Re: Backup power supplies -- MIDRANGE-L


I have been wrestling with this same issue _off_ and _on_ (Whew!  What a lousy
pun) for a while now.  We have a UPS, but I don't think that I could make a
convincing business case for buying a backup generator.  On the other hand, if
there was an extended power outage due to some kind of catastrophe, I am sure I
would be told to just go rent a generator.  I don't know beans about power
generation and the local rental store won't know anything about an AS/400.  My
biggest fear is that we would do this in the heat of the moment, fire up the
generator, and it would burn out half the disk drive motors because of something
I did not know.  Sure wish I could find a reliable resource to educate me and
calm my fears.

Phil


   Message: 11
   Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:04:54 -0500
   From: "Barry L. Kline" <blkline@attglobal.net>
   Organization: B. L. Kline & Associates, Inc.
   To: midrange-l@midrange.com
   Subject: Re: Backup power supplies
   Reply-To: midrange-l@midrange.com

   Hi Ed.

   This is really a simple task...

   In my company (coincidentally a power company) we have a UPS sized
   large enough to run every piece of equipment that needs uninterrupted
   power...the AS/400, some PCs and our phone system.  We have a
   generator with an automatic transfer switch so when the power goes off
   the UPS keeps the required systems hot.  Then the generator kicks on
   and after it comes up to speed the load transfers to the generator.
   We're using a Best Ferrups for the job -- it's a constant-on type UPS
   (It converts outside AC to DC, then back to AC on a full-time basis)
   so the the equipment doesn't even know the transfer happens.  The UPS
   will eat 57-63 Hz power (which the generator can easily provide) and
   then converts it to clean 60Hz.  Best Power is at
   http://www.bestpower.com

   The generator and transfer switch is made by Onan.  If you go to their
   website (http://www.onan.com) you can find a local dealer who will be
   more than happy to help you size the transfer switch and generator to
   appropriate capacities.

   Barry

   Ed Chabot wrote:
   >
   > Ron,
   > Thanks, we are more concerned (right now anyway) with keeping the system up
   > for a remote site that might not be having the same power interruption that
   > we would experience.  Because they are now running on our AS/400, we would
   > lose the production or shipping for two sites not to mention the political
   > egg on our face because "they didn't have these kind of problems before we
   > moved them onto our AS/400" kind of thing.  Was it a large manufacturing
   > site?  I can't imagine the size generator we would need to keep things
   > running here but then again maybe I just don't know what is out there for
   > this kind of thing.
   >


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