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Gadget:Protection Centre 675

A useful back-up, uninterruptible power provider for electronic equipment which is typically sensitive to voltage fluctuations.

From: MGE
Price: £35 + VAT

 

Anyone who uses their PC for work will know how inconvenient it is to have a power cut, or have damage caused by a power surge. Electronic equipment is typically sensitive to voltage fluctuations, and damage can be costly. One solution to this would be to use an uninterruptible power supply, and the MGE Protection Center 675 is one contender for the role.

The unit comprises 8 power outlets – 4 IEC connectors for a PC/monitor, 2 with surge protection, 2 with battery backup, and the same configuration with 4 standard 3-pin plug sockets. There are also connections to protect a phone or fax line from power surges, and a connector for a PC or Mac. An internal lead-battery supplies power in the event of a power cut. A button on one end allows battery backup to the sockets to be turned on and off. Accessories supplied with the unit are 2 IEC cables, a power cable to connect the UPS to the mains, a phone cable to connect to a suitable socket, and a USB cable to connect the UPS to a computer. Software is supplied for a PC or Mac on CD. As part of the warranty, attached computer equipment is covered for an unlimited amount in the event of damage caused by a power surge.

The setup is very simple. After charging the device for around 8 hours, the battery backup is ready, and all devices to be protected can be connected. Pressing the end button for 2 seconds turns on the battery backup protection.

The supplied software allows the connected computer to view and change the internal UPS settings, and view error logs in the event of a problem with the mains supply.

In the event of a power failure, the software shows the remaining time until UPS shutdown, allowing any work to be saved, and all equipment to be safely powered off before the backup power fails. The UPS can also be set to switch to battery power in the event the mains supply falls outside of a specified voltage range.

The manual states that the UPS can supply 400W of power for up to 30 minutes, but this appears to be optimistic compared to real world use. On connecting a TV and cable box drawing a total of 150W, the UPS was able to run them for 35 minutes until it automatically shut down at 10 per cent remaining. This is enough for any current work in progress to be safely saved, but not a long enough option to continue work in the event of a lengthy power outage.

The UPS is well constructed and would be a useful addition to any home or small office where expensive computer equipment is to be protected against power surges. The battery backup feature is useful to allow safe shutdown of attached equipment, but not suitable for prolonged working, where a greater capacity UPS would be more advisable. A particularly good use of this UPS would be to supplement the battery power of a laptop where power requirements are typically much lower than that of a desktop system.

Reviewer: Jon Lee