[tech] [committee] Auction TOMORROW for UPS

[Daniel Axtens]

> Hi Daniel
> 
> That is a point to consider but we have a dinky little UPS on each CPU box
> (only, not screens) here and the main benefit is carrying the gear across very
> short disturbances. The UPS jumps in, runs on battery for it's obligatory 5
> seconds until the power looks stable again, and returns the supply to mains.
> 
> What is saves in hassle more than compensates for the little bit of power it
> uses. I think if the Ross' bid can secure the UPSes and extended battery boxes
> (buyers for them alone are less likely) then, even if only the main unit was
> re-stocked with batteries (and the other left unused) the 6 minute run time
> will cover the main situation of very short disturbances.
> 
> We've set up nut here (tho I haven't done that yet for the replacement
> CompuGuard 650 I purchased the other day) so the system runs 90 seconds on
> battery and shuts down. Nut can also communicate across multiple machines
> running on one (or several) UPS to sequentially shut down systems. I selected
> 90 seconds because it was more about preserving file system integrity (and
> file recovery from vim etc) than trying to run the system across the outage.
> This gets back to your original lifespan question; it's not about uprecords
> for us.
> 
> For the UPS' sake, running only for 90 seconds doesn't take the battery
> anywhere near to the UPS' "discharged battery" threshold which, for these
> small SLA batteries, kills them without too many cycles to flat. I suspect the
> UPS manufactures underrate the battery and are relying on the idea that most
> power losses are short.

This is one of the best thought-out responses I've received to anything this year. Thanks Harry.

I've also been told on IRC that we do have machines dying due to power issues, and that, to [BOB] at least, not having to rebuild his screen session is worth $1000. 

I now think the project is one that should be done with the part-member/part-club structure used for motsugo, and countless other projects. (So, Bob, I'm sure that you'll be the first person lining up to donate!)

I endorse the motion to purchase.

[DJA]