Do I need to plug my Powerline product into a powerstrip/UPS to protect it?

If it is a GFI protected powerstrip then you likely have a ground fault issue, otherwise the powerstrip may be overloaded (unit should pull around 5 amps on startup) or faulty.

I have gone through a few UPS, Im lucky to get 3 to 4 minutes if my power is cut.
I think most people plug too much into the UPS sockets.
The Battery backup protected sockets cant take the drain from everything over a prolonged period of time.
The nature of rechargable batteries means that when plugged permanently into a power supply they get damaged (li-on batterys especially).
Im afraid i cant help with this UPS, looks like you need a new 1.
I now only have my PC/Monitor/modem and router plugged into the UPS protected sockets.
Speakers / printer and other stuff are plugged into the unprotected sockets.

The Back-UPS is fairly straight-forward. The 9-pin connector (at the top of the back) is a serial port (RS-232) for the UPS data (when connected to a computer it will shut down the computer safely during a power outage). The next plugs are RJ-11 telephone jacks; the cord from the jack (wall) goes in on the left (some models have RJ-45 for network protection). The battery protected outlets are the three surrounded by black paint. The other three provide surge-protection only. Do not plug items like printers and scanners into the outlets that provide battery protection.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells
(for software, manuals and other information:
http://www.apc.com/products/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BP650S&tab=models )

Hello,

As I understand your statement, Your inverter (Powerline 200watt) has the UPS plugged into it, but it is not able to keep the UPS powered on. You didn't mention the size of the load (PC), nor the wattage rating of the UPS, or the batter bank size that supplies the inverter.

It sounds like you are trying to create an electrical system with double redundancy. If this is the case, you are going about it wrong. Most inexpensive inverters will have a Modified Sine Wave output, that the UPS will detect as a poor AC signal, and revert to backup mode, rather than pass the inverter power to the load.

200 watts isn't going to be very much for anything. 200watts / 120 volts (assuming 120vac system) is only 1.6amps or so. The charger on the UPS will likely use this much just to keep the internal battery topped off. As the PC is turned on, and the battery charger is doing its thing, there now exists an overload at the inverter. The inverter will respond by trying to increase its output by lengthening the pulses in the MSW waveform. The UPS then sees this, interprets it as bad power, and kicks into backup mode.

Since the powerline inverter is obviously a 12volt unit (cig. lighter plug), then check the battery configuration of the UPS itself. If it is 12volts as well, then you may be able to connect the UPS directly to the batteries that were powering the inverter. Note that some modification to the UPS will be needed if there external battery connections are not already present. Even then, there is no guarantee that the charger in the UPS will be able to charge the internal plus an external battery bank.

Since the battery that powers the inverter is likely larger than that of the UPS, why not run the PC directly off the inverter itself and forgo the use of the UPS altogether?

The top speed between the devices is 14 Mb/s, so they will never attain the 20Mb/s speed you had with you router / modem.

Netgear offers this FAQ for Powerline devices:

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• Powerline products work better when plugged into the wall without power strips, extension cords, surge protectors, or uninterruptable power supplies.

• Passwords. Powerline products have both a network password, and a device password. A particular device's password, which is not changable, is printed on the Powerline product label. Once you have collected all your Powerline device passwords, use the encryption dialog box, as described on pages 9 and 12 of the XE102 User's Guide, to change the network password. (Without password protection, it is possible, although unlikely, for someone very nearby to access your network.)

• If you changed the default network password, make sure that all the Powerline products use the same network password.

• If you've moved a Powerline unit, or disconnected the cables, your other network devices may need about 5 minutes to refresh their information about the Powerline's current status.

• If you have earlier Powerline products, switch to the encryption used by later products. (Early versions of XA601 and XE602 are known to have compatibility problems with newer models.)

• To test whether a house's electrical wiring is contributing to Powerline problems, plug units in the same room. Examples of potential problems are:
  
  • Old fuse boxes.
  • Old wiring that does not meet modern wiring building codes.

• Swap devices to isolate the problem to a particular Powerline unit.
• Reset the Powerline adapters to the default settings using the utility.

• Use all the same Powerline models for best connectivity. Also, software for one model may not work for another model. In particular, remote and advanced features may not work between Powerline manufacturers.

• Powerline is not directed at businesses, however it may work in a business environment, anyhow. See Assessing Powerline for Business Environments. In some cases noise can be limited by placing line conditioners or surge protectors between the source of the noise, and the Powerline units. (Not between the units.) Consult a professional electrician to evaluate your electricity's noise and to suggest remedies.

General Information Manufacturer: Eaton Corporation
Manufacturer Part Number: 103004248-5592
Manufacturer Website Address: www.eaton.com/EatonCom/Markets/NorthAmerica
Brand Name: Eaton
Product Series: PW3105
Product Model: PW3105 700
Product Name: Powerware PW3105 700VA Tower UPS
Product Type: Standby UPS
Technical Information Plug/Connector Type: NEMA 5-15P
Receptacles: 4 x NEMA 5-15R - Battery Backup System
Switching Time:

• 6 ms
• 6 ms

Dataline Protection: RJ-45 Internet
Power Description Load Capacity: 700VA/420W
Input Voltage: 110V AC
Input Voltage Range: 0V AC to 160V AC
Output Voltage: 115V AC
Frequency:

• 50Hz
• 60Hz

Management Overload Protection: Circuit Breaker
Interfaces/Ports Interfaces/Ports: 1 x USB
Battery Information Batteries: Maintenance Free Sealed Lead-acid
Backup/Run Time: 3 Minute 420W Full-load
Physical Characteristics Form Factor: Tower
Dimensions:

• 4.4" Height x 11" Width x 7" Depth
• 4.4" Height x 11" Width x 7" Depth

Weight: 9.7 lb
Miscellaneous Certifications & Standards:

Safety: UL 1778 3rd Edtion/CSAC22.2 No107.3, Designed to meet UL497A

EMI: FCC Class B

Software Included: Powerware LanSafe Software
Green Compliance: Yes
Green Compliance Certificate/Authority: RoHS

There should be no problem with what you are trying to do, one way or another. Just be sure not to overload your UPS (battery protected outlets). I myself have a power bar connected to my UPS to increase the number of battery protected outlets and everything works fine.

While *technically* the Powerline network can function when plugged into a low-end powerstrip, i.e. a powerstrip with a simple fuse, this *seriously* degrades performance, and can block the Powerline network completely.

No. Currently we are only offering Powerline products for the North American market, with support for standard 120 Volt AC, 60 Hz electrical outlets. Simply plugging a 120 > 220 volt adapter will not work, as the transformer will block the broadband signal, not to mention that the increased voltage that is likely to leak through a standard adapter could destroy the product.

No; the Powerline products have a built-in surge protector. Plug the unit directly into the wall socket.