This particular APC UPS belongs to the budget Back-UPS series, although its price is quite steep, partly due to its name. It has a good AVR that I would like to offer a smaller output voltage range, however (186.32V - 260.97V). However, this does not happen because at the same time the AVR is able to handle a very wide range of voltages (135.4V - 300V) without the need for battery intervention.
I would also like a true sine wave output and not a modified one. An indicator screen would also be welcome, as well as a detachable power cord.
On the positive side, the Powerchute software is very good, which even in the unpaid version offers several features and is very user-friendly. Additionally, the UPS holds up well under load, without any issues. The offered Shuko outputs are also sufficient, and the circuit breaker is a good protection feature. The same goes for the battery connector, through which you can disconnect them if you want to perform maintenance on the UPS or simply put it out of operation for a period of time.
Internally, the build quality is good and it has, as expected from an APC machine, input and output filters. I would like larger heatsinks for the inverter and battery charger instead of using the main transformer, which increases standby and idle power consumption.
The cables inside are close and reinforced, so there will be no problem there. However, the fan is not ball-bearing, but of low quality. On the other hand, it will not operate frequently, so there will be no problem there. Finally, the FETs and capacitors of the inverter are good, but I would like better capacitors in other areas of the board.
The battery replacement process is not so easy as you have to disassemble the entire UPS, since the front screen does not come off easily. According to APC, the batteries will last 3-5 years, for a fairly long period of time.
Overall, it is a good product, but at this price, even slightly higher, I would like at least the following: a screen, a detachable power cord, and a separate battery charger. On the other hand, you know what you're getting with APC, since the UPS has input-output protection, something that most cheap UPSs do not have, so they do not actually offer protection. Additionally, it can handle the load mentioned in the specifications by APC, and the network protection as well as the board with the USB port have good protection and high build quality. Finally, the Powerchute control program is particularly user-friendly, stable, and most importantly, free. It would be great if there was a compatible version for Mac OS.
A big thank you to Msystems and APC for providing the product for testing purposes!
The full video review can be found here: https://youtu.be/KW0-JmCcOzQ
ADVANTAGES
• Long battery life under load
• Circuit breaker
• Battery connector (useful if you want to store the UPS for a period of time)
• Good battery quality
• Good AVR with boost and drop functions for outgoing voltage where needed
• User-friendly software compatible even with Linux
• 4x Schuko sockets
• Toshin Kogyo DC-Link capacitors
• High-quality and powerful Mosfets in the inverter
• MOV and X2 capacitor in the input filter
• Low noise (the fan does not run continuously)
• Short switching time from and to battery
DISADVANTAGES
• Quite high price
• High power consumption in standby and idle mode
• Modified Sine Wave output
• Fixed power supply cable instead of detachable
• Expected better capacitors on the board than Aishi
• Lack of screen for basic information
• Sleeve bearing fan