Q - My wife and I are remodeling a space to be our new office for our graphic design business. We each have computers on APC battery backups. The question: Is there a way to incorporate battery backups into the wiring and walls in a safe manner? Looking for a clutter-free way. Is wall-mounting the only option?
A - Hey Sam,
Ideally, the temperature where your UPS (uninterrupted power supply) sits should not exceed 75° F (or 24° C). If you plan on placing it within a wall cutout, you'll need to address ventilation. Leave roughly one to two inches on each side for proper airflow. It also should be kept dry and cool, of course.
For those who can't cut a hole in the wall or have a huge cabinet to cover their UPS, there unfortunately aren't any companies out there that make batteries that don't look like oversized toasters or extensions of a military tank. Even the more attractive options, such as the ones from Cyberpower with LCD displays (above), we still find difficult to fit into our modern home office decor.
Well, unless we've been totally sleeping on a product that hasn't gained our attention yet. How about it readers? Know of a sexy UPS battery that doesn't look like it was made for an Intel server array? Let us know below!
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Do not put a UPS within a wall. This is dangerous and against electrical code. Also, the batteries don't last forever (you'll be lucky to get 7-10 years out of them) at which time you'll just have to yank the drywall to replace the battery. There are hardwired solutions that sit in the electrical room near the breaker box and protect an entire circuit. These, however, are rather expensive and best installed by an electrician.
I have a UPS sitting in a metal Ikea PS cabinet which has vents on the front and is thin enough to easily dissipate heat. It's not the most attractive thing ever, but it's more so than the UPS, and also hides my cable modem, router, and a NAS.
Look at adding power protection to the effected circuits themselves. It sounds like you may be wanting to move the protection further away from the computer tower(s) and protect more equipment. I know the printers, plotters, and cutters are expensive and need protection too.
I'd recommend looking more at line conditioning, unless you've experienced frequent outages. As indicated above, batteries need proper storage, regular maintenance and replacement to keep them protecting.
If you're serious about moving the power protection, contact a licensed electrician in your area. Preferably one that's installed back-up systems and/or solar power inverter's.
This page should help with the larger picture on what the costs may be.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/em/em_002.cfm
Panel mount line conditioners are available from several companies... http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=11791&minisite=10021
Always backup those computers!
I have personal experience where and APC unit failed to protect my computer from a nearby lightning strike where the only connection to the wall was the APC's power input cable.
We hide ours behind a 45 degree angle on the tv stand. From the front, you can't really tell it's there. (Stand is meant for a corner, used on flat wall).