Is there something sinister about this APC UPS?
 

I purchased this UPS very recently.

I can't find any info on this product (BX800) on APC's website, or on Google.

I thought this was a great deal on a UPS, but now I'm not so sure any more. I chatted with an APC rep who said that this is a new UPS that is sold through select channels only, and that's why it's not on the website.

Did I buy a dog of a product???

Does it work as advertised? Can you get support for it if it breaks? If yes to both, then I wouldn't worry too much about what channels they do/don't use to sell it through.

I wouldn't be shocked (pun) if this ISN'T an APC UPS and it's OEM'd from someone else then APC sticks their label on it. APC as far as I know doesn't ship any UPC's at 800VA... They start at 620 then go to 650, 700, 725, 750, then 1000+

I just purchased it a few days ago, and it *seems* to work okay, with the APC PowerChute Personal Edition software.

What I'm paranoid about is that there may be no firmware updates or any software updates for this product, as there would be for their other products.

If it's a great UPS, I don't understand why APC wouldn't advertise it more by having at least the product info on their website. It's very possible that this is a rebadged UPS from someone else, since they don't have any 800VA products on their website.

Oh well, I registered this thing, and pray that it works well, and that I'll be able to obtain replacement batteries for it in a few years...

In addition to the link to the CompUSA site by UALOneKPlus, I also saw this unit (BX800) in Best Buy and Fry's today, so I would be fairly confident that this is an APC product that is supported by APC. I looked at their details on the box and the contact number 800 800 4APC and their warranty details were right there, so it doesn't appear to be anything else then someone at APC who has not done their job to get the details of this model on their web site.

Huh? Every desktop computer in our CLT office has an APC UPS and they're all under 620 V-A, either 350 V-A or 500 V-A depending on which unit we bought at the time ... I have a really nice unit at home that is also 500 V-A

I don't know what they're exact manufacturing arrangements are, but I can vouch that they're low end products in general seem to have take a dive in quality ... the good part being I've never had a problem getting APC to replace the units that have had problems.

I don't think UPS' have firmware that can be updated ... the PowerChute software will be updated no matter what, and I don't see any reason to believe that future versions will not work with your unit, the software is usually backwards compatiable with older APC hardware.

Those smaller UPS's for SURE are made by a Taiwan ODM..

I bought a cheap UPC recently and it would not start. . Nil data, manual etc was with it. I called the 800 number and gotta a tech guy in 5 min. He said to start it, I gotta push and hold the button on top until it quits buzzing. I did and it works. I said send me a manual. He said it was cheaper for them to talk calls than to write, print, distribe etc the paper stuff. Ugh!

MisterNice

MisterNice, was this an APC UPS?

I believe it was. It was deal at compusa or bb and 1/2 the cost of the other ones on the same wattage range. My EE kid sez the electronic circuitry doesnt differ that radically in the home units. I return in a week and will read the label if you wish.

MisterNice

someone should tell them about the web!

MisterNice, if this was an APC UPS you would need to have the battery connected to the UPS, as they don't ship their UPS with this cable connected (safety reason I assume). Each APC UPS I have installed in our data centers are the same in that fact. If it was connected then this means your unit is not new, and since you are without a manual this could be the case.

Itsa Energizer UPS 450va. And the rebate check came already.

MisterNice

That depends on the model, many do ship with batteries installed, and some do not. Most of the stand alone units have their batteries all connected, many of the rack mounts do not.