Arguably, Cyber Power Systems Inc, also known as CyberPower, is one of the most recognized brand names for IT power management products. The company was founded in his 1997 and since then has been dedicated to the development and marketing of IT related power supply products. Unsurprisingly, UPS systems are the company’s main focus, but the company also manufactures other power-related equipment such as power distribution units, solar inverters, and even mobile accessories, and availability varies by region. increase. In fact, CyberPower is quite unique in that regard. Due to its size, CyberPower is one of the few companies with a true international presence, with similar power products available worldwide.
Today’s review covers one of CyberPower’s most popular consumer UPS systems, the VP1600ELCD 1600VA (EU). A similar version of his UPS is also available in the US with a power rating of 1500VA (CP1500AVRLCD) and apparently has a different power outlet. This particular design by CyberPower, coupled with its extremely high power rating and its low retail price (a price that competes even with imports of questionable quality), has made it extremely popular worldwide. how does that work? You’ll know right away.
| CyberPower ValuePro VP1600ELCD 1600VA | |||
| Power supply capacity | 1600VA/960W | ||
| output voltage | AC230V | ||
| input voltage | 167-295VAC | ||
| type | backup | ||
| true sine wave | No | ||
| battery | Lead-acid, 2x 12V/9Ah | ||
| Full load backup time | 2 minutes | ||
| Half load backup time | about 11 minutes | ||
| battery backup socket | 4 (type F) | ||
| surge protection socket | 1 (type F) | ||
| USB-A output | No | ||
| ethernet surge protection | yes | ||
| liquid crystal display | yes | ||
| size | 100×281×355mm | ||
| weight | 10.42 kg | ||
| price | €199 (US variant: $185) |
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It should be noted that the AC conversion circuitry of UPS platforms varies from region to region to accommodate different voltages and frequencies. Therefore, depending on the input voltage, there will always be a small power difference between similar platforms, with the 120V version typically being 5-10% less powerful.
CyberPower ValuePro VP1600ELCD 1600VA UPS
The CyberPower ValuePro VP1600ELCD UPS comes in a simple cardboard box. Thick packaging protects a fairly heavy unit.
Inside, you’ll only find the necessary AC power and USB cables, and a basic quick start guide. There are no detailed software manuals or media to download online.
The CyberPower ValuePro VP1600ELCD is a typical tower UPS with an LCD screen on the front. Measuring only 355 mm deep, 100 mm wide and 281 mm high (14” x 3.9” x 11”), it is a very compact unit for its high output. The less powerful models in the same series are shorter, with the least powerful model just 227 mm (8.9 inches) tall. The LCD screen covers almost half of the unit’s faceplate.
When powered on, the LCD screen displays an overview of the unit’s load and battery capacity, as well as an estimated run time based on current load and battery status. Most of the time it stays off and requires the user to momentarily press the display button to turn it on. Press the display button again to see more information such as input/output voltage and frequency, load (VA and Watts), and battery accurate charging.
The back of this particular model had five power plugs. Four are for battery backup and one is dedicated to surge protection. Since we are testing the EU version, the plug is a Schuko (EU) plug. Similar versions of the same unit are available with plugs for nearly every region, and Cyber Power also sells two versions of him (120V and 230V) with IEC plugs. The US version of the unit has a total of 12 plugs available (6 connected to the battery and 6 for surge protection).
This particular design offers two host data connection options, USB and serial. While serial ports are now redundant for home users, they are still a necessary option for legacy systems and proprietary equipment that don’t have a modern PC at their core. It also has a non-destructive circuit breaker and an Ethernet surge protection path (input/output plug). An experienced eye will notice that something is missing. It’s a cooling fan. Despite the UPS’s considerable power output and his AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulation) mode which works perfectly, Cyber Power designed this unit to rely solely on passive cooling.
The front fascia must be removed to access the battery compartment. It is held on by two screws on the bottom of the main unit, and can be easily removed by removing it. When removed, the user can see her two batteries in the unit. To remove the top battery, you’ll need to remove the plastic retainer. If the batteries need to be replaced, the yellow wire should be moved to another set of batteries.
I found two Leoch 12V 9Ah batteries connected in series in the unit (24V 9Ah output). Leoch is the largest Chinese battery manufacturer on the planet and their products are usually considered to be of fairly high quality. Their batteries are commonly found in consumer grade UPS units.
If you crack open the UPS, you’ll see a large transformer fixed to the bottom of the plastic body. The circuit board is mounted on top. There are no cooling fans and only a few vents that allow for natural air circulation. A fairly large transformer should be able to handle several minutes of heavy load, but modifying the battery to increase the autonomy of this UPS is a grave mistake.
Power circuits are simplistic and far behind today’s power electronics standards. Relays are supplied by reputable manufacturer Golden Relays. Capacitors are a mix of Su’Scon and Jamicon, a long-established company whose products are considered mediocre.
When the unit switches to battery, eight CS3205 B8 MOSFETs produce the output, creating a basic inverting circuit. These particular transistors aren’t old, but they’re designed to be cheap, relatively reliable, and have mediocre performance characteristics.
