Schneider Electric Announces European Availability of New APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS

[GFreeman]

Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has today announced the availability of its APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in Europe. Celebrating 40 years of Legendary Reliability and leadership in critical power protection during 2024, the new, stylish, and state-of-the-art UPS has been designed to protect gaming equipment from power outages and deliver a robust power connection, despite energy spikes and failures.

Back-UPS Pro Gaming has been specifically designed with gamers, streamers, and influencers in mind, delivering uninterruptible power protection, even in regions where the grid is unstable, keeping GPU-powered PCs, leading consoles, streamers, and gamers connected to both their online gaming experiences and audiences, regardless of power disruptions. To deliver robust protection, APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS features sine wave battery backup power - delivering the smooth electrical current required by sensitive electronics and AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation), and helping to protect against power irregularities that can result in glitches and buffering during an outage to extend the lifespan of gaming equipment.



APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming also features a patented reactor circle which is visible from every angle, providing the status of the UPS' remaining battery power, and details on surges, dips, power outages, while highlighting building wiring faults.

APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming Features:

• Reactor Circle: When the Gaming UPS is on battery backup power, the reactor circle ticks down to show how much time is left, at a glance.
• 160-Degree Slant: APC made sure the reactor circle is titled at 160 degrees, so it's visible from nearly every angle.
• Functional Lighting: When the Gaming UPS detects a power anomaly - like surges, dips, and even wiring faults - it notifies gamers with pulsing lights.
• Six Battery Back-up Outlets: Complete with surge protection, the unit instantly powers sensitive electronics, such as an Xbox, PlayStation, PCs, TVs, or routers/modems, during a power loss.
• Four Additional Surge-Only Outlets: Designed to protect against unsafe power surges and 'hard shutdowns' that can permanently damage equipment.
• Three Front USB Ports: To recharge devices, like a gaming headsets and mobile phones.
• Custom Design: Available in two colour options - Arctic (BGM1500) and Midnight (BGM1500B), both with 12 customizable RGB LED lights to match a user's gaming setup.

"Reliable power and Internet connectivity are fundamentals for today's Gamers and Influencers, and any surges, spikes or energy failures can have a major impact on both their equipment, and their connection to audiences around the world," said Elliott Turek, Director of Category Management, Schneider Electric, Europe. "With the introduction of APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming in Europe, we're ensuring that expensive and sensitive electronics such as GPU-powered PC's and Gaming systems from the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, stay protected from electrical damage, and that the Gamers and Influencers of the future benefit from Legendary Reliability, when they need it most."

The gamers of the future
As more gamers and streamers invest in expensive equipment and spend more time engaging audiences online and competing in gaming, protecting their connection is critical. Schneider Electric, the parent company of APC, is a D&H Certified Esports Provider, meaning that esports enthusiasts and pros alike can play with peace of mind, knowing their reputation won't be tarnished over something outside of their control.

Adding APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS to their home and studio setups allows both professional and recreational gamers, and social media influencers, to be confident that they will remain:

• Protected: A gaming battery backup protects valuable gaming systems from more than seven different types of power interruptions
• Connected: After shutting down a game, the system continues to provide power protection to a router and/or modem.
• In the Game: If the power is interrupted or lost during play, APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming allows gamers to finish a match and reap the rewards that would have otherwise been lost.

Compact Power Protection for Smart Devices
As part of the introduction, Schneider Electric has also announced that its APC Back-UPS Connect UPS has been restocked and is available for purchase in Europe. APC Back-UPS Connect is a compact UPS, designed to power compatible routers, modems, voice over IP (VoIP) systems and other smart home devices - using lithium-ion batteries to offer up-to 4 hours of runtime and delivering reliable connectivity during a power outage.

APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS and APC Back-UPS Connect are available for purchase immediately in Europe, starting at £71.99.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[Jism]

using lithium-ion batteries

Have we not learned anything yet that those things are dangerous.. One self igniting will take down your whole house. Random.

 

[trsttte]

Have we not learned anything yet that those things are dangerous.. One self igniting will take down your whole house. Random.

Hope you're staying safe not using a laptop or a phone

 

[Jism]

Hope you're staying safe not using a laptop or a phone

I believe a phone or laptop is quite controlled discharge - a UPS however can pull quite large currents from a quite small battery - a few times repeated and you got a puffed up battery waiting to self-ignite.

It cant be that good in regards of a good quality BMS for just 70$

I'd be careful using that tech inside my living room, house or anything.

 

[trsttte]

I believe a phone or laptop is quite controlled discharge - a UPS however can pull quite large currents from a quite small battery - a few times repeated and you got a puffed up battery waiting to self-ignite.

It cant be that good in regards of a good quality BMS for just 70$

I'd be careful using that tech inside my living room, house or anything.

It's a larger battery and a laptop with a beefy gpu will pull a lot higher currents that this will.

The problem here is different, a UPS is designed to be charged all the time and rarely discharge. Lithium batteries don't like that, they won't self combust because of it but they don't like it, they need to be exercised and cycle every so often. It's not a new idea to use lithium in a UPS but it's a rare occurance because there are obvious challenges even if you can easily increase the runtime immensely for very cheap (a regular ups lasts between 5 to 10 minutes)

 

[claster17]

Run time for load 1320 W:
0min 28s

Rated power in W:
1320 W

Rated power in VA:
2200 VA

Battery type:
Lead-acid battery

 

[bug]

So what's a "gaming" UPS going to do? Tell me if my opponent will run out of juice faster?

 

[bonehead123]

Wait, wtf....there's no AI in them, how dare they....

guess I'm not allowed to buy one then, heeheehee

 

[R-T-B]

I've been waiting for more Lithium-Ion UPS solutions, but the "gamer" branding isn't exactly going to make that a affordable option, I think... still will watch with interest.

 

[Jism]

It's a larger battery and a laptop with a beefy gpu will pull a lot higher currents that this will.

The problem here is different, a UPS is designed to be charged all the time and rarely discharge. Lithium batteries don't like that, they won't self combust because of it but they don't like it, they need to be exercised and cycle every so often. It's not a new idea to use lithium in a UPS but it's a rare occurance because there are obvious challenges even if you can easily increase the runtime immensely for very cheap (a regular ups lasts between 5 to 10 minutes)

It takes one battery with a semi faulty batch, enough to self combust and to put your room, house or anything around it on fire. You can't kill a thermal runaway with just water.
There's plenty of content on the net where cars, fatbikes or anything with a lithium ion battery self ignites for no reason. Well we do know the reason, but you know what i mean.

71 pounds is a dirt cheap price and the components are likely from a cheap factory from somewhere around China.

 

[Tropick]

Have we not learned anything yet that those things are dangerous.. One self igniting will take down your whole house. Random.

Most lithium UPSes utilize lithium iron phosphate cells when they say "lithium" batteries. That chemistry isn't subject to the same thermal runaway concerns that typical lithium polymer batteries do (like the ones found in the exploding hoverboards/e-bikes). Though seeing how small that back-UPS connect unit is, it might be using the polymer type.

 

[Minus Infinity]

Have we not learned anything yet that those things are dangerous.. One self igniting will take down your whole house. Random.

What about home batteries like Tesla Powerwalls? Millions of those around, and I have never heard of one catching fire. LG might be a different story, but I'd avoid their batteries like the plague.

 

[Jism]

I think a battery pack of tesla does have proper BMS equipment installed inside of it. Your talking about a 71 pound costing unit which likely does not have those features.

 

[vvkvvkvvk]

The 80 quid lithium ion unit is not the gamer unit, but a smaller connect unit for smaller things like your wireless router etc. There's something gone wrong with the copy/paste of this PR item.

 

[Tomorrow]

Most lithium UPSes utilize lithium iron phosphate cells when they say "lithium" batteries. That chemistry isn't subject to the same thermal runaway concerns that typical lithium polymer batteries do (like the ones found in the exploding hoverboards/e-bikes). Though seeing how small that back-UPS connect unit is, it might be using the polymer type.

Lithium also has the advantage of being significantly lighter than lead-acid.

Also it's not as if lead-acid is safe. Im using an older APC Smart-UPS and discovered (after the battery died) my lead-acid battery had a leak at some point. Not sure if it died because of the leak or if the leak occurred sometime before. Thankfully it did not cause any permanent damage and it works well again after battery replacement and some cleaning of the battery bay.

 

[Chaitanya]

So what has changed from this UPS released nearly 4 years back.

APC by Schneider Electric Releases Back-UPS Pro Gaming Grade UPS

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced the upcoming October 2020 launch of the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS, a stylish and state-of-the-art uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect gaming gear and maintain their...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[chstamos]

So what has changed from this UPS released nearly 4 years back.

APC by Schneider Electric Releases Back-UPS Pro Gaming Grade UPS

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced the upcoming October 2020 launch of the APC Back-UPS Pro Gaming UPS, a stylish and state-of-the-art uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to protect gaming gear and maintain their...

www.techpowerup.com

Just European availability, as far as I can tell. Also funny how they didn't even bother to provide a press release photo with actual friggin European plugs on the backside (they've got a photo with us plugs). Talk about low effort marketing.

 

[Jism]

Problem with cheap UPS is usually,

A transformer that's running on it's toes, thus producing lots of heat compared to a more flexible transformer. Lithium Ion battery's do not like constant heat. Heat will make those things go puff, expand or even self-ignite. Used components might have their rating(s), but the chances are there that a few power outs can blow components up. I've had a UPS and it was the first and the last time i'm ever using these, due to the battery's being able to vent, and esp in a closed space that's utterly dangerous. Lithium ion battery's are quite new in UPS devices, but there's obvious downsides to use those for that application.

I don't think there's a proper BMS installed in those (Just the price tag alone) - if the battery has a thermal runaway, your toast.

 

[bug]

Just European availability, as far as I can tell. Also funny how they didn't even bother to provide a press release photo with actual friggin European plugs on the backside (they've got a photo with us plugs). Talk about low effort marketing.

Those are UK plugs, not US, afaict.

 

[Kadath]

UPSes are so old news. What about my gaming diesel generator with RGB lightning?

 

[azrael]

I had no idea Schneider Electric had taken over APC. Apparently, that already happened back in 2007.

 

[Yraggul666]

Went to their site to see what's up, a buddy of mine wants to buy some UPS because of recent trouble with the grid in his area.

First of all just as chstamos said: what's the play in marketing this to Europe and not including a pic with an Eu plug model!?
If they're going to put that little effort into their marketing than i'm going to recommend a local brand to my buddy.

Second of all: price is 320$ on their site; seems a little high. I mean i don't mind paying for quality but by the time this reaches the Eu
those 320$ will become 320E msrp and by the time my buddy can buy it this will be 400E or even more.
It seems it's not worth the hassle.

Been using nJoy's UPSs for quite some time now and both have been rock solid, flawless.
Had the nJoy Aten PRO 1000 for 3 years but it became too noisy for me, i gave it to another buddy and he's still using it at his workplace, it's rock solid, flawless, just noisy but he has it in another room so it's a non issue for him.
I'm using the nJoy Echo PRO 1000 rn, they've listened to customers and the fan is almost inaudible. You can get any of those for 200-250E + 10E delivery.
Those are both online, pure sinewave and everything.
Why would i recommend the SE APC instead of the nJoy?

Pardon the rant but the blood rushes to my head when i see this little effort put into things.
If they care so little about their product and the Eu market why should i care more!?
I don't work for nJoy, i'm just an extremely satisfied customer.

 

[_JP_]

This PR is a misleading confusion as heck!
1st of all, has PRO in the name but none in the features. So a display is supposed to replace the USB connection + PowerChute client?
At +400 moneis this is a hard pass, APC's own Smart-UPS or Easy-UPS are better value.
For the same price, even, you have the Eaton 5E (sans display, but with software) or even the Ellipse Pro (display + software).
If you're in Portugal or Spain, try Salicru.

2nd of all, saying pricing starts at 80 moneis, when just barely advertising the actual small UPS for routers/switches/low power 12V w/barrel connector device is misleading as heck.
And only that has a lithium battery, probably 7 to 12 Ah (like the competition) made to work for the better part of 3 years until you have to replace it. It's not dangerous, your cheap bluetooth speaker has one like that as well, but it probably tops at 2Ah.

 

[Xajel]

I believe a phone or laptop is quite controlled discharge - a UPS however can pull quite large currents from a quite small battery - a few times repeated and you got a puffed up battery waiting to self-ignite.

It cant be that good in regards of a good quality BMS for just 70$

I'd be careful using that tech inside my living room, house or anything.

It's the same case as a portable battery.

It doesn't matter how big the battery is, the important thing is how smart the controller is while considering the spec. of the battery cells and their abilities, plus measuring the important information (voltages, temperature, current, impedance, etc..) and adding safety protection for anything that can damage the cells. Many portable batteries have overcurrent & overheat protection for a reason, and having a lithium UPS is nothing new, servers have been using it for years now. But consumers avoid it mainly duo to cost and complications compared to lead acid batteries.

 

[bug]

All this talk and nobody pointed out what usually undoes LiPo batteries is physical damage. If it's just sitting there in a corner, it's going to be fine.

Edit: Also, as pointed above, it's not the gaming UPS that's using Li batteries, they're using lead-acid: https://www.apc.com/uk/en/product/B...ets-rgb-lights-pure-sine-wave-midnight-black/