apc for mac pro keeps beeping and shutting off my mac pro

[ActionableMango]

so what makes the S15 a $1,400 MSRP unit when these others (that aren't labeled "AV") go for $450?

It was a $1400 MSRP unit way back in the day. It certainly isn't worth anything near that now.

What made it so valuable were the extra features designed specifically for audiophiles (snobby home theater customers). These features are not necessary for Mac Pros, but do no harm for snobby Apple customers.

 

[philipma1957]

It was a $1400 MSRP unit way back in the day. It certainly isn't worth anything near that now.

What made it so valuable were the extra features designed specifically for audiophiles (snobby home theater customers). These features are not necessary for Mac Pros, but do no harm for snobby Apple customers.

bingo the face plate is a bit fancier i have some good photos. I have more then 10 photos here are 5. basically there are more readouts on the pretty plate and as you can see it will side mount. I will post the other photos later.

Once you get past faceplate
the unit (APC S15) is much the same as this one☟

http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SU1400RMXL3U

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

It was a $1400 MSRP unit way back in the day. It certainly isn't worth anything near that now.

What made it so valuable were the extra features designed specifically for audiophiles (snobby home theater customers). These features are not necessary for Mac Pros, but do no harm for snobby Apple customers.

hahahahaha!

That's quite funny, but given that they still sell the (admittedly longer-waranteed) black equivalent to the cheapy silver one for $799 they certainly seem to think the other versions are still worth a fair bit of money ...

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

bingo the face plate is a bit fancier i have some good photos. I have more then 10 photos here are 5. basically there are more readouts on the pretty plate and as you can see it will side mount. I will post the other photos later.

Once you get past faceplate
the unit (APC S15) is much the same as this one☟

http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SU1400RMXL3U

Side-mount is good but reading the LCD display sideways will be a pain ...

Funny how under the skin it looks a lot like my Belkin.

Does it have a USB port btw? The discontinued APC SU1400RMXL3U model doesn't, and USB is an absolute must ...

 

[BobD2]

I ordered one of the silver S15 units from Vann's in January of this year. It arrived nonfunctional. Battery may have been dead, and there may have been some fairly large internal object that had broken loose. If I turned the unit on its side, I could hear some large object rolling around inside. Vann's offered to take it back, but I called APC and described the situation. Based on the serial number, they told me the unit was actually about 5 years old (it was not previously used -- probably had been sitting around somewhere for 5 years). They were originally just going to send me a new battery, but after I described the sound of something loose inside, they decided to send me a new unit. So I returned the nonfunctional unit to APC and they sent me a new (black) S15. No charge from APC for any of this. So APC backs up its products. I have been using this new unit since late January with no problems. Silent during normal operation. It does seem to detect power fluctuations as I occasionally get a message that I am running on backup power. Then the fan comes on. These happen briefly and very transiently, and I just click OK on the message to make it go away. I think it may be a sensitivity issue -- this can be adjusted between high, medium and low sensitivity. I haven't bothered to adjust it yet.
In summary, now that I have a working S15 I am happy with it. The price was low, I had some minor inconvenience, but all now seems well.

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

It does seem to detect power fluctuations as I occasionally get a message that I am running on backup power. Then the fan comes on. These happen briefly and very transiently, and I just click OK on the message to make it go away. I think it may be a sensitivity issue -- this can be adjusted between high, medium and low sensitivity. I haven't bothered to adjust it yet.

I don't think I'd like unwarranted notifications of running on battery power - I wonder what the sensitivity level is?

(I have problems with periods of cyclical power dips - the voltage will go down about 6 V for a fraction of a second, just enough to blink my light bulbs and make my Belkin PureAV® unit 'click' - every so many minutes)

Nice work getting the $799 black S15 for $299 though

--

Meanwhile, I just read the other thread here about the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD "Adaptive sine wave with pure sine wave output" unit ... is the jury still out on those?

They seem to be pushing its appropriateness for Active-PFC power supplies nowadays ... and the Dell® Small Business site has them for only US $170!

(Given that UPS For Less is out of stock of refurbished APC SMT1500's, I have to give CyberPower a look-see, too.)

 

[nanofrog]

out of stock of refurbished APC SMT1500's[/url], I have to give CyberPower a look-see, too.)

Here's a few other places you can keep an eye out for a refurbished unit:

RefurbUPS
ExcessUPS
buyupsonline
Static Power (probably should call here, as I'm not sure how often the .pdf inventory file is updated)​

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

Here's a few other places you can keep an eye out for a refurbished unit:

RefurbUPS
ExcessUPS
buyupsonline
Static Power (probably should call here, as I'm not sure how often the .pdf inventory file is updated)​

Thanks nanofrog. Alas, I tried them all but none of them have the current line in stock. Just the older SUA1500 model. (I want the LCD so I can monitor my cyclical line dips in real-time, if possible.)

 

[nanofrog]

Thanks nanofrog. Alas, I tried them all but none of them have the current line in stock. Just the older SUA1500 model. (I want the LCD so I can monitor my cyclical line dips in real-time, if possible.)

The LCD isn't really a deal breaker IMO (have both types). You still get a sine wave inverter rather than a stepped or PWM based unit, and if you want more detail than the LED's provide on the SUA1500 (or LCD for that matter), you can use software to do so (Power Chute, which you can download from APC; but you don't need it for the UPS to do it's job).

I'm not saying the LCD is totally useless, as it can be nice to have. But the difference between a refurbished SUA1500 and a new SMT1500 is ~$200USD. Pricey for an LCD.

You'd be better off with the S15 from Vann's if you really want an LCD display and can't wait for a refurbished SMT1500 (essentially the SMT1500 adapted for the A/V market, which is quite usable - it even has better surge protection, and possibly better noise filtration).

 

[RodoLana]

The LCD isn't really a deal breaker IMO (have both types). You still get a sine wave inverter rather than a stepped or PWM based unit, and if you want more detail than the LED's provide on the SUA1500 (or LCD for that matter), you can use software to do so (Power Chute, which you can download from APC; but you don't need it for the UPS to do it's job)..

Power Chute is not compatible with Mac OS, APC software does not support Mac OS.

It would be nice if APC would show their Mac customers some love and make their software Mac compatible, after all, most Mac users looking to protect their investments tend to buy some of the more expensive APC units.

RL

 

[nanofrog]

Power Chute is not compatible with Mac OS, APC software does not support Mac OS.

It would be nice if APC would show their Mac customers some love and make their software Mac compatible, after all, most Mac users looking to protect their investments tend to buy some of the more expensive APC units.

RL

I was thinking of an older version (v1.3.4 from 2006). You can get it from other sites such as the one linked, but I was reminded of complaints with it when I scrolled down and looked at user comments (1.3.4 = when the added support for Intel based systems, and apparently ceased development).

All that's available on APC's site now, is the Network Shutdown software. PowerChute Network Shutdown for Mac v. 2.2.4, published 10/22/2009. May do the trick in terms of monitoring, but I've never tried it to find out.

So I did a little digging, and found a 3rd party offering called APC Tracker.
Never tried it either, but it could be useful (they do have a trial version, so checking it out is free; scroll down to the bottom of the page for the download links).

Hope this helps.

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

PowerChute isn't really an option nowadays.

What I am running now is the Open Source apcupsd tool, which works quite nicely - it just doesn't show all of the things that the LCD does. (See the attachment for a view of what it displays.)

I've found a place with a refurb SMT1500 for around US $275, though, so I might end up grabbing it

 

[Riot Nrrrd]

Just bought that refurb SMT1500 from Tech For Less ...

I've found a place with a refurb SMT1500 for around US $275, though, so I might end up grabbing it

Actually it's only US $315.17 all-inclusive (i.e. including slow boat shipping):

APC Smart-UPS SMT1500 SMT1500 External UPS - AC 120V

Down to 3 left, better get in on it fast