I live in an area that's prone to power outages. Is there a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) that is suitable for a 400 HPS? Would I need a single or 3-phase system? Does it make a difference? Would the one I have hooked up to my computer work? Thanks and much love for the help.
the one from your PC should do just fine for a 400w HPS. just make sure its rated for the voltage/amperage you will be using. single phase
also, i used to use a UPS/conditioner for my old PC, but found it used a lot of power, so i stopped using it. the benefit to using it, is so you dont lose data during a power outage. they usually only last 15 minutes or so. just curious why you would use it for your grow. to keep the lights on in case of a power outtage? if so they will only stay on for 15 minutes, which isnt much. doesnt seem worth it comapared to the power usage. unless of course you have a cooling system that needs to stay on, but again 15 minutes isnt much.
Thanks for the responses guys. The power goes out pretty regularly in my area, but only for 5-10 minute intervals. Once the power goes off, however, my lighting won't start again unless it's turned on manually, and if I'm at work that could be a problem. So, I'm thinking that it might not be a bad idea to get a UPS to ensure everything is running smoothly without interruptions. I'm into week 6 of flowering, so I guess I'm starting to get ultra protective . Once again, thanks for the replies. Peace!
I have the same problem. A UPS big enough to run a 400hps for very long will be quite expensive. I'm planning on using a smaller UPS on some CFL's that will keep the light cycle correct when power goes out. The HPS timer will be digital with battery backup to keep it's cycles correct. A generator is best if you have outages for days at a time