Is it okay to connect a smaller UPS to a bigger UPS?












0














At my office we have two UPSs, The Big one has 10x 12v Batteries with 50Ah capacity connected to it, and a smaller 600VA Desktop UPS.



The Big one has 8 Desktop Computers connected to it and the smaller one has the Internet Connection's Fiber to Ethernet Devices connected.



Once there is a power failure, the desktops (whatever is loaded on the main ups) can go off whenever it has to, but the Internet Equipment (which is on the smaller UPS) should go off last.



The Little UPS has a load of 0.5-1W, so it was a question if, the smaller UPS could be plugged into the other UPS's Output?



The First UPS gives a Sine Wave output. Is there a chance of blowing up anything?










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migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com Aug 10 '15 at 5:02


This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.











  • 1




    No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
    – Fiasco Labs
    Aug 10 '15 at 19:38






  • 2




    @FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
    – Parthian Shot
    Aug 11 '15 at 1:02










  • UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:33










  • Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:39
















0














At my office we have two UPSs, The Big one has 10x 12v Batteries with 50Ah capacity connected to it, and a smaller 600VA Desktop UPS.



The Big one has 8 Desktop Computers connected to it and the smaller one has the Internet Connection's Fiber to Ethernet Devices connected.



Once there is a power failure, the desktops (whatever is loaded on the main ups) can go off whenever it has to, but the Internet Equipment (which is on the smaller UPS) should go off last.



The Little UPS has a load of 0.5-1W, so it was a question if, the smaller UPS could be plugged into the other UPS's Output?



The First UPS gives a Sine Wave output. Is there a chance of blowing up anything?










share|improve this question















migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com Aug 10 '15 at 5:02


This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.











  • 1




    No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
    – Fiasco Labs
    Aug 10 '15 at 19:38






  • 2




    @FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
    – Parthian Shot
    Aug 11 '15 at 1:02










  • UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:33










  • Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:39














0












0








0







At my office we have two UPSs, The Big one has 10x 12v Batteries with 50Ah capacity connected to it, and a smaller 600VA Desktop UPS.



The Big one has 8 Desktop Computers connected to it and the smaller one has the Internet Connection's Fiber to Ethernet Devices connected.



Once there is a power failure, the desktops (whatever is loaded on the main ups) can go off whenever it has to, but the Internet Equipment (which is on the smaller UPS) should go off last.



The Little UPS has a load of 0.5-1W, so it was a question if, the smaller UPS could be plugged into the other UPS's Output?



The First UPS gives a Sine Wave output. Is there a chance of blowing up anything?










share|improve this question















At my office we have two UPSs, The Big one has 10x 12v Batteries with 50Ah capacity connected to it, and a smaller 600VA Desktop UPS.



The Big one has 8 Desktop Computers connected to it and the smaller one has the Internet Connection's Fiber to Ethernet Devices connected.



Once there is a power failure, the desktops (whatever is loaded on the main ups) can go off whenever it has to, but the Internet Equipment (which is on the smaller UPS) should go off last.



The Little UPS has a load of 0.5-1W, so it was a question if, the smaller UPS could be plugged into the other UPS's Output?



The First UPS gives a Sine Wave output. Is there a chance of blowing up anything?







ups






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Aug 11 '15 at 4:52

























asked Aug 10 '15 at 4:55









user2967920

816




816




migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com Aug 10 '15 at 5:02


This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.






migrated from electronics.stackexchange.com Aug 10 '15 at 5:02


This question came from our site for electronics and electrical engineering professionals, students, and enthusiasts.










  • 1




    No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
    – Fiasco Labs
    Aug 10 '15 at 19:38






  • 2




    @FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
    – Parthian Shot
    Aug 11 '15 at 1:02










  • UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:33










  • Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:39














  • 1




    No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
    – Fiasco Labs
    Aug 10 '15 at 19:38






  • 2




    @FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
    – Parthian Shot
    Aug 11 '15 at 1:02










  • UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:33










  • Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
    – cybernard
    Aug 11 '15 at 2:39








1




1




No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
– Fiasco Labs
Aug 10 '15 at 19:38




No daisychaining of either UPS or surge protector strips. This is always found in the manufacturer's product manuals.
– Fiasco Labs
Aug 10 '15 at 19:38




2




2




@FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
– Parthian Shot
Aug 11 '15 at 1:02




@FiascoLabs Yeah, but there are also plenty of clothing items that say "dry clean only" which wash completely fine. Warning labels are the bastard child of legal and engineering, not necessarily an absolute statement of empirically-justifiable policy.
– Parthian Shot
Aug 11 '15 at 1:02












UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
– cybernard
Aug 11 '15 at 2:33




UPS batteries are typically 12/24V and going from 120 to 12/24 can have a 20% loss and converting back can cause another 20% loss depending on the efficiency of the units. You are actually reducing the runtime of the first unit by more than just plugging your 1-2w device into the 1st UPS.
– cybernard
Aug 11 '15 at 2:33












Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
– cybernard
Aug 11 '15 at 2:39




Assuming your electrical system is otherwise good, the worst that would probably happen is if both were charging at once plus powering there devices you could trip your breaker. Now if your breaker fails to trip you could start an electrical fire and possibly burn the place down.
– cybernard
Aug 11 '15 at 2:39










6 Answers
6






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oldest

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0














It is possible to do that provided the output of the big UPS is sine (and not modified sine or square). While it really results in lower efficiency, it may be cheaper to buy two smaller UPSs than one big one or if you already have the USPs and want to extend the runtime of the smaller one as much as possible.



If the output of the big UPS is not sine, the small UPS will most likely not accept it (and switch to battery immediately after the big UPS does so) negating the entire point of having two UPSs in series.



I personally have three UPSs in series. A big one, another big one (most of my equipment is connected to it) and a smaller one (stuff I want to last as long as possible). This is my way of making sure the important stuff turns off last, while the other equipment still lasts as long as possible. I bought the UPSs at different times so this way is cheaper for me than getting a really big UPS.






share|improve this answer































    2














    In general, I would not feed one UPS from another.



    There are a few things to consider here.




    1. What is the run time of each UPS during a power failure?


    2. If there is so little load on the small UPS, why do you have it?



    From what you have said, it looks as if the run time on the smaller UPS is far longer than the run time of the large UPS. Therefore, why would you want to increase the load on the large UPS by powering the small UPS from it?



    Depending on what the wave-shape coming out of the larger UPS, it is barely possible that the small UPS might be damaged by cascading it from the large UPS. I do consider this to be unlikely but there is a possibility it might happen.






    share|improve this answer























    • Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
      – Enis P. Aginić
      Aug 10 '15 at 6:53





















    1














    Nothing would explode. But the smaller one would not discharge its battery until the larger one is exhausted.






    share|improve this answer





























      1














      It would be better, if your load is fairly mixed, to just plug them both into the wall and split the cables between them. Efficiency loss from AC/DC conversion would eliminate a lot of the added runtime, and by reducing stress with a second wall-plugged PSU you'll still gain runtime.






      share|improve this answer





























        0














        Don't do it. It will not blow up but it's a waste of energy as efficiency is very low.



        To put it into perspective, your main UPS will use AC power to charge it's battery and waste some energy in the process, then when power goes out it will use the battery to make AC power for your equipment and waste some more energy, then your second UPS does the same, then your power supply inside your equipment does the same.



        IF you need to add more capacity there are specialized UPS systems that connect in parallel to ensure maximum efficiency, or you can get workstations and servers with dual power supplies, connecting each one to a separate UPS.






        share|improve this answer























        • This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
          – David Schwartz
          Dec 14 at 7:14



















        0














        I have an off-grid solar system - and use a Go-Power 30amp automatic transfer switch between solar (AIMS Inverter pure sine wave) and shore (power company). I have a 3000 watt APC UPS downstream of the automatic transfer switch powering a 15amp circuit of plugs thru the house to smooth out the transfer between solar/inverter and shore power. The transfer occurs twice a day (inverter on and inverter off).



        In my office I have a 1500 APC UPS and my wife as a 2nd one in her office - plugged into the circuit powered by the 3000 APC UPS. The purpose of these 2nd ones was to allow work on the 3000 APC UPS / circuit without killing our computers upstairs as I fool with the Solar system.



        The one in my wife's office works OK. BUT... the one in my office went crazy and cycled on/off rapidly and actually smoked itself. I replaced it with another/different 1500 APC UPS and it also cycled on/off - once per second continuously until I switched back to Shore power.



        **I would be careful!!!






        share|improve this answer





















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          6 Answers
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          6 Answers
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          active

          oldest

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          active

          oldest

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          0














          It is possible to do that provided the output of the big UPS is sine (and not modified sine or square). While it really results in lower efficiency, it may be cheaper to buy two smaller UPSs than one big one or if you already have the USPs and want to extend the runtime of the smaller one as much as possible.



          If the output of the big UPS is not sine, the small UPS will most likely not accept it (and switch to battery immediately after the big UPS does so) negating the entire point of having two UPSs in series.



          I personally have three UPSs in series. A big one, another big one (most of my equipment is connected to it) and a smaller one (stuff I want to last as long as possible). This is my way of making sure the important stuff turns off last, while the other equipment still lasts as long as possible. I bought the UPSs at different times so this way is cheaper for me than getting a really big UPS.






          share|improve this answer




























            0














            It is possible to do that provided the output of the big UPS is sine (and not modified sine or square). While it really results in lower efficiency, it may be cheaper to buy two smaller UPSs than one big one or if you already have the USPs and want to extend the runtime of the smaller one as much as possible.



            If the output of the big UPS is not sine, the small UPS will most likely not accept it (and switch to battery immediately after the big UPS does so) negating the entire point of having two UPSs in series.



            I personally have three UPSs in series. A big one, another big one (most of my equipment is connected to it) and a smaller one (stuff I want to last as long as possible). This is my way of making sure the important stuff turns off last, while the other equipment still lasts as long as possible. I bought the UPSs at different times so this way is cheaper for me than getting a really big UPS.






            share|improve this answer


























              0












              0








              0






              It is possible to do that provided the output of the big UPS is sine (and not modified sine or square). While it really results in lower efficiency, it may be cheaper to buy two smaller UPSs than one big one or if you already have the USPs and want to extend the runtime of the smaller one as much as possible.



              If the output of the big UPS is not sine, the small UPS will most likely not accept it (and switch to battery immediately after the big UPS does so) negating the entire point of having two UPSs in series.



              I personally have three UPSs in series. A big one, another big one (most of my equipment is connected to it) and a smaller one (stuff I want to last as long as possible). This is my way of making sure the important stuff turns off last, while the other equipment still lasts as long as possible. I bought the UPSs at different times so this way is cheaper for me than getting a really big UPS.






              share|improve this answer














              It is possible to do that provided the output of the big UPS is sine (and not modified sine or square). While it really results in lower efficiency, it may be cheaper to buy two smaller UPSs than one big one or if you already have the USPs and want to extend the runtime of the smaller one as much as possible.



              If the output of the big UPS is not sine, the small UPS will most likely not accept it (and switch to battery immediately after the big UPS does so) negating the entire point of having two UPSs in series.



              I personally have three UPSs in series. A big one, another big one (most of my equipment is connected to it) and a smaller one (stuff I want to last as long as possible). This is my way of making sure the important stuff turns off last, while the other equipment still lasts as long as possible. I bought the UPSs at different times so this way is cheaper for me than getting a really big UPS.







              share|improve this answer














              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer








              edited Aug 11 '15 at 5:45

























              answered Aug 10 '15 at 8:17









              Pentium100

              231138




              231138

























                  2














                  In general, I would not feed one UPS from another.



                  There are a few things to consider here.




                  1. What is the run time of each UPS during a power failure?


                  2. If there is so little load on the small UPS, why do you have it?



                  From what you have said, it looks as if the run time on the smaller UPS is far longer than the run time of the large UPS. Therefore, why would you want to increase the load on the large UPS by powering the small UPS from it?



                  Depending on what the wave-shape coming out of the larger UPS, it is barely possible that the small UPS might be damaged by cascading it from the large UPS. I do consider this to be unlikely but there is a possibility it might happen.






                  share|improve this answer























                  • Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                    – Enis P. Aginić
                    Aug 10 '15 at 6:53


















                  2














                  In general, I would not feed one UPS from another.



                  There are a few things to consider here.




                  1. What is the run time of each UPS during a power failure?


                  2. If there is so little load on the small UPS, why do you have it?



                  From what you have said, it looks as if the run time on the smaller UPS is far longer than the run time of the large UPS. Therefore, why would you want to increase the load on the large UPS by powering the small UPS from it?



                  Depending on what the wave-shape coming out of the larger UPS, it is barely possible that the small UPS might be damaged by cascading it from the large UPS. I do consider this to be unlikely but there is a possibility it might happen.






                  share|improve this answer























                  • Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                    – Enis P. Aginić
                    Aug 10 '15 at 6:53
















                  2












                  2








                  2






                  In general, I would not feed one UPS from another.



                  There are a few things to consider here.




                  1. What is the run time of each UPS during a power failure?


                  2. If there is so little load on the small UPS, why do you have it?



                  From what you have said, it looks as if the run time on the smaller UPS is far longer than the run time of the large UPS. Therefore, why would you want to increase the load on the large UPS by powering the small UPS from it?



                  Depending on what the wave-shape coming out of the larger UPS, it is barely possible that the small UPS might be damaged by cascading it from the large UPS. I do consider this to be unlikely but there is a possibility it might happen.






                  share|improve this answer














                  In general, I would not feed one UPS from another.



                  There are a few things to consider here.




                  1. What is the run time of each UPS during a power failure?


                  2. If there is so little load on the small UPS, why do you have it?



                  From what you have said, it looks as if the run time on the smaller UPS is far longer than the run time of the large UPS. Therefore, why would you want to increase the load on the large UPS by powering the small UPS from it?



                  Depending on what the wave-shape coming out of the larger UPS, it is barely possible that the small UPS might be damaged by cascading it from the large UPS. I do consider this to be unlikely but there is a possibility it might happen.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Aug 10 '15 at 5:21









                  JakeGould

                  30.9k1093137




                  30.9k1093137










                  answered Aug 10 '15 at 5:13









                  Dwayne Reid

                  27626




                  27626












                  • Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                    – Enis P. Aginić
                    Aug 10 '15 at 6:53




















                  • Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                    – Enis P. Aginić
                    Aug 10 '15 at 6:53


















                  Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                  – Enis P. Aginić
                  Aug 10 '15 at 6:53






                  Only chance of damage is if there is a serious, and I mean SERIOUS equipment malfunction, UPS is very resistant to power fluctuations, and it's power output is very clean.
                  – Enis P. Aginić
                  Aug 10 '15 at 6:53













                  1














                  Nothing would explode. But the smaller one would not discharge its battery until the larger one is exhausted.






                  share|improve this answer


























                    1














                    Nothing would explode. But the smaller one would not discharge its battery until the larger one is exhausted.






                    share|improve this answer
























                      1












                      1








                      1






                      Nothing would explode. But the smaller one would not discharge its battery until the larger one is exhausted.






                      share|improve this answer












                      Nothing would explode. But the smaller one would not discharge its battery until the larger one is exhausted.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Aug 10 '15 at 5:08









                      Dan D.

                      4,68812838




                      4,68812838























                          1














                          It would be better, if your load is fairly mixed, to just plug them both into the wall and split the cables between them. Efficiency loss from AC/DC conversion would eliminate a lot of the added runtime, and by reducing stress with a second wall-plugged PSU you'll still gain runtime.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            1














                            It would be better, if your load is fairly mixed, to just plug them both into the wall and split the cables between them. Efficiency loss from AC/DC conversion would eliminate a lot of the added runtime, and by reducing stress with a second wall-plugged PSU you'll still gain runtime.






                            share|improve this answer
























                              1












                              1








                              1






                              It would be better, if your load is fairly mixed, to just plug them both into the wall and split the cables between them. Efficiency loss from AC/DC conversion would eliminate a lot of the added runtime, and by reducing stress with a second wall-plugged PSU you'll still gain runtime.






                              share|improve this answer












                              It would be better, if your load is fairly mixed, to just plug them both into the wall and split the cables between them. Efficiency loss from AC/DC conversion would eliminate a lot of the added runtime, and by reducing stress with a second wall-plugged PSU you'll still gain runtime.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered Aug 11 '15 at 2:39









                              Arthur Kay

                              480311




                              480311























                                  0














                                  Don't do it. It will not blow up but it's a waste of energy as efficiency is very low.



                                  To put it into perspective, your main UPS will use AC power to charge it's battery and waste some energy in the process, then when power goes out it will use the battery to make AC power for your equipment and waste some more energy, then your second UPS does the same, then your power supply inside your equipment does the same.



                                  IF you need to add more capacity there are specialized UPS systems that connect in parallel to ensure maximum efficiency, or you can get workstations and servers with dual power supplies, connecting each one to a separate UPS.






                                  share|improve this answer























                                  • This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                    – David Schwartz
                                    Dec 14 at 7:14
















                                  0














                                  Don't do it. It will not blow up but it's a waste of energy as efficiency is very low.



                                  To put it into perspective, your main UPS will use AC power to charge it's battery and waste some energy in the process, then when power goes out it will use the battery to make AC power for your equipment and waste some more energy, then your second UPS does the same, then your power supply inside your equipment does the same.



                                  IF you need to add more capacity there are specialized UPS systems that connect in parallel to ensure maximum efficiency, or you can get workstations and servers with dual power supplies, connecting each one to a separate UPS.






                                  share|improve this answer























                                  • This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                    – David Schwartz
                                    Dec 14 at 7:14














                                  0












                                  0








                                  0






                                  Don't do it. It will not blow up but it's a waste of energy as efficiency is very low.



                                  To put it into perspective, your main UPS will use AC power to charge it's battery and waste some energy in the process, then when power goes out it will use the battery to make AC power for your equipment and waste some more energy, then your second UPS does the same, then your power supply inside your equipment does the same.



                                  IF you need to add more capacity there are specialized UPS systems that connect in parallel to ensure maximum efficiency, or you can get workstations and servers with dual power supplies, connecting each one to a separate UPS.






                                  share|improve this answer














                                  Don't do it. It will not blow up but it's a waste of energy as efficiency is very low.



                                  To put it into perspective, your main UPS will use AC power to charge it's battery and waste some energy in the process, then when power goes out it will use the battery to make AC power for your equipment and waste some more energy, then your second UPS does the same, then your power supply inside your equipment does the same.



                                  IF you need to add more capacity there are specialized UPS systems that connect in parallel to ensure maximum efficiency, or you can get workstations and servers with dual power supplies, connecting each one to a separate UPS.







                                  share|improve this answer














                                  share|improve this answer



                                  share|improve this answer








                                  edited Aug 11 '15 at 2:04









                                  JakeGould

                                  30.9k1093137




                                  30.9k1093137










                                  answered Aug 10 '15 at 6:48









                                  Enis P. Aginić

                                  1,238515




                                  1,238515












                                  • This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                    – David Schwartz
                                    Dec 14 at 7:14


















                                  • This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                    – David Schwartz
                                    Dec 14 at 7:14
















                                  This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                  – David Schwartz
                                  Dec 14 at 7:14




                                  This answer is nonsense. It's not waste to charge a battery if you're going to use that battery when the power fails. And it's not waste to convert DC to AC when the power goes out -- that's the point of a UPS. You haven't explained any disadvantage of connecting one UPS to another. (If you think both UPSes will generate AC at once, you're wrong. The UPS not plugged into the wall will only generate AC when the one plugged into the wall isn't. If you think there will be double conversion, you are again wrong.)
                                  – David Schwartz
                                  Dec 14 at 7:14











                                  0














                                  I have an off-grid solar system - and use a Go-Power 30amp automatic transfer switch between solar (AIMS Inverter pure sine wave) and shore (power company). I have a 3000 watt APC UPS downstream of the automatic transfer switch powering a 15amp circuit of plugs thru the house to smooth out the transfer between solar/inverter and shore power. The transfer occurs twice a day (inverter on and inverter off).



                                  In my office I have a 1500 APC UPS and my wife as a 2nd one in her office - plugged into the circuit powered by the 3000 APC UPS. The purpose of these 2nd ones was to allow work on the 3000 APC UPS / circuit without killing our computers upstairs as I fool with the Solar system.



                                  The one in my wife's office works OK. BUT... the one in my office went crazy and cycled on/off rapidly and actually smoked itself. I replaced it with another/different 1500 APC UPS and it also cycled on/off - once per second continuously until I switched back to Shore power.



                                  **I would be careful!!!






                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0














                                    I have an off-grid solar system - and use a Go-Power 30amp automatic transfer switch between solar (AIMS Inverter pure sine wave) and shore (power company). I have a 3000 watt APC UPS downstream of the automatic transfer switch powering a 15amp circuit of plugs thru the house to smooth out the transfer between solar/inverter and shore power. The transfer occurs twice a day (inverter on and inverter off).



                                    In my office I have a 1500 APC UPS and my wife as a 2nd one in her office - plugged into the circuit powered by the 3000 APC UPS. The purpose of these 2nd ones was to allow work on the 3000 APC UPS / circuit without killing our computers upstairs as I fool with the Solar system.



                                    The one in my wife's office works OK. BUT... the one in my office went crazy and cycled on/off rapidly and actually smoked itself. I replaced it with another/different 1500 APC UPS and it also cycled on/off - once per second continuously until I switched back to Shore power.



                                    **I would be careful!!!






                                    share|improve this answer
























                                      0












                                      0








                                      0






                                      I have an off-grid solar system - and use a Go-Power 30amp automatic transfer switch between solar (AIMS Inverter pure sine wave) and shore (power company). I have a 3000 watt APC UPS downstream of the automatic transfer switch powering a 15amp circuit of plugs thru the house to smooth out the transfer between solar/inverter and shore power. The transfer occurs twice a day (inverter on and inverter off).



                                      In my office I have a 1500 APC UPS and my wife as a 2nd one in her office - plugged into the circuit powered by the 3000 APC UPS. The purpose of these 2nd ones was to allow work on the 3000 APC UPS / circuit without killing our computers upstairs as I fool with the Solar system.



                                      The one in my wife's office works OK. BUT... the one in my office went crazy and cycled on/off rapidly and actually smoked itself. I replaced it with another/different 1500 APC UPS and it also cycled on/off - once per second continuously until I switched back to Shore power.



                                      **I would be careful!!!






                                      share|improve this answer












                                      I have an off-grid solar system - and use a Go-Power 30amp automatic transfer switch between solar (AIMS Inverter pure sine wave) and shore (power company). I have a 3000 watt APC UPS downstream of the automatic transfer switch powering a 15amp circuit of plugs thru the house to smooth out the transfer between solar/inverter and shore power. The transfer occurs twice a day (inverter on and inverter off).



                                      In my office I have a 1500 APC UPS and my wife as a 2nd one in her office - plugged into the circuit powered by the 3000 APC UPS. The purpose of these 2nd ones was to allow work on the 3000 APC UPS / circuit without killing our computers upstairs as I fool with the Solar system.



                                      The one in my wife's office works OK. BUT... the one in my office went crazy and cycled on/off rapidly and actually smoked itself. I replaced it with another/different 1500 APC UPS and it also cycled on/off - once per second continuously until I switched back to Shore power.



                                      **I would be careful!!!







                                      share|improve this answer












                                      share|improve this answer



                                      share|improve this answer










                                      answered Dec 14 at 2:55









                                      KENNETH B ALMOND

                                      1




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