APC BR1000G Back-UPS Pro 1000 Uninterruptible Power Supply

• Output Power Capacity: 600 Watts/1000 VA
• Nominal Output Voltage: 120V
• Output Frequency (sync to mains): 50/60 Hz +/- 3 Hz user adjustable +/- 0.1
• Output Connections: (4) NEMA 5-15R (Battery Backup), (4) NEMA 5-15R (Surge Protection)
• Battery Type: Maintenance-free sealed Lead-Acid battery with suspended electrolyte : leakproof
• Nominal Input Voltage: 120V
• Output Power Capacity: 600 Watts / 1000 VA
• Waveform Type Stepped approximation to a sinewave

When I called APC tech support to find out why my new BX1000G* would not power my Dell XPS 9000 in a power outage, the customer rep knew exactly what was wrong. My Dell computer (and many others) needed a pure sine wave input and this APC series of UPS produces a "step approximated sine wave". She even emailed me a company white paper that explained why it was not compatible with many of the newer energy star compliant computers that have "Active Power Factor Correction" power supplies. She recommended that I exchange it for their "smart-ups" model SMT1000 which produces a pure sine wave. This sounded OK until I discovered that the SMT1000 costs almost four times as much as the BX1000G! Google for "apc ups active pfc" to learn much more about this problem. Call APC to find out if your particular PC is compatible before ordering.

My solution was to order another brand, CyberPower, pure sine wave unit from Amazon CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD UPS 1500VA 900W PFC Compatible Pure Sine Wave. It provides more power (1500VA) and costs less than ½ what APC charges for their 1000VA pure sine wave unit. CyberPower also sells a 1000VA pure sine wave unit on Amazon that sells for about the same price as this BR1000G APC unit.CyberPower CP1000PFCLCD UPS 1000VA 600W PFC Compatible Pure Sine Wave

I will update this review after I've had a chance to check out the CyberPower unit.

Update, Sep 7, 2011: My CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD arrived today, seven days after I ordered it with Amazon free shipping. It was packed in the CyberPower box only which is well padded and came through in good shape. The battery was fully charged when it arrived, so that I was able to check it out with my Dell Studio XPS 9000 immediately. So far it looks like a winner as my computer did not even blink when I pulled the plug on the CyberPower unit. It indicated that it had about one hour of battery run time remaining when I plugged it back in five minutes later. My only gripe is that the power cord is about a foot shorter than the APC unit, but I can live with that a lot better than having my computer crash with every outage as it does with the APC UPS. Also, note that you have to hold the power button in for about three seconds to turn the CyberPower unit on.

* BR1000G has same output waveform and should have the same compatibility issues as BX1000G. APC tech rep did not recommend either for my computer.

Buy APC BR1000G Back-UPS Pro 1000 Uninterruptible Power Supply Now

This is the exact product I've been looking for to protect my extensive (and expensive) Mac computer set-up. It's straightforward and easy to install. I had two sudden power outages last week and the APC worked so seamlessly I didn't realize at first that the power had gone out. The APC gave me plenty of time to finish the work I was doing and shut down my whole system. Definitely recommended.

Read Best Reviews of APC BR1000G Back-UPS Pro 1000 Uninterruptible Power Supply Here

I have this unit, and the 1500 VA model from the same series. The 1500 VA unit has a LOUD fan that runs (1) when you first install (2) when on backup and (3) when trickle charging the battery as the unit periodically does. Too loud.

The 1000VA unit is totally quiet so far.

It backs up an I7-920 based gaming PC and monitor. No problems with that. (no strange "pure-sine-wave" issues like some PCs have). The UPS has a stepped sine wave, but that does the job.

The display shows power usage. I previously used a 'save-a-watt' meter. I prefer the UPS's built in display.

Net, I liket he UPS.

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We use these at each workstation in an architectural office. 30% usage & 30min est run time, with typical dual 24" lcd monitors, single processor, dual hardrive, mid level 3d graphics cards. My non scientific observation is that we tend to have fewer issues and longer life from our electronics when connected to a ups that provides line conditioning for electrical noise and voltage fluctuations. Also our electrical panel is in a public area of the building and occasionally you get some knuckle head who will switch off the wrong breaker. This unit has performed as advertised, the software install was flawless on both Windows 7 64bit workstations and an older Windows XP 32 bit machine.

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Had this for several months and am totally satisfied. Passed 2 blackout test without so much as a click-clack and my work was totally uninterrupted.

Has a front blue LCD screen that can be left permanently on or pressed and will stay on for 60 seconds.

I only use the LCD screen occasionally to monitor the electrical power from the utility and how much power the computer\screen is consuming. Many other readings are available and they could come in handy if you have to rely solely on the UPS should there be a software or PowerChute failure.

The PowerChute comes with many monitoring and operating features most people would want. I do not agree with their "green" CO monitor and think they have been hoodwinked by the enviro-mental list.

The power and indicator buttons are correctly placed. I learned how irritating it can be to grab a popular competitor's UPS and accidentally knock the whole system offline by a clumsily placed power button. Happened twice, btw.

As usual, it seems well-engineered and APC is the only UPS that inspires my confidence as an uninterrupted power supply. You pay a little more, though.

Some caveats:

Did not come with the CD to install software even though the manual indicated it did. Confused and irritated I contacted tech support and found you had to dig down into their website and find the correct program and download it. No CD is included.

It is surprisingly shipped in a plain brown box with black print.

The software keeps asking whenever you reboot Windows to be loaded on startup and there seems to be no option to let it automatically be loaded on without asking. A minor annoyance.

Even thought tech support say the RJ-45 would work on a phone line, it does not! It really is for ethernet. I learned this the hard way. No damage, but I didn't know it makes your phone work incorrectly. Good to know my mother-in-law couldn't get to me. Just kidding!