> I've been scanning some of the messages about UPS's,
 > and I'd like some help, because I am thinking of
 > getting one.  I noticed that some people were saying
 > that a computer UPS could not handle the strain of a
 > fish tank.  This confuses me.  I would have thought
 > that my computer would draw siginificantly more power
 > than a heater and an air pump.  Also, I noticed that
 > APC (the maker of my computer UPS) was advertising in
 > AQUARIUM FISH magazine.  Does anyone have any
 > experience with this brand on their fish tank?
Your ups is rated in output watts.
You pc power supply requires approx 200-250 watts,
another 150-200 watts for the monitor.
lets assume for the arguement that you purchase
a 500 watt ups. It would run your computer for what ever
time its designed for. lets say the battery power
will allow you 15 minutes to shut down your system properly.
Your heater may be a 150 watt heater.
your air pump may need 5 watts.
You could probally run your tank for maybe an hour or two on
the 500 watt ups depending on how much the heater runs.
Then your back to square 1. No power....
Watts is watts to the ups power supply. It dosent care if
your powering the pc fan or your little airpump or power head. As long as you 
remain under the load rating of the ups. What that person made reference too, 
was possibly large capacitive/inductive loads. You dont have any in a small 
fish tank setup.
For $30,000.00 dollars you could get an ups the size of a
small room "25,000 watt" that would run your tank for months, but whats the 
point? Fish are cheaper to replace..
Sam
--- FMail 0.94
(1:280/112)
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