[nnager]

Without the PowerChute 1.3.2 software that I downloaded from APC and which installed itself in System Preferences, would an APC Battery BackUPS system kick in during a power failure?
PowerChute provides options on how long my APC 800VA BackUPS provides battery power during an electrical outage.
But my concern is that v 1.3.2 may be incompatible with 10.4. I won't know until I get delivery of Tiger on April 29 but, in the meantime, wanted to check on what OS X of any version would do during a power failure if PowerChute should be in-compatible with 10.4.
My guess is that the UPS would continue to provide battery power until the electrical outage ended or the battery is drained. Does that make sense?
Respectfully, Norm

[yoyo52]

I've never used any of the software for those products, and the battery has always come through when power is lost.

[nnager]

Thanks! One less thing to worry about when I install Tiger.

[macnuke]

In reply to:

---

My guess is that the UPS would continue to provide battery power until the electrical outage ended or the battery is drained. Does that make sense?

---

good guess and yes Norm
I had "issues" with powerchute and I know of one other around here that did also.
removing powerchute solved the issue.
so the sleeping dog just lays there and does what it is supposed to do. back up
EDIT..
for grins., if you want Classic to always be running, you could install the classic version of powerchute.. but personally, that just wouldn't be right.

on another note.. this makes my 1000.
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[nnager]

Congratulations on contributing 1000 posts to this forum, MacNuke. I've found many of them personally helpful.
The OS 9 version of PowerChute actually has more power and versatility than the OS X version. Out of the question, of course, if you're not into Classic and who wants to be in Classic all the time just in case there's a brownout or blackout of electricity. Right after I bought my APC UPS, I suggested a revision of PowerChute for OS X to APC Tech Support in which it--as the OS 9 version--would go through the routine of quitting out of all open software, rather than just shutting down. Ah, well!
Respectfully, Norm

[DPG4450Guy]

I've used APC since ~ 1994.
I too have not been satisfied with PowerChute in OS X - so I didn't bother using it. Hopefully APC will address this eventually - I wonder if the OS X Server edition of PowerChute is more advanced?
I would think American Power Conversion would be under more "pressure" from corporate server jockeys to get on the ball . . . ?

[drmbb]

Panther is pretty good at recognizing any USB connected APC or Belkin UPS. Look in your Energy Saver settings. My G5 sees my APC 1500 and lets you set when to shut down - there is a default script that will execute a UNIX style "sudo shutdown now", which will cleanly shut down the system when you say to (in my case, when the UPS only has 10 minutes of juice left).
Note that the script won't do anything about saving work in open apps and such - it effectly does the equivalent of holding the power button, so at least the system itself shuts down cleanly.
--

[Grant_G]

I'm surprised it took 7 posts for someone to mention OS X's built-in UPS function. It works just great and even has a power meter in the menu bar. Click it and it gives options that show either time remaining or percentage of battery power; and access to the Energy Saver control panel. I never even bothered installing PowerChute when I switched to APC several months ago.
Note: This won't show up on Macs that don't have a UPS connected, it's only activated by the use of the USB cable most apparently come with. APC's are proprietary, having USB at one end and something similar to a phone jack at the other.
G

[nnager]

Thanks very much for the tip on how to use the Energy Saver UPS settings, Michael. I've just removed PowerChute from my G4. Might as well get used to it before I do the Tiger installation so I won't be tempted to put an incompatible verion of PowerChute on the machine then.
Thanks, too, DPG4450Guy. It sure would be nice if APC would hear from people in the corporate sphere who want such features in UPS software as automatic quitting of applications before shutdown of the computer.
Respectfully, Norm

[drmbb]

APC's powerchute seems to work really nicely with Windows (although I have a Belkin UPS on my WinXP machine at home, and their Bulldog software is much better). Unfortunately, they never seem to have been interested in developing it for Linux, and hence (I guess) for OS X. Go with the built in feature - it seems to work well for guarding your machine against a prolonged power outage.
--

[macnuke]

ya know Grant.. you are fired.
I posted in another forum asking about a good powered USB hub for this G5.
I didn't want to use the front USB and it was the dang UPS USB/Phone jack cord and the iPod i needed to plug in.
I used it on the G3 and never pulled it when I moved the UPS to this machine.
and i just now read this thread again.
powerchute gave the imac it's probs.. it was never put into this machine and i forgot all about the "extras" in the preferences.
soooooooo i just been running without it.
but thanks for hitting me with the post so to speak.

m
/forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Randy_B_Singer]

While we are discussing UPS's, let me take this opportunity to get in a dig against APC, and a plug for Belkin.
I have a Belkin UPS. I've had it for a couple of years now, and it has been as reliable as a rock.
I exclusively used APC UPS's for many years, but when I purchased my last APC UPS I soon realized that APC now leaves off AVR (automatic voltage regulation) on what I would call their consumer-class models ($100 or less). In fact, while using the last APC UPS that I purchased, every time that I turned on my laser printer (which was not attached to the UPS) there was a sag in the power that caused my Macintosh to shut down despite being attached to the APC UPS! I returned the APC and got a Belkin. The Belkin was cheaper, with better specs and features, and it includes AVR, which I consider to be something that a UPS should not be without.
Here is the 800VA Belkin UPS for only $88:
http://www.trendsand...ets.com/product[/u]info.php?productsid=3683&ad=fr1003683

If you need unattended shutdown software, Belkin has that available for free for OS X, including Panther, for use with their UPS's.

Bulldog Plus for OS X
http://web.belkin.co...NV&lang=1&mode=
or
http://tinyurl.com/629g7

[jimwg1]

Greetings All:
Please tell me just where in the Energy Saving panel where it manages a UPS. Such a screen doesn't show on my 10.3.9 system's energy panel.
My 1.25 gHz eMac is unable to communicate with or even recognize our Back-UPS CS 350 via USB. On boot-up we only receive an alert that no APC unit can be found. Over the past year I would try to establish communication by turning both eMac and Back-UPS off and on again and simultaneously and in steps. No go. It's like the cable's dead or something.
I'd much appreciate any advice!
Thank you,
James Greenidge

[macnuke]

first..and I am guilty of this so don't take offense.
make sure that USB <<>>phone plug cable they supply is plugged into the correct socket on the UPS.
then into a USB port of the emac.
open Preferences >> Energy Saver.
should be a popup menu right in the middle that says Settings For : Power Adapter .. pop it over to UPS
new panel appears
bar will be in the middle with 3 choices Sleep - UPS - Options
select UPS
and that is where it is.
your cable may be broken if all is correct and still nothing.
then its time to contact APC
do NOT use Powerchute for X.. the app that comes with it. it has given many an OSX user grief. if you are using OS9 still, then install the Powerchute application, it's good in 9. if you don't have it, it's available on APCs website.. sorry i don't have the link handy.
my opine.. the 350 is a bit small for a CRT unit.. you may want ot consider upgrading to at least the 650.. the power consumption while running is greater than what you have puts out... but for spikes and greyouts, it should be fine.


m