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This review is for: APC SMC1000 Smart-UPS UPS OVERVIEW: ----------- Unless you are already very familiar with the differences, before you commit to this UPS consider getting to know the differences with some of the other popular home and small business UPS models by APC and perhaps at least one other brand to find what fits your needs best. I've described at the start some summary differences below to help you choose if the SMC1000 is the right one for you. APC SMT vs. SMC: ------------------ Some differences between the SMT and SMC models from APC: - SMT allows adding optional, alternative NETWORK MANAGEMENT CARDS - SMT offer greater control over utility/online to AVR transfer points - SMT has AVR boost and trim, SMC only boost (there is some uncertainty about this even though this is what APC engineering said. I hope to nail this down definitively soon). - SMT has 3 year warranty, SMC 2 years - SMC has a novice friendly display with big icons (like the CPxxxPFCLCD), SMT has simple LED Text though with much more informative ALERTS. - SMT offers more control and access from LED display buttons, such as sensitivity, voltage thresholds, view logs, outlet groups, self-test, diagnostics, and alarm mute. This makes SMT often a BETTER CHOICE than SMC for Apple Mac users and when no computer being battery powered. SMC buttons allow sensitivity change, alarm mute, and self-test mostly. (1) SOME DESCRIPTIVE DIFFERENCES: ------------------- Model legend: APC A - SMT750 B - SMT1000 C - SMC1000 D - SMC1500 CyberPower E - CP850PFCLCD F - CP1000PFCLCD G - CP1350PFCLCD H - PR750LCD I - PR1000LCD J - PR1500LCD Feature legend: AmpHr - Each Battery's Ampere Hour B - Number Batteries R - Recharge Time S - Footprint (Square inches) W - Weight (lbs.) F - Fan (Yes/No) G - More generator friendly (Yes/No) N - Novice user friendly (Yes/No) __Watt_AmpHr_B_R______WxHxD_____S_W_F_G_N_Outlets A _500 _7.0Ah 1 3h 5.4"x_8.6"x17.3" _93 29 N Y N 6both* B _700 11.0Ah 2 3h 6.7"x_8.6"x17.3" 116 42 N Y N 8both C _600 11.0Ah 2 3h 6.7"x_8.6"x17.3" 116 38 N N N 8both D _900 11.0Ah 2 3h 6.7"x_8.6x"17.3" 116 45 Y N N 8both E _510 _8.5Ah 1 8h 3.9"x_9.1"x10.4" _41 15 Y N Y 5surge+5both F _600 _9.0Ah 1 8h 3.9"x_9.1"x10.4" _41 16 Y N Y 5surge+5both G _810 _7.0Ah 2 8h 3.9"x10.4"x14.2" _55 20 Y N Y 5surge+5both H _525 _7.0Ah 2 8h 5.4"x_6.4"x13.7" _74 27 Y Y N 6both I _700 12.0Ah 2 8h 6.7"x_8.7"x17.0" 114 44 Y Y N 8both J 1050 17.0Ah 2 8h 6.7"x_8.7"x17.0" 114 54 Y Y N 8both *both = surge and battery protection Notes: - You rarely see recharge times as long as they list since you rarely have an empty battery after a blackout unless you configure for that. Expect faster recharge times. - Novice user friendly is if a computer novice could likely get the UPS set-up without much help or effort (sort of plug-and-play). These companies offer strong tech support if needed, so you will likely always be able to get things working. - Note you can avoid losing outlets to bulky transformers with short patch cords and you can increase outlets with a PDU (consider avoiding a surge protector strip, see surge protection section for why). Some example patch cords: 1-Foot Extension Power Cable, 5-Pack APC AP9562 Basic Rack PDU 1U/15A/120V 10 outlets (2) RUNTIME (mins) ON BATTERY AT DIFFERENT LOADS: ---------------------------- Here's what the manufacturers claim: APC A - SMT750 B - SMT1000 C - SMC1000 D - SMC1500 CyberPower E - CP850PFCLCD F - CP1000PFCLCD G - CP1350PFCLCD H - PR750LCD I - PR1000LCD J - PR1500LCD ______A__B_C__D_E__F_G__H__I__J LOAD 100W 50 99 49 66 31 36 45 45 97 147 200W 22 45 25 35 13 15 22 22 46 83 300W 12 25 16 23 _7 _8 13 12 30 50 400W _7 15 11 16 _3 _5 _9 _8 20 36 500W _4 10 _8 12 _2 _3 _6 _6 16 25 600W __ _7 _6 _9 __ _2 _4 __ 11 18 700W __ _6 __ _7 __ __ _3 __ _9 15 800W __ __ __ _6 __ __ _2 __ __ 13 900W __ __ __ _5 __ __ __ __ __ 11 _1KW __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _9 (these above are from the manufacturers) Although I never tested this on the SMC1000, here are some REAL WORLD TESTED COMPUTER RUNTIMES measured from blackout start TO START OF COMPUTER HIBERNATION (configured to hibernate close to battery running out). These times depend on UPS battery charge measurement capability and hibernate timing flexibility, not just battery size. You can check the differences between APC's manufacturer claims and actual run time and extrapolate what you think the SMC1000 real world run time might be if you use it primarily for a computer. 100W TEST: SMT750: hibernate starts at 47m CP850LCD: hibernate starts at 23m PR750LCD: hibernate starts at 29m 200W TEST: SMT750: hibernate starts at 23m CP850LCD: hibernate starts at 7.5m PR750LCD: hibernate starts at 9.75m 300W TEST: SMT750: hibernate starts at 12.5m CP850LCD: hibernate starts at 2.75m PR750LCD: hibernate starts at 5m 400W TEST: SMT750: hibernate starts at 5.75m CP850LCD: hibernate starts at 0.5m PR750LCD: hibernate starts at 1.5m All loads measured directly and externally (not with their UPS internal meters and to avoid UPS efficiency differences). Batteries first get 10 hour charge for tests. - Consider choosing a UPS with claimed runtime at least 50% MORE THAN YOU THINK YOU NEED. - These UPS will shut-off WELL BEFORE THEY REACH 0% battery, often at 9%-20% full. This way when the electricity returns they come back on without needing manual restart. - Very slightly lowered the runtime claim of 100W for the SMT1000 for readability. (3) NOISE: ------- APC SMC1000: Has NO FAN. Likely same noise profile as the improved quiet SMT1000. Since the SMC1000 is very similar to the SMT750/SMT1000 in regards to basic construction of a small no fan UPS, and is specced at the same decibels of loudness, I expect to only hear a SMC1000 MAKE SOME SOUND WHEN ON BATTERY POWER (ex: blackout) and that it be a fairly QUIET HUMMING like an aquarium pump (tested on SMT750/SMT1000 at 100W, 200W, 300W, and 400W) like the SMT750/SMT1000. I measured 38dB (APC says 41dB max, same as SMT1000) on the SMT750/SMT1000 during a blackout, in a quiet room you can hear it, but it's not loud nor annoying. You can configure for no alert beeps, too. Note that it would likely FORCE THE SMC1000 TO MAKE AUDIBLE NOISE if you plug something in that FLICKERS, like a lamp that flickers just a little at a lower dimmer setting. That happens with the SMT750/SMT1000. Someone noted in comments that their SMC1000 made an audible sound when not on battery power. It could turn out to be an undocumented benefit of SMT over SMC, or just a faulty unit, I'll note here any follow-up. Only APC models with 1400VA+ and those with external batteries have fans. (4) ABILITY TO SHUTDOWN COMPUTERS SAFELY: ----------------------- The SMC1000 can shutdown a Windows PC and a Apple Mac, except for PCs or OS that predate Hibernate, of course. More on the Apple Mac graceful shutdown in the Apple section later. > WHAT IS HIBERNATE: To SAVE THINGS JUST AS THEY WERE before a blackout (not just shutdown) the SMC1000 can put a Windows PC into HIBERNATE. Hibernate doesn't "save" an open document, but rather freezes it in time so upon starting the computer everything is just as it was before. On Apple Macs this is called SAFE SLEEP (OSX 10.4+). With PC's the UPS just tells them to shutdown, Apple Macs on the other hand need some simple preconfiguration on whether and how you want the computer to react to a UPS low battery signal. > WHAT IS HIBERNATE vs. SHUTDOWN: If you tell it a computer to SHUTDOWN gracefully WITHOUT HIBERNATE mode, the computer will often ask users to save their work (ex: word docs) and then it will shutdown often too quickly for anyone to save it. Thus hibernate is often chosen. According to APC and Cyberpower support only the CyberPower PRxxxLCD allows the OPTION of TRULY SAVING open application files (ex: word docs) while it does a SHUTDOWN on the computer. Most folks, however, prefer to save the exact status of things when we shutdown the computer (hibernate) and thus want the choice whether to save the file in its present state or not after hibernation, but there it is if you need it. > WINDOWS - IS HIBERNATE SAME AS SLEEP?: No. HIBERNATE saves the RAM to hard drive and shuts the computer down. This was invented for laptops to save battery and be less at risk of the hard drive writing while being jostled. SLEEP doesn't shut things down, it just saves energy and restarts faster than hibernate. > SMART CARDS AND HIBERNATE: SMC1000 can never have a smart card. APC SMT and CyberPower PR models can have "SMART CARDS" plugged in to allow the graceful shutdown of MULTIPLE computers on the network even if the computers aren't plugged into the UPS. Note that older versions of SMT software allowed this for Apple Macs, but no longer. (5) APPLE COMPUTERS (MACS/OSX): ------------------------------- Can SMC1000 shutdown 1 Apple Mac? - YES Can SMC1000 shutdown 2+ Apple Macs over Network? (w/network card) - NO Can Apple Mac be used to view or configure UPS? - NO Setting an Apple Mac to allow the SMC1000 to shut it down safely is different below OSX 10.6 vs. 10.6+. The directions for this is in an APC doc (it works for CyberPower, too), "How to configure native shutdown on Macintosh OS X .." (avail online or from support). With Apple Macs the user configures the Apple OSX's Energy Saver shutdown options (System Preferences) to allow a UPS signal to the Mac (via USB) to shut the computer down safely. The USB must be connected from the UPS to the Mac for the UPS preferences option to show. Some OSX versions MAY HAVE A BUG that don't allow the shutdown preferences to save after a computer restart, be sure to test. I know it works in 10.6.8. There is no APC (or CyberPower) software now to load on Apple Macs for DISPLAYING OR CONFIGURING UPS settings. (6) AVR AND CONTROL OF VOLTAGE LEVELS FOR BATTERY KICK-IN: ------------------------------ NOTE: There is some question whether APC engineering is correct on whether SMC1000 has Trim. I hope to definitively get an answer on whether the SMC1000 actually has Trim or not soon. I've met a user in a comment that says he has Trim even though APC engineering says the SMC1000 doesn't. He says he even convinced APC engineering they were wrong to say the SMC1000 doesn't have Trim. Until I nail it down soon I'll include the information motivated by APC engineering last time. Documentation is split on whether the SMC1000 has Trim or not. > WHAT IS AVR: With AVR, WITHOUT USING THE BATTERY, when voltage drops into a low range (brownout) the voltage steps up (boost) by either a fixed amount or a percentage. When the voltage rises into a high range way above 120V (overload) AVR steps the voltage down (trim). If the voltage drops even below the low AVR range (ex: under 82V-106V), or rises even above the high AVR range (ex: over 127V-144V), the unit TRANSFERS to battery power (120V). Those voltage levels (default or user set) where AVR or regular AC power stops and the battery kicks in are TRANSFER POINTS. Some models ONLY HAVE AVR BOOST (no trim), like APC SMC and Cyberpower CPxxxPFCLCD models. APC SMT and Cyberpower PR models have both AVR boost and trim. > SMC1000 Info: AVR boost: Yes AVR trim: No <-- This info from APC engineering may not be correct, I'll try to nail down definitively and confirm the test You can set voltage transfer points INDIRECTLY through the sensitivity setting. The transfer point from AVR Boost to battery is always 95V, I'm told. SENSITIVITY Low_ - Transfer point from utility/online to AVR Boost is 97V, to battery high is 136V Med_ - Transfer point from utility/online to AVR Boost is 103V, to battery high is 130V High - Transfer point from utility/online to AVR Boost is 106V, to battery high is 127V (default) To prevent review clutter I didn't include the AVR ranges for the other models as most folks aren't looking for that detail. See my reviews for the other models to see that level of detail if your needs include specific AVR ranges. (7) "SENSITIVITY" SETTINGS: ------------------------- The sensitivity setting means something different for each model family. > APC SMC1000 ("POWER QUALITY SENSITIVITY"): - NORMAL (Default) *2ms-4ms Transfer time *Sets low transfer point from online/utility to AVR Boost at 106V *Sets high transfer point from online/utility to battery at 127V - REDUCED *6ms-8ms Transfer time *Sets low transfer point from online/utility to AVR Boost at 103V *Sets high transfer point from online/utility to battery at 130V - LOW *8ms-10ms Transfer time *Sets low transfer point from online/utility to AVR Boost at 97V *Sets high transfer point from online/utility to battery at 136V By comparison, here is what the sensitivity settings look like for the SMC1000's more advanced relative the SMT1000: > APC SMTxxx ("POWER QUALITY SENSITIVITY"): - NORMAL (Default) *2ms-4ms Transfer time - REDUCED *6ms-8ms Transfer time - LOW *8ms-10ms Transfer time > WHAT IS TRANSFER TIME: TRANSFER TIME is the time taken to switch to battery power. APC says longer transfer times are better for noisy electrical environments like lower power quality home generators. This can reduce the switching to battery and lengthen battery life in that circumstance. In general if the power source is a generator APC suggests the SMT series instead of the SMC series. (8) SURGE PROTECTION AND EMI/RFI INTERFERENCE REDUCTION: --------------------------- All these models have UL1449 3rd Edition Listed surge protection. They were thus tested with powerful surges and survived still operational. > CLAMPING VOLTAGE: APC - 330V CLAMPING VOLTAGE This is the same for all APC and Cyberpower models noted above. This is the maximum voltage allowed through to the equipment, the lower the better of course. During the period power is not allowed through due to clamping, the UPS is supplying power. Note that there is debate which is a more useful measure for surge suppression, clamping voltage or let-through voltage (technically not the same). You might ask of what use is clamping voltage for a UPS, after all for example 330V clamping voltage is much higher than any voltage level the UPS switches to AVR or battery. Clamping voltage is an extra layer of protection for a UPS due to the power and speed of many transient surges. > SACRIFICIAL?: All the models noted above including the SMC1000 are sacrificial for big surges (per support), bigger than the UL1449 test surges, of course. The button on the back is the classic circuit breaker OVERLOAD PROTECTION like all good modern certified surge protectors have (they strongly recommend 12A max, they often trip on 15A). This helps prevent fires, but does not make a unit non-sacrificial per se. > JOULES: SMC1000 - These are rated 455-540 Joules, same as SMT750/SMT1000 I've included the values here and will let the user decide if it is important, just know that it is a matter of controversy. Some engineers in the field conclude that standards bodies feel that Joules is a misleading measure by which to compare a unit's suppression capability. The Joules rating of the CyberPower units listed above is 1030. > EMI/RFI NOISE/INTERFERENCE REDUCTION: APC does not give numbers on this for any models. I asked APC engineering to fill in what I couldn't find in the documentation, however they said they don't give it out. I guess if people really cared enough we could test it out. EMI/RFI noise attenuation is more than just helpful to audio and media hardware. This helps lower let through voltage from surges more than MOVs do alone, especially within a portion of the frequency range. CyberPower - They report their models have an EMI/RFI noise attenuation max of 48dB in the 150kHz to 100MHz range. > ETHERNET AND COAX/CABLE SURGE PROTECTION: Only the CyberPower CPxxxPFCLCD models have these built-in, too. If using the SMC/SMT or PR models one needs separate surge protection for ethernet and/or coax/cable. Dedicated Coax/Cable and/or Ethernet surge protection and a little patch cabling to make it work is easy to find online. The Ethernet surge protection is for 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, NOT GIGABIT Ethernet (1000 Base-T). > ISOLATED OUTLETS: None of these models have isolated outlets (i.e., like Isobars, Furman PST-8D, etc.). > CAN I PLUG-IN SURGE PROTECTOR BEFORE OR AFTER UPS?: The manufacturers said technically yes and said many clients do, but they don't recommend it. Some reasons manufacturers recommend against it include: (a) UL1449 surge protection certification is for plugging the unit right into a wall outlet. (b) Can cause UPS to misjudge actual wattage going through, possibly causing overload. (c) Should be using PDU's instead for efficient power distribution. (d) Surge protectors in-line with each other can actually increase total tolerance for surges, reducing effectiveness. (e) User loses equipment protection coverage, among other reasons because determining liability becomes difficult. PDUs plugged into an APC UPS that aren't APC made won't void the UPS warranty I'm told but can void the equipment protection guarantee. (9) WARRANTY: --------------- Here are 2 harder to find warranty-related notes: - Some retail boxes for the APC SMC models have a code with instructions for INCREASING the BATTERY WARRANTY from 2 to 3 years (SMT unit warranty is 3 years). - APC offers 1yr and 3yr EXTENDED WARRANTIES on SMC/SMT models that raise TECH SUPPORT COVERAGE TO 24x7 (and other benefits). Both the kind for new purchases and the kind for renewing before a present warranty runs out are available. (10) OTHER PHYSICAL DIFFERENCES: ------------------------------- POWER CORDS: APC SMC/SMT: 6' Cyberpower PRxxxLCD: 6' Cyberpower CPxxxPFCLCD: 5' PERCEIVED TOUGHNESS: APC SMC/SMT: Tough, metal, and inflexible Cyberpower PRxxxLCD: Tough, metal, and inflexible Cyberpower CPxxxPFCLCD: Tough, plastic, and mostly inflexible (11) TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND DOCUMENTATION: ---------------------- Both APC and CyberPower offer strong technical support. Consider which is available DURING YOUR OFF-HOURS if you may need that. APC Tech Support Hours: M-F 8A-8P EST (5A-5P PST) Locations: Rhode Island, California, and the Philippines Extended Warranty ($): 24x7 Support CyberPower Tech Support Hours: M-F 9A-6P EST (6A-3P PST) Location: Minnesota Both company's technical documentation could use improvement and there are a fair share of feature and specification errors and missing detail one might expect. As also noted in the warranty section here, for an additional fee APC offers 24x7 TECH SUPPORT with 1yr and 3yr EXTENDED WARRANTIES on SMC/SMT models. (12) DISPLAYS: ---------- > APC SMC and CyberPower CPxxxPFCLCD displays: - Great looking display using icons for novice ease of understanding. - Have to keep hitting a display button to rotate through values. - Less configuration and activating possible with display buttons. > APC SMT and Cyberpower PRxxxLCD displays: - Detailed status alerts in words. - Rotates through power/battery info so don't need to keep hitting a button. - More configuration and activating possible with display buttons. > SUGGESTION: There are online guides to learn how to configure with display buttons that may help make it a lot less mysterious. (13) SOME LITTLE THINGS: --------------------- - Event and power info logging by APC SMC/SMT and CyberPower PRxxxLCD is excellent, the latter even sporting colorful event category icons. The CPxxxPFCLCD models display event counts, not a log. - Only APC models report TEMPERATURE in the UPS. The CyberPower models react to high temperature but don't log or report it. - All these UPS recharge when off but plugged in. HOW MUCH WATTAGE DOES MY STUFF NEED?: --------------------------------------------- You might consider measuring wattage used if you don't have a ballpark so you don't over buy UPS needs. Here are some relatively inexpensive meters/strips that measure wattage. - Watts Up Pro Electricity Consumption Meter - P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt EZ Electricity Usage Monitor - P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor - P3 P4330 Kill-A-Watt(R) Ps 10 Surge Protector Some examples of office computer loads: - 19" business monitor: 32W - Computer with i4770K CPU, highly efficient Active PFC power supply, low-end graphics card (just running MS office): 38W .. adjusted for mid-level graphics card (just running MS office): 70W BATTERY NOTES: ----------------- - All the UPS Batteries are expected to last 3-5 YEARS. - Batteries LEFT IN UPS after they are dead can SWELL UP, making removal more difficult. - CyberPower allows using THIRD PARTY BATTERIES without voiding the warranty, APC does not. - APC packaging has a CODE WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON THE BOX giving AN ADDITIONAL YEAR coverage for battery. SOME THINGS NOT TO PLUG INTO A UPS OR ON THE SAME WALL BRANCH CIRCUIT AS ONE: ------------------------------ Hook these up to a separate surge suppressor and preferably to an outlet on another branch circuit (i.e., different circuit box circuit breaker). - Laserwriter - Paper shredder - Copier - Space heater - Sump pump - Dehumidifier - Most big electrical needy machines UPS SHUTDOWN AFTER COMPUTER HIBERNATION: ----------------------------------------------- > Why Shutdown UPS? There are benefits to auto-shutting down a UPS after it shuts down a PC. By not running a battery way down the UPS can restart without manual help when power returns, battery life improves, and recharge time lessens. Also, a UPS needs to restart in order for a Windows PC to be automatically rebooted after it was shutdown if you wanted that (and if the computer allows it). > The Scenario The power returns from a blackout and you want to get back to work, so you start up the computer and while it is starting up or you are starting to work the UPS goes down crashing the computer! (and turning off anything else plugged into it). What happened? In most user or default configurations the UPS goes down 2-8 minutes or so after the command to shutdown the PC goes out. With some UPS models the UPS will then STILL GO DOWN at a set time after the computer hibernates EVEN IF THE POWER RETURNS. > Solution Test if your model does this. If so, find time before UPS shuts down after PC hibernates and TRAIN USERS NOT TO RESTART COMPUTER JUST AFTER BLACKOUT ENDS but instead for that time and to check display for time before UPS shutdown report. LINE INTERACTIVE vs. DOUBLE CONVERSION TOPOLOGIES: ------------------------------------------ LINE INTERACTIVE: The SMC1000 uses line interactive topology, this means they go from AC power to battery and back at specific voltages. There is a short transfer time usually 2-8 milliseconds depending on model. Let's now look at the next level up ... DOUBLE CONVERSION "ONLINE": - Can TOLERATE greater input fluctuations without impacting output - ZERO TRANSFER TIME to battery since output runs continuously However: - Significantly MORE EXPENSIVE - Often much NOISIER - Few % less efficient with electricity Examples of Double Conversion Online: - APC Smart-UPS Online model RT 1500VA: APC SMART-UPS RT 1500VA (120V) - E77654 - CyberPower OL Smart App Online model OL1000RTXL2U: CyberPower Smart App Online OL1000RTXL2U - UPS - 900 Watt - 1000 VA (OL1000RTXL3U) - HOW TO REBOOT COMPUTER AFTER BLACKOUT: --------------------------------------------- APC UPS models have an option to bring a Windows PC back up after the blackout ends (assuming the UPS shut it down), and it's an easy configuration option. However, 2 prerequisites are: - The PC motherboard bios needs hibernate to be enabled - The UPS needs to have been shutdown (put to sleep is more accurate, it is still "on" if plugged in) SOME GREEN QUESTIONS ANSWERED: ----------------------- WHEN NOTHING PLUGGED INTO UPS: (a) When not recharging, they all use between 4W-9W. (b) When recharging, the APC models use 15W-17W for most of the recharge period. Note that the APC models recharge in up to 3 hours . By comparison: When recharging, the CyberPower ones use 4W-8W, although they recharge much slower. SUGGESTION: ------------- Given all the UPS units made, comments on Amazon and other sites can't represent a large enough sampling to tell us how likely we are to get a lemon. However comments can give us a great idea WHAT TO TEST FOR just after we get them so we can more quickly check if we have a lemon while it is an easy exchange. Some things to test for: - Is battery recharge under load much slower than claimed - Runtime with intended load - Noise under load - Set up and execute a PC hibernate or other safe shutdown - Review temperature in logs (APC only) TO THE MANUFACTURERS: ------------------------- If you find inaccuracies, please note them in comments and I'll research and modify accordingly. Thank you. Hope this all helps someone:)