this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2024
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Thinking of going with the 1500, despite it costing $170 vs the other one. I do want the ability to log off in a brownout. I still donβt really get sine vs simulated myself, but Iβll trust thereβs a logical reason? π€
https://blog.tripplite.com/pure-sine-wave-vs-modified-sine-wave-explained
Wow, thanks so much for sharing this! It really helps to see it explained.
It sounds like the one for $109 should suffice for my situation then, right? Seeing as itβs just a desktop, essentially.
Yes, it should be fine for your use-case. More sensitive equipment would want/need a true sin wave.
Mind giving a few examples for what the more sensitive equipment might be? Really appreciate you answering.
My understanding is that pure sine is only needed for inductive loads, like motors. If you run a vacuum cleaner with modified sine, it'll sound bad, maybe not work, maybe something will overheat, etc.
Computer power supplies are resistive loads (although reading about it just now it's slightly more complicated than that) and they don't mind the modified sine.
Computers use switch mode power supplies. The first step is a bridge rectifier, they could run on a square wave or ~170vdc. Most have active power factor correction, which chops the incoming current up even more.
Cheap capacitive dropper power supplies won't like a modified sine. Simple motor loads won't either. If you're doing radio frequency work, it will be a huge source of noise but shouldn't damage anything.
performance metrics for power supplies (a PSU as opposed to a UPS) are calculated using the regional AC sine. anything other than a pure sine is going to make the connected PSU work harder and, eventually, marginal components may fail.
having said that, stepped square, modified square, simulated sine are generally going to be perfectly fine for virtually any consumer equipment you connect to it.
cyberpower make cheap (but halfway decent) UPS units. I have used both APC and cyberpower for years without issue.
So I can easily get by with the simulated in my situation? I only plan on using it for my monitor, desktop, modem and router.
I would say yes. I have never used a pure sinewave UPS outside of a data center situation and all of those are on-line units as opposed to line-interactive anyway. I have personally never seen an issue with stepped sine UPS units on typical pro/consumer workloads.
lots of small and mid sized shoestring budget deployments make use of "economical" (but name brand) UPS units on legit sensitive equipment without fuss.
edit to add: of course, if your mains supply is absolute garbage, then a better quality can make a difference. if utility is clean and the UPS will just be doing ocassional brown/black out duty, then I would not spend more on a sinewave UPS.
It will mainly be brownout/blackout duty, thanks for responding. π