use the specialized computer application apcupsd (but this is not possible on every UPS model).

Why is the uninterruptible power supply beeping?

All UPS systems, in addition to color or analog information about their operation, also have sound information. After all, most of the time the power in the network is stable and the user may not even remember the existence of the UPS. And with sound signals the power supply itself will remind you of itself and the non-standard situation.

A sound signal 4 times in a row every 30 seconds means that there is no voltage in the network and the computer is powered from a backup source. You should hurry up to complete the work.
A sound signal continuously warns you every second that the battery is low, and after the set time has elapsed, the uninterruptible power supply will turn off the PC on its own. The remaining time before switching off from the start of this signal can be set by the user. The time is set in seconds from 120 or more.
A constant tone warns that an overload shutdown has occurred on one or more network connectors. Or the battery needs to be replaced. Or the connected equipment is consuming more current than allowed.
A signal once every 4 seconds means that the connected external battery is discharged.

There are other signals. You just need to understand that in this way the UPS informs the user about a certain situation that is worth paying attention to.

How to choose an uninterruptible power supply

UPS

Computer equipment is usually connected to a UPS to provide the required power. The equipment will allow you to organize uninterrupted work. At the same time, computer equipment usually consumes little, which means that an uninterruptible power supply is enough to organize several hours of work.

Installation of a UPS is also required to organize the normal functioning of servers. A sudden power outage may result in the loss of some data. How do uninterruptible power supplies differ from each other, and how to choose a model when purchasing. Offers an overview of the best models.