UPS/battery back up and an arcade monitor??

[squirrellydw]

I was wondering if you can use a UPS/battery back up on an arcade monitor along with a PC?  Anyone try this?  Not sure if the monitor would kill the UPS to quickly.

Thanks

[ChadTower]

If you're talking about powering the thing with the battery alone, unless you're using a serious professional UPS you would only get a few minutes and you'd kill the battery entirely before too long.  Most UPS units are designed to give you enough time to gracefully shut down the system before the power cuts out, not to keep something running in the prolonged absence of electricity.

[meltman]

battery backup on a MAME machine?

 

[ChadTower]

It's not a bad idea, but for other reasons.  A UPS makes a superior power cleaner/surge protector as it not only protects against surges but also against dips, which happen constantly and are far more of a factor in the frequency of failure in electronics than surges.

Can you power your MAME box off a UPS?  Not for more than a few minutes, but you can certainly protect it better and extend its life with one.

[squirrellydw]

It's not a bad idea, but for other reasons.  A UPS makes a superior power cleaner/surge protector as it not only protects against surges but also against dips, which happen constantly and are far more of a factor in the frequency of failure in electronics than surges.

you can certainly protect it better and extend its life with one.

Yes this is what I was going to do.  I know I can't run it on the battery alone.  Any idea what size would be good for a PC and a 27" monitor?

[ChadTower]

Depends on how you intend to shut the thing down.  If you use one that has an interface to the OS, it only needs to power it for long enough to shut the thing down.  If you're going to have to power it until you respond to the beeping, much bigger. 

Me, I'd use the battery for the PC only, and just plug the monitor into the surge side.  The monitor doesn't need battery backup and that's 95% of the power in the cab.

[divemaster127]

the APC LS 700 is a good model i would check ebay
dm

[ChadTower]

For just a single PC, most of them will do well.  Just make sure to get one that can interface the OS and initiate a shutdown on its own.  Most can do that but they vary by what OS they can work with.

[squirrellydw]

thanks, I will use it just for the PC and plug the monitor in to the surge side.