APC Back-UPS Pro 850VA UPS Battery Backup & Surge Protector, BX850M Backup Battery Power Supply

This backup installs quickly and works. It is interesting to see how many line drops happen without noticing them on other devices. It does its job well.

Going on 6 years and this battery backup unit is still 100% functional. My a/v components ride through brownout and blackout so smoothly. Would I buy this again? Already did, in 2022 for a different location in the house.

ITEM ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS

I bought a similar UPS by APC in 2009, and it finally conked out after 15 years. It was no frills, 4 outlets on backup and 2 not. And it would beep like crazy when there were outages or fluctuation. But did a great job and could run my modem, router, and network storage for about an hour when the power went out. I am still surprised how long it lasted. I purchased this and it is lighter, smaller, able to be muted, has far more functions and features, and runs the same equipment for 2 hours. I could not be happier.

I have only had this one day though I have noticed a few points I'd like to point out. Despite seeing pictures online and I admit I did not check the height/length/etc specs ... this unit is ALOT smaller than I expected.... I have an older APC XS 1000 (it is having issues) that this is replacing and this is LESS then 1/2 the height (using the eye-test) .... either way it wouldn't have mattered but this is nice that it's smaller... I do wish it was a TAD taller so they could space the plugs out a little bit more for certain types of AC plugs ... at least if you want to use all 8 plugs on this unit.The plug spacing on the XS 1000, are a little more spaced out than this, though I admit not "that much" more ... by the way https://www.amazon.com/CyberPower-MP1043WW-Grounding-Adapter-2-Pack/dp/B01K1JQSWS/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516903852&sr=1-6&keywords=plug+adapter is what you MAY need (if something like this even lets the end of the power cord you have, in question, far enough out, that it will not hit any other plugs you want to plug into this ... https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31OQKBAPlXL.jpg is the picture of a cord I have that is the type I am describing ...Everything went fine as far as unboxing and setup ... plug and play really.The battery I want to address after going back and forth with the fine folks at APC about it. The replacement battery (at the time of me typing this) IS NOT AVAILABLE. I mentioned to them that they do not even list it on their site and they got back to me that the (despite some Q and A's I have seen I think on this unit) RBC 123 and RBC 124's ARE NOT compatible. Here I want to mention something else.Please look at https://www.amazon.com/APC-Replacement-Battery-Cartridge-RBC110/dp/B001NTGUP6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516904335&sr=1-1&keywords=apc+ups+battery (*** just appearance... THIS IS NOT a battery to be used in this unit) ... this LOOKS like what you get with this unit. Some pictures have a battery like https://www.amazon.com/APC-Replacement-Battery-Cartridge-APCRBC123/dp/B004FV7XJG/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516904335&sr=1-2&keywords=apc+ups+battery pictured. That is not even a posibility to fit into this smaller (sized) unit. While I wanted to know about the battery before buying this ... seeing that the battery you get/the replacement is 1/2 the "size" (I know that RBC 123/124 battery is "2 batteries connected together" by the way) .... I feel silly asking APC if i could use the RBC 123/124 batteries in this unit.I have to say it was never an issue with the older XS 1000 that I have had for about 11 or so years now in south Florida, but ... The display on the front with all sorts of info about the load, battery status, and other items ... its a nice touch. That mute button is going to come in handy too ... I do not mind hearing the beep when it switches to battery power (in case i want to shut down and not drain the battery) but SAY I know its on battery and am ok with that. I can mute the beeping so it doesn't get annoying. This display comes in handy for those that want to say use this with an entertainment/media center and not HAVE TO bring a computer near the UPS to get to different info they may want to know ... just press a button .. and BAM its there, displayed on the LCDI went with this over a CyberPower though they seem like a decent choice, and I have nothing bad to say about them/their products,.... APC based on my own experience with the XS 1000 and other reviews where even WHEN they failed due to a close lightening strike ... APC has replaced not only the entire UPS unit but in some cases they HAVE come through (not just a PR thing on the box) with replacing to damaged devices due to the APC UPS failing.... that sort of "we COMPLETELY stand behind our product" means something to me ... and it was one of the deciding factors .... I am not claiming CyberPower WOULDN'T ... but I know I don't even have a question about APC.While I have not hooked things for this up yet ... I DO like the fact that they removed the phone jack (I wouldn't have minded if they kept it ... it doesn't apply to me but some people may still find this useful) protection and "in it's place" is Coax protection.-------------------------------------------------------------Hard to right a review on this right now as I have only had it a day though I am picturing this will be the same UNLESS (and if anything iffy happens, I of course will be updating this)

I use this because the wiring is terrible in my house and weather causes outages now and then. Bought this to replace one that lasted 7 years. This has worked great the past year and also serves as a replacement for my power strip. I can't see me living without one.

So I have purchased dozens of these (not kidding) over the years for my clients, family and friends. Being an IT professional, I get asked a lot, “What do you use?”. A UPS in the 1500VA class. I just plug ONE monitor and the PC into the BATTERY side and everything else in the SURGE ONLY side. This makes sure you have the most juice for the important part - shutting down your PC gracefully. If you’re not home, it will at least ensure you have enough juice to power your PC in sleep mode for at least 20-40 minutes. The power may return before this but the software available with these (using the USB connection) will sense the power outage and use whatever juice it has stored to shutdown the PC gracefully. These are not really good for keeping gaming machines alive for a few hours while the power is out. Chances are, the Internet feed you are using will be out as well! If you have a generator that kicks in, these are perfect for keeping power surges and spikes off the equipment and keeping things running until the generator kicks in. The batteries should last at least a year or two depending on the temperatures at which they are used (hotter is worse) but are readily available these days - usually 700-900 Amp hour batteries.

I am as old as dirt and I was able to figure out how to set this up. I've hooked up several things to it using both the "surge protection only" outlets as well as hooking up two external hard drives to the outlets that keep power to them and one desk top computer. As I wrote in my headline, so far so good. I haven't lost power yet so I can't comment on that part... if it keeps the things I've plugged in to the power outlets going or not. Oh, and one more thing, I have not noticed any kind of odor with this one. I am very sensitive to smells. The last one I bought had a terrible odor for weeks and weeks. And while it is heavy for an old lady it was not too heavy.