powercom KIN-1000AP 1000 VA 600 Watts 5 Outlets UPS

Pros: Great runtime on battery. High-end PC and two monitors attached.

Simple design, metal case, and solid construction. Certainly doesn't feel like something from 2006. It's nothing like the cheap plastic ones you find everywhere now. Very rugged unit for its price.

Cons: Serial interface. I had to buy a serial card when I built my new PC.

Batteries aren't easy to replace.

Heavy.

Other Thoughts: Bought this unit elsewhere back in 2006 and have zero regrets. We have a LOT of power outages where I am, and this unit still works great.

It's on its second set of batteries, but that's to be expected due to its age and heavy use. Batteries are a standard size and type, so finding them online isn't an issue.

The software works well on every OS I've had it on (Win2000, XP, 7).

My biggest gripe is with installing new batteries. To get them out, the metal case comes off, then you have get the plastic front panel off without breaking it. There's a metal plate hiding under the front panel that you unscrew, and the batteries slide out the front.

Looking at possibly buying another one for my home server.

Pros: Metal casing
Heavy-duty cage innards
Enterprise-ready
Easy-to-obtain batteries.

Cons: Legacy RS-232 serial port connection--mainboards now may not directly support.

Other Thoughts: Given the lower-power needs of flat-screen monitors along with the availability of better efficiency 80-plus power-supplies today, a larger-sized UPS doesn't prove as necessary for a desktop PC as it did in the past. I'm concerned nowadays about vampire current. Nonetheless, I'd like for my network (and, VOIP phone system) to continue on 24/7. The house I'm in currently has older wiring. Thus, I find that the unit's AVR (automatic voltage regulation) works and proves quite reassuring!

(My brother doesn't use a UPS--so, (predictably) he's had more problems with desktop PC integrity. Thus, I believe that UPS units still prove worthwhile purchases.)

UPS units also are useful for any situation which requires some assurance of current and current stability--naturally, they aren't a panacea. Old clock radios, timers, and home theater also are worthy uses.

The manual warns against plugging in laser printers. This unit has two on-off switches--the small black one in back is the master for the unit--don't forget to turn it on, as well.

I'm relating that the batteries for my 2007 unit conked earlier this year. The batteries for this and similar-sized collegue units appear to be identical--labels merely are stuck on and old cases are re-used. Many online vendors offer these batteries and replacements prove easy to obtain.

Two types of terminals exist for these batteries--one simply is narrower than the other. Metal adapters likely are in the boxes, somewhere, for replacement batteries--don't overlook that if those are needed. The small terminals will work, though--they're not optimal--simply crimp appropriately.

Short metal tabs at the front of the cage may need slight bending to release the batteries. Given warranty is done--no big deal! Note the wiring and repeat it--don't misplace the small wire which connects the stacked batteries.

Other UPS units from other makers still work for me and offer quality. I marvel at the heavy-duty casing and old-school ruggedness and simplicity of this unit. It's intended for small and medium-sized business owners--and, the rigors associated. Thus, I still recommend strongly and would replace with same! (Given likely battery replacements, the unit may yet outlive this purchaser!)

Pros: 125 watts backed up for 46 minutes. That's good.

Cons: none yet

Pros: Silent, no buzzing during normal operation, buzzing only during fall back to battery. Very easy to understand instructions. Tested it by pulling the utility power and it kicked in saving my 600watt desktop from a crash.

Cons: 33 lbs, more battery for your buck

Other Thoughts: Beefy enough to juice my HAF tower w/ gtx580, i7, 12 gig ram during FFXIV high-settings gaming.

Pros: Works as intended. Priced low. Has a warranty. Doesn't scream quality, but for the price it works and that's all I expected really. So I am pleased. :)

Cons: Big and heavy. Long footprint. But I knew that when I bought it so it doesn't really make it a con.

Pros: In all of my simulated power failures the UPS has been working perfectly and the software has been sending proper alerts.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: The only reason I can't give a 5th star yes is that I haven't had a live power failure to completely test it.

Pros: Lower expense. High power, less expensive to replace unit or replace batteries. Mostly durable metal.

Cons: RS-232 (got to use that port for something!) Plastic front. No gauges.

Other Thoughts: Thanks yet again, Darrell! I haven't yet needed to replace the batteries. A couple of weeks ago, I thought the KIN-1000AP was toast or needed new batteries. I disconnected it from the PC,and charged awhile--still thought it was toast. Pressed reset button--no resistance, yet, did the trick--probably a power surge (lots of construction and utility work nearby). I'm sorry about Jake's experience. I'm not certain what happened--a direct power surge? Nonetheless, my Powercom model is on virtually always--at least powering my network. It shines with excellent protection and long AC-downtime--it's a champ! This model saves me a great deal of money--I'll never purchase A__ again--they like to "getcha" with stupid expensive proprietary batteries. A__ isn't better in my experience. Powercom phone support was super several years before for a lesser model--a person in authority actually answered fast from CA. I'll likely purchase this (or perhaps another company model) to replace my A__ 625.

Pros: It worked for more than a year. Then again, my name brand UPS units have been working for 10 years.

Cons: IT STARTED ON FIRE. I was in the other room when this happened. I noticed that the lights in the other room were dimming, and heard a funny noise in my office. I went in there and smoke was POURING out of this unit. It was making a very loud 60Hz humming noise, as well as a noise that sounded like bacon frying in a pan. THE INTERNAL CIRCUIT BREAKER ON THIS UNIT DID NOT TRIP. I unplugged it and the noise stopped, there was black soot on the side of it where the smoke/sparks were, and the top of the unit was VERY HOT.
Once again, THE INTERNAL BREAKER DID NOT TRIP. One other user has submitted a review stating the same thing. DO NOT BUY THIS CHEAP KNOCKOFF, IT IS A FIRE HAZARD! IF YOU HAVE ONE, TOSS IT IN THE TRASH AND BUY A BETTER BRAND!!!!

Other Thoughts: Someone mentioned using car batteries to extend the life of this UPS. That is an incredibly stupid idea, as the electronics in these units were not designed to sustain full load for that duration of time. If you are stupid enough to do that, make sure you put a large fan on it. If you're smart, go buy an inverter that is meant to be used in that manner.

Pros: Lasted for 6 years with no problems. For a cheap UPS, that is a very good length of service.

Cons: After 6 years, the batteries died. After opening the case, I discovered that the batteries were locked in a steel cage that was welded to the metal casing of the unit. Replacement batteries are readily available online, but short of using a Dremel, there is no way to actually remove old batteries and put in new ones.

Other Thoughts: If the batteries were easily replaceable, I would have given this UPS 5 stars.

Pros: I purchased this unit from Newegg about five years ago and it has saved my computer so many times i've lost count. The season why i'm doing this review now is that my boss is ordering one of these units as i write this. I told him awhile back of the benefits of having a UPS and he just kind of wasn't interested in spending the extra money. Well the other day we took a bad power spike and it took out all his equipment and i do mean all of it. I have my UPS tied into the electrical panel feeding my office. My entire office is protected by this UPS an i never even knew a spike happened. None of the computers in my office were effected in any way at all. I'm amazed that the primary side of the UPS didn't get fried. So my boss had to replace everything only this time there will be a couple of UPS units. I also backed up everything to my external 1 TB drive i set up in my office. What i like allot about this UPS are the batteries. The batteries are standard 12volt batteries.

Cons: Its big and kind of ugly looking. Cost allot to ship as its heavy. Would be nice if it had an external 24volt connector so we can more easily hook up external battery power.

Other Thoughts: One time the power was out for awhile, we needed the computers so being that the batteries in the UPS are 12volt and the system runs on 24 volt you can use two car batteries in serial to run the UPS. A couple of car batteries will keep a computer gong for hours in an emergency. So i always purchase this particular UPS and keep two charged up deep cycle batteries around for when the power goes down.