I have two PCs with 1000W and 650W power supplies. Can I connect both to one lower-rated UPS for surge protection and backup power, or will they overload it?
Will a lower-rated UPS limit how much power my PCs draw?
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Javro.9e
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No, the UPS does not tell the PCs to use less power. They draw what their components need, even when the UPS is connected to the wall. If the combined load exceeds the UPS rating, it may sound an alarm, shut down, or otherwise respond to the overload depending on the model.
That could mean both computers lose power rather than getting a chance to shut down normally.
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The PSU ratings are maximum capacities, not constant power draws. A 1000W PSU does not automatically pull 1000W from the wall, so adding 1000W and 650W doesn't tell you what the two PCs actually use.
Measure their combined wall draw under the workloads you expect, including monitors and anything else on the battery-backed outlets. Then check the UPS's watt rating, not just its VA rating. Leave some headroom for heavier loads and make sure its estimated battery runtime is enough to save your work and shut down.
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Separate UPS units are another option if sharing one makes the capacity awkward. You can size each unit for its PC and monitor, and an overload on one unit won't take both computers down.
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Javro.9e:
So one larger UPS could work for both, as long as the measured load and runtime fit?
u715+sparethimble_4:
Yes. Check the combined load during demanding use too, not just when both PCs are idle.