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List Price: $538.20
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I use this as a backup power source for my pellet stove. If the power goes out when the stove is on, you get a smoky mess since it relies on a fan for combustion and exhaust. I chose to go the APC route instead of the stove-branded unit I feel more comfortable with a company that knows this business well. I could not be happier with it fast switching, charges the battery fast after the outage too. Ultimately simple as well the switch is either off, or automatic or charge-only. Set it and forget it!
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Here in South Florida, we have what would be described as unpredictable weather... which leads to unpredictable power ;-). Since I work at home on the computer, I need to be able to work through our unexpected power outtages which can last several hours at a time. My UPS just wouldn't cut it for power outtages lasting more than an hour or so.
Enter the king of UPS's, the APS 750! I bought a marine battery at Walmart for under $70 and connected it to the unit. Just the one battery gives me about 5 to 6 hours of run-time for both my desktop and my LCD monitor. If I need more run-time, I can simply connect more batteries in parallel.
Like a regular UPS, the unit charges when it has power, and switches to battery during a surge or blackout. Though the transfer time is a bit higher than a typical UPS, it doesn't seem to matter.
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I have an off-road trailer that I use for research. I purchased the APS750 and coupled it with a 105 AH AGM battery in the nose box of the trailer. Away from mains power, it provides excellent run time for several laptops and communications equipment. I keep the battery charged with solar panels off-road and take advantage of the 20A charging capacity of the APS750 when mains power is available. It's a 750W sine wave inverter, transfer switch, and battery charger in a rugged package perfect for my needs. I highly recommend the APS750 for mobile applications where high quality and reliable power is important. I can see where it might make a good emergency power system too.
[Edit Sept. 21, 2011: In my original review I stated that the Tripp Lite APS750 was a pure sine wave inverter. I removed that statement from my review as I learned through investigation that the output is pure sine wave when running on mains power (as expected) and PWM (pulse width modulated) sine wave when running on battery. PWM sine wave should not be confused with the fixed square wave output of cheaper inverters. PWM provides tight voltage regulation (+/5%) and eliminates harmonic noise the static hum you might hear with sensitive equipment if run on a cheaper square wave inverter. PWM sine wave is suitable for sensitive electronic equipment and motors. Anyway, I've been running sensitive radio communications equipment and computers on my APS750 with no problems.]
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I brought one of these down to Costa Rica to deal with the unexpected power outages that happen on a semi regular basis. I hooked it up to two 100 amp hour deep cycle batteries. This will run my lights, electronics, wifi, computer, and short use of tools for a day or more (maybe much longer/ never tested). I separate & leave equipment with higher energy draws (like the refrig, pumps, washer, dryer, air conditioner) off the same power out electrical line. When set to operate automatically, this inverter takes over and supplies the 120 volts of electricity from the batteries via inverter when your grid electricity goes off. This unit will also regulate the grid voltage when voltage drops low or spikes high. The batteries are automatically recharged when the grid electricity comes back on. Great product for good competitive price. In my opinion: This is the BEST DEAL on the market. I believe Tripp Lite knows what they are doing when I study their full line of products. I see they also make auto power supplies for medical use. 2012 Update: My Tripp Lite APS has been working flawlessly for 4 years in Costa Rica's humid beach climate. Another Plus: Any electric powered burglar deterrent hooked up to this system will work 24/7 including when the grid is off line.
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OK. This is VERY important. This unit does NOT output a real sine-wave when on DC power. The output is a chopped up "sine-wave" which drops to zero volts many times over a single wavelength. This unit does NOT play nicely with most furnace or pellet stove blowers, certainly not my 1/6 HP blower on my Lennox furnace. NOWHERE IN THE ABOVE DESCRIPTION does it say that the output on DC power is a "PWM sine wave output". However, if you go to the Tripp Lite website, find this product and go to the specifications tab, this is what you will find:
LINE POWER (AC): Maintains 120V nominal sine wave output from line power source. INVERTER POWER (AC): Maintains PWM sine wave output voltage of 120 V AC (+/-5%).
Freaking great. So much for "clean, computer grade power". That is a load of B.S., honestly. If I had known, for even a second, that this unit didn't output a real sine wave, I would have purchased something else. Apparently, you have to get the TRIPP LITE APS1012SW 1000 Watt 12 Volt Inverter / Charger Pure Sine Wave 120 Volt 4A/40A Hardwire at approximately TRIPLE the cost to get a real sine wave output on DC power. So now I'm stuck with this thing, as I bought this thing, then researched batteries, then got that, then tested the setup out on stuff besides my furnace, then had to modify the wiring to/from my furnace by cutting it and putting an outlet in one box, and a power cord in another, so I could insert this setup in between furnace and mains power, and thus it's been more than 30 days. Nor will Tripp Lite help me, as it "clearly" says in the specifications that this is a PWM output on DC power. They will allow me to trade up to the 1012SW if I pay the difference in RETAIL prices.
So, yippee. Just dandy. If you buy this, make sure that you test it out within the return time on the actual equipment you want to backup power. And if you have a pellet stove, chances are it won't work according to what the Tripp Lite representative told me.
[EDIT]***FIVE STARS TO AMAZON CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!***
So I called Amazon mainly to tell them that they should add the PWM output on DC info to the product page, but also with the slim hope that they might be able to do something for me. And they WERE able to do something for me! I couldn't be more pleased with Amazon. This is precisely why I always try to buy from Amazon when I can![/EDIT]
