Question 1

WHAT IS THE CORD LENGTH?

Accepted Answer

Quicker to look it up than unravel and measure mine.
Mfr web site (I can't tell you the site because this interface won't let me reference a web site, but it sounds like apc dot com) says: Cord Length 1.52 meters .

Question 2

Can this be used without a computer?  My elderly mother lives in a retirement community, and we'd like to plug her wireless Panasonic phone base unit into the APC in case of a power outage.  This would allow her to call one of her children using the APC battery power.  Otherwise, she has no means of calling anyone if the electric goes out.

Accepted Answer

Absolutely!

Keep in mind, that if she plugs more devices into it, the run time will be reduced.

According to APC's website, the unit can provide power for almost two hours at a 33-Watt draw. (It doesn't show smaller loads.) The base unit to a cordless phone typically draws less than 5 Watts, even when charging. But at a 350-Watt load, it will last less than four minutes. You really don't want her to plug in a bed-side lamp or some such.

The unit does supply some outlets which are surge-protected but not backed up by the battery, if that helps.

Question 3

What is the approximate backup time of this unit?

Accepted Answer

That will depend on the power draw of your system. My PC consists of:
-750watt power supply
-GeForce GTX970
-Intel i5 3570k @4ghz
-1 internal hard drive
-3 internal SSDs
-2 External USB 3.0 backup drives

When the UPS is fully charged I have a backup time of 15-17 minutes. That will be significantly reduced if you are running an application that requires a lot of CPU or GPU power (gaming, video encoding, 3D rendering, etc.)

Question 4

Is battery included with this UPS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but be sure to attach the terminals to the battery before using. The instructions attached go through the procedure pretty clearly.

Question 5

Will a 350v battery backup be sufficient enough for my CPU and two monitors?

Accepted Answer

You may want to consider something a bit larger for that, with 2 monitors and a CPU you won't get enough time to finish up what you are working on and shut down. If you are looking for something to span the gaps or regularities in your incoming power this would do but if you need any significant amount of time I would go for something in the 750-1000 range, that would likely give you 15 or 20 minutes of back up power.

Question 6

How long does the battery last?

Accepted Answer

I've have/had several of them units both personal and business related, batteries have lasted in excess of 5 years.  When battery dies we simpurchase replacements

Question 7

We are using the back up battery for a tankless water heater in the attic.  With the Summer heat it probably gets to 120 degrees up there. Will this effect the efficiency of the battery like make it over heat and shut down?

Accepted Answer

Well, I don't have it in that type of application but I do have a battery powered heater to keep the  snow off my Sat dish up there and it fried the battery the first year.  Have your electrician run a wire water heater to the APC from it from inside the house (do big deal) and have the APC where it's cool.

Question 8

will this protect a 1000 watt computer?

Accepted Answer

Protection and battery life are 2 separate components of a UPS.
1. In answer to your question: Yes it will protect your computer regardless of watts.
2.  Now if the power goes out, 550VA will only power your system for 2 minutes or so.  Just to get 5 minutes run time, you would need a 1500VA UPS.
These devices really are a rip off you are looking for emergency run time, only servers need this expense.  1500VA UPS will set you back several hundred dollars. To get 30 minutes of run time, you are looking in the $1000 on up range.

Question 9

How long does a typical laptop last on battery power during an outage?

Accepted Answer

Depends on what else it is powering and the PSU for the laptop.  The main point of these is to allow you to gracefully shut down systems during a power failure and to maintain critical systems, like a phone, router, server for a short period of time until normal power is restored.  Not as a second battery.

Question 10

Want to use this for an arcade cabinet.  Does this UPS have the ability to turn off the computer when the power is turned off?  Also when the power goes off does it start beeping?  And if so is their a way to mute the beeping?

Accepted Answer

This one does had the option to connect to a USB port on the computer to be monitored.  Depending on the operating system on the computer, you can enable UPS monitoring or install the APC software.  Either one will allow the computer to perform a shutdown on it's own after a set number of minutes.  The UPS itself cannot "force" a computer to turn off though without some type of monitoring from the computer side running. On the beeping, yes it does beep and I don't believe there is a way to disable that "feature".

Brand	APC
Battery Cell Composition	Sealed Lead Acid
Product Dimensions	7"D x 12"W x 3.3"H
Voltage	120 Volts
Color	Black
Item Weight	13 pounds
Item model number	BE550G
Batteries	1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included)
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Date First Available	May 9, 2008
Manufacturer	APC
Language	English

Brand	APC
Series	Back-UPS
Model	BE550G

International Version	120V
Input Voltage Range	88 - 139 V
Input Frequency	50/60 Hz +/- 3 Hz (auto sensing)
Input Connection	NEMA 5-15P

VA Rating	550 VA
Watts	330 Watts
Output Voltage	120V
Output Frequency	50/60 Hz +/- 3 Hz
Outlets	8
Outlet Type	4 x NEMA 5-15R (Battery Backup) 4 x NEMA 5-15R (Surge Protection)

Battery Type	Sealed Lead Acid
Battery Run Time	Runtime: 3.2 minutes Load: 330 W
Battery Recharge Time	24 Hour(s)
Battery Replaceable	APCRBC110

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APC BE550G Back-UPS ES 550VA, 120V, 8 NEMA outlets (4 surge) - Tower - 1 Day Recharge - 3.30 Minute Stand-by - 120 V Input - 120 V AC Output - Stepped Approximated Sine Wave - USB - 4 x NEMA 5-15R

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Alarms	Alarm when on battery: distinctive low battery alarm: overload continuous tone alarm
Interface Port	USB
Approvals	California (CEC) Battery Charger, ENERGY STAR (USA), FCC Part 15 Class B, FCC Part 68, NOM, TUV-C, UL 1778, UL 497A, UL 497B

Data Line Protection	RJ45 10/100 Base-T Ethernet protection
Surge Energy Rating	340 Joules

Dimensions & Weight
Dimensions	3.46" x 11.89" x 7.09"
Weight	12.10 lbs.

Item#: 9SIC3UAKNC1737