RC
A UPS is the kindest gift you can give to a sensitive electronic device.
I’ve have used APC for 30+ years. I have 3 that are that old and still going strong.
I feel that they have dropped in quality or at least QC in the last few years to keep prices lower on their consumer lines.
But I still put them into customers systems all the time. And they work just fine.
I just don’t think the new ones are going to last decades like the old ones.
The batteries are easy to change.
I do like the CyberPower pure sine wave supplies, but they seem to be our of your budget range.
SlimJim is right about checking battery size. For example the CyberPower 1500va uses 2 standard 12v 7ah batteries. Easy to find.
The CyberPower 1250va uses 2 junior sized 4.5ah cells that are not easily found. And the darned UPS is exactly the same external size as the 1500va unit. I never knew about the odd batteries till I needed new ones.
Something that use the 12v 7 or 8 Ah batteries is nice since even Academy Sports stocks them for use in deer feeders.
I took a look at the UPSs you mentioned and I’m having a hare time telling what batteries they actually use. The APC – looks (notice the word looks) like it uses the standard 7ah battery. Check the APC web site for more details.
https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_File_Name=BU%20UM%20990-5679%20MN01%20EN.pdf&p_Doc_Ref=SPD_AHUG-9XB6SU_EN&p_enDocType=User%20guide
Easy - to change batteries.
Manufacturers like to obscure the actual battery replacement details so they can charge way more than a generic battery.
When looking at power ratings remember that they are rated in volt-amps which is not the same as watts. The specs should tell you what the approximate watt rating is.
As MtnDon mentions, the little ones are really just about making sure you have enough time to do an orderly shutdown. Sure they will run a router for maybe an hour. But a gaming PC? – better shut that puppy down PDQ.
Most UPSs have like a 2m-4m run time at their rated output.
But Hey – If you can mod a flashlight you can mod a UPS!
Open up the battery compartment, and if you ar lucky you can get at the battery connectors.
Figure out what you need to connect to the internal connectors.
Find a whopping big 12v deep cycle battery and Presto-Chango you have a UPS that will run for a several hours (days?) maybe.
Fun thing to play with if you have an extra old UPS sitting around with dead batteries.
Don’t Try This at Home…
Safety – Blah Blah – 12v is 12v. Just use common sense when doing this. Shorting a whopping big truck battery is - well – more than entertaining.
The little UPSs might overheat simply because they are not designed to run for extended periods at max power.
Bigger units have built in cooling fans.
Expect to change batteries about every 3 years or so. For some reason the first battery always seem to last a bit longer. Magic I guess.
Keep the light burning,
All the Best,
Jeff
PS The local stores seem to have more stuff on the shelves today (Monday).