PC and NAS using same UPS??
Discussion
I just bought a Synology NAS and 8 drives to go with it and also bought a UPS unit as we tend to get more than usual power cuts as we're more rural and want to protect the NAS/drives in case of a sudden power outage.
I'm thinking of also plugging in my PC but not sure if I'll overload the UPS? Its a powerful machine so is there any way in working out how much actual watts/voltage it uses so i can add things up?
I know i can add the wattage of everything up in the PC but does it actually uses that total amount ever at once?
I only have x2 SSD drives in the PC (no spinning disks) so are SSD's as sensitive for sudden power cuts as spinning SATA disks?
The UPS is a 1200VA/720W for reference.
I'm thinking of also plugging in my PC but not sure if I'll overload the UPS? Its a powerful machine so is there any way in working out how much actual watts/voltage it uses so i can add things up?
I know i can add the wattage of everything up in the PC but does it actually uses that total amount ever at once?
I only have x2 SSD drives in the PC (no spinning disks) so are SSD's as sensitive for sudden power cuts as spinning SATA disks?
The UPS is a 1200VA/720W for reference.
Same as the UPS capacity I have. It protects a NAS and my network switches, particularly the POE switch, which means that all the tech stays up when we get a power cut. A typical PC will pull 300 - 500W, depending on how studly the graphics card is. It will do it (probably), but the reserve time will be low.
Really depends what you’re doing with the PC. If both are idling it’ll be fine. If the PC is running something computationally or graphically intensive it could easily exceed the UPS’s capability on its own.
My workstation draws 90W typically whilst running productive apps according to the UPS it’s attached to, but could draw 900W if needed.
My workstation draws 90W typically whilst running productive apps according to the UPS it’s attached to, but could draw 900W if needed.
rxe said:
Same as the UPS capacity I have. It protects a NAS and my network switches, particularly the POE switch, which means that all the tech stays up when we get a power cut. A typical PC will pull 300 - 500W, depending on how studly the graphics card is. It will do it (probably), but the reserve time will be low.
I forgot the switch too so PC will probably be overkill for it. I just want so things shut down safely in the event of a power cut.As noted above, online calculators will help give a view on up time for the connected load. Definitely keep network switches on.
Make sure your UPS can communicate to the network (or at least your NAS) to tell it to initiate shut down. Otherwise it's unlikely to be much use unless you're always at home watching it
Make sure your UPS can communicate to the network (or at least your NAS) to tell it to initiate shut down. Otherwise it's unlikely to be much use unless you're always at home watching it
The power rating will be totally different to the actual steady state power draw from your PC and NAS.
The rating of UPS are usually what they can supply steady state, so comparing to ratings does not really work. 'Calculators' will be highly inaccurate as the factors that influence steady state draw are many.
If you have a home power meter (eg smart meter) you can use that to see how many watts having the NAC or PC running actually draws. You just need to get the rest of your house 'steady' (or turn everything off) and then turn them off and on and look at the power figure. You can then also model different activities on the PC (ie gaming or now, etc) to see what that different is.
Unless you're doing some hard core gaming I'd be surprised if the PC had a steady state much over 100w - most 'office' PCs will tick along averaging around 60w. NASes tend to run around 5-10w unless you are doing continuous read/writes and running lots of services on them (and even then they'll typically only go to around 20-30w).
Note that some UPSes have power meters in them. Not sure on yours. You can also buy socket strips that measure power draw per socket (not cheap though).
Finally, startup power draw spikes used to be a thing you cater for as well, but I've seen this generally disappear in recent years as the power on management of most computers and servers brings things up in sequence and avoids spikes.
The rating of UPS are usually what they can supply steady state, so comparing to ratings does not really work. 'Calculators' will be highly inaccurate as the factors that influence steady state draw are many.
If you have a home power meter (eg smart meter) you can use that to see how many watts having the NAC or PC running actually draws. You just need to get the rest of your house 'steady' (or turn everything off) and then turn them off and on and look at the power figure. You can then also model different activities on the PC (ie gaming or now, etc) to see what that different is.
Unless you're doing some hard core gaming I'd be surprised if the PC had a steady state much over 100w - most 'office' PCs will tick along averaging around 60w. NASes tend to run around 5-10w unless you are doing continuous read/writes and running lots of services on them (and even then they'll typically only go to around 20-30w).
Note that some UPSes have power meters in them. Not sure on yours. You can also buy socket strips that measure power draw per socket (not cheap though).
Finally, startup power draw spikes used to be a thing you cater for as well, but I've seen this generally disappear in recent years as the power on management of most computers and servers brings things up in sequence and avoids spikes.
Trustmeimadoctor said:
As has been mentioned above kinda of. A ups isn't to keep things running for ages it's to keep kit up long enough for it to shut down gracefully or for the generator to kick in
Or you get one like mine which keeps two servers, switches and comms running for ten hours. 
LordGrover said:
Trustmeimadoctor said:
As has been mentioned above kinda of. A ups isn't to keep things running for ages it's to keep kit up long enough for it to shut down gracefully or for the generator to kick in
Or you get one like mine which keeps two servers, switches and comms running for ten hours. Cupramax said:
LordGrover said:
Think you may have slightly overestimated that.Just calculated it - you'd need the SUA2200XLI plus an extra 10x SUA48XLBP batteries to get 8h of runtime at 2kw or an extra 6x SUA48XLBP to get to 10 hours @ 1kw...
Edited by Funk on Thursday 21st January 16:16
Funk said:
Cupramax said:
Agreed...I sell servers, switches and UPSs. That 2200 alone would only run for about 9mins at ~2kw - no idea what's in the battery pack but it's definitely not going to run for 10 hours..!Fair point well made. I exaggerated. 
If the interruption is likely to be extended, only the VPNs, phones and one lightweight terminal services server are left running and I've had them running for 6+ hours and still a couple of bars left.
Happily, not had to exceed that.
That UPS is about 13 years old and still doing a stout job. Replaced batteries about two years ago.
If the interruption is likely to be extended, only the VPNs, phones and one lightweight terminal services server are left running and I've had them running for 6+ hours and still a couple of bars left.
Happily, not had to exceed that.
That UPS is about 13 years old and still doing a stout job. Replaced batteries about two years ago.
eharding said:
Funk said:
Cupramax said:
Agreed...I sell servers, switches and UPSs. That 2200 alone would only run for about 9mins at ~2kw - no idea what's in the battery pack but it's definitely not going to run for 10 hours..!
(1.5m tall, around 650kg for reference...chonker!)
I plugged the PC too and the UPS was running at 95% when video rendering (3090 GPU/ Threadripper 3090X) so was actually pretty impressed with it.
Then I thought I'd need the monitor plugged in too to save any work before shut down and that would deffo push it over the limit so I'll just leave the NAS and switch plugged in.
The data on the NAS is the most important thing.
Then I thought I'd need the monitor plugged in too to save any work before shut down and that would deffo push it over the limit so I'll just leave the NAS and switch plugged in.
The data on the NAS is the most important thing.
theboss said:
Really depends what you’re doing with the PC. If both are idling it’ll be fine. If the PC is running something computationally or graphically intensive it could easily exceed the UPS’s capability on its own.
My workstation draws 90W typically whilst running productive apps according to the UPS it’s attached to, but could draw 900W if needed.
This.My workstation draws 90W typically whilst running productive apps according to the UPS it’s attached to, but could draw 900W if needed.
How big is the PSU in the PC? I suspect it's more than 720W. You may find if you start hardcore gaming on it that you start getting warning beeps from the UPS, and it will last maybe a minute or so if the power goes.
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