For those of you who don’t know, “robohara.com” runs off a server that lives at my house. When I first decided to stand up a “real” server, I decided to purchase a UPS (battery backup) unit as well. We don’t have an abnormal amount of power outages here, but when the power flickers you don’t want a server to do the same. It can both damage the hardware, and corrupt your data and files. <\/p>\n

I ended up buying an APC brand UPS. That’s what we use at work, so I’m familiar with the hardware and software. I bought mine used and got a good deal on it … I thought. I don’t know how long batteries for these things are supposed to last, but mine started dying a year ago. At first it beeped occasionally, like a fire alarm with a low battery. A few months ago it began emitting mini alarms. It only happens a few times a day, and since both the server and the UPS are upstairs, the alarm is barely audible. About a week ago the battery completely died, and now the UPS beeps once a second. Time for a new battery.<\/p>\n

$200, by the way — and that was from a discount online retailer. Bollocks!<\/p>\n

When we got home from work today the battery was sitting on the front porch. Ten minutes (and $200) later, the UPS is as good as new, ready to protect robohara.com (and review-o-matic.com and LoveThyShelf.com and …) from evil power spikes, dips, brown-outs, and outright outages. <\/p>\n

This post wasn’t very exciting, so here are three “electric” music videos.<\/p>\n

POWER STATION<\/b> – Some Like It Hot<\/p>\n