π UPS Types Comparison for Proxmox (GMKtec K8)
| Featureβ/βType | Standby (Offline) | Line-Interactive β | Online (Double Conversion) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Power Source | Wall outlet | Wall outlet + AVR | Battery via inverter (always) |
| Battery Usage | Only on power loss | Only during serious issues | Always |
| Voltage Regulation | β None | β Automatic (AVR) | β Full isolation |
| Transfer Time | 5β10 ms | 2β4 ms | 0 ms (no switchover) |
| Power Quality | Fair | Good | Excellent |
| Best For | Basic home use | Servers, NAS, Proxmox nodes | Critical infrastructure, hospitals |
| Cost | π² Low | π²π² Medium | π²π²π² High |
| Noise Level | Silent | Generally quiet | Often noisy (active cooling) |
| Efficiency | High | High | Lower (due to always-on conversion) |
| Maintenance | Low | Low | Moderate to high |
β Recommended for our Use Case
For your Proxmox K8 node (Ryzen 7 8845HS, 64 GB RAM, dual NVMe SSDs, 2.5GbE), the Line-Interactive UPS is optimal:
β’ Balances cost, noise, and protection
β’ Handles brownouts, power cuts, and spikes efficiently
β’ Quiet enough for home or small office environments
β’ Supports USB or network monitoring for automatic VM shutdownHereβs a curated list of UPS models well-suited to our GMKtec K8 Proxmox node, formatted in Markdown and tailored for:
β’ Quiet operation
β’ Reliable VM auto-shutdown support
β’ No rackmount requirement
β’ Line-Interactive preference β
π Recommended UPS Models for Proxmox (GMKtec K8)
| Model | Type | Capacity | Runtime (est.) | USB Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APC Back-UPS Pro 1500VA (BR1500G) | Line-Interactive β | 1500VAβ/β865W | ~10β20 min | β USB | Quiet, LCD, sine wave output (pseudo), widely compatible with apcupsd |
| CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD | Line-Interactive β | 1500VAβ/β900W | ~10β25 min | β USB | True sine wave output, ideal for PFC PSUs, good Linux support |
| Eaton 5SC 1500VA | Line-Interactive β | 1500VAβ/β1050W | ~10β15 min | β USB + Serial | Excellent build, native NUT support, slightly pricier |
| APC Back-UPS Pro 1000VA (BR1000MS) | Line-Interactive β | 1000VAβ/β600W | ~5β15 min | β USB | Compact and quiet, good for smaller loads (e.g., one node + router) |
| CyberPower CP850PFCLCD | Line-Interactive β | 850VAβ/β510W | ~5β10 min | β USB | Budget-friendly, true sine wave, smaller form factor |
𧩠Integration
- Use USB connection with
apcupsdorNUT(Network UPS Tools) in Proxmox. - Enable VM auto-shutdown by linking UPS status to shutdown hooks/scripts.
- Avoid Online UPS unless necessaryβββthey tend to be noisier and less efficient.
β Ideal Choice
If budget allows, the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD offers:
- β True sine wave output
- β Good Linux/Proxmox compatibility
- β Clear display and silent operation
With the CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD (1500VAβ/β900W) UPS, our runtime will depend entirely on how much power our GMKtec K8 Proxmox node draws during operation. Hereβs an estimate:
π Estimated Runtime for GMKtec K8 with CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
| System Load | Power Draw (est.) | Estimated Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| Idleβ/βLight Load | ~35β50W | π 60β90+ minutes |
| Typical VM Load | ~75β120W | π 30β50 minutes |
| Heavy Load | ~150β200W | π 15β25 minutes |
| Full Load (~300W) | ~300W (unlikely) | π ~10β12 minutes |
β Our K8 is very power-efficient β especially on idle β so weβll likely see 30β60 minutes of safe runtime unless itβs heavily loaded with VMs doing intense processing - and itβs not, two VMs only and only one significant.
π What This Means
β’ Plenty of time for safe VM shutdowns or power restoration.
β’ Great for:
β’ Detecting brownouts - YES!
β’ Buffering short outages - YES!
β’ Controlled shutdown via Proxmox or apcupsd / NUT. - YES!The auto-shutdown system is designed to protect our Proxmox server during a power outage, not when the UPS battery itself is aging or dying permanently.
Hereβs the distinction:
π Battery End-of-Life (EOL)
β’ Happens after 3β5 years, depending on usage and model.
β’ The UPS will still function, but wonβt hold charge well.
β’ Weβll get βReplace Batteryβ warnings from the UPS software or screen.
β’ Action: We simply replace the internal battery (like a car battery).No auto-shutdown needed β just routine maintenance.
BUYING
π CyberPower CP1500EPFCLCD-UK (1500VAβ/β900W)βββUK Retailers
| Retailer | Price (incl. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | Β£345.00 | Sold by T.I Digital Solution LTD |
| UPS Centre | Β£315.00 | Includes next-day delivery options |
| PriceSpy UK | Β£319.97 | Price comparison site, multiple retailers |
| PriceRunner UK | Β£316.28 | Price comparison site, multiple retailers |
π CyberPower CP2000EPFCLCD-UK (2000VAβ/β1200W)βββUK Retailers
I canβt find this one on Amazon
| Retailer | Price (incl. VAT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon UK | Β£410.00 | Sold by T.I Digital Solution LTD |
| UPS Centre | Β£410.00 | Includes next-day delivery options |
π CyberPower UPS Comparison (UK Models)
In reality the CP1600EPFCLCD-UK looks like the one to have.
| Feature | CP1500EPFCLCD-UK | CP2000EPFCLCD-UK |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1500 VAβ/β900 W | 2000 VAβ/β1200 W |
| Form Factor | Tower | Tower |
| Waveform | β Pure Sine Wave | β Pure Sine Wave |
| Outlets | 6 (4 IEC + 2 UK) | 6 (4 IEC + 2 UK) |
| Display | LCD status panel | LCD status panel |
| Runtime @ 100W | 50β60 minutes | 75β90 minutes |
| Runtime @ 200W | 20β25 minutes | 30β40 minutes |
| Typical Price (UK, incl. VAT) | Β£321.99βΒ£354.00 | Β£410.00βΒ£440.00 |
| Fan Noise | Generally quiet | Slightly louder under high load, office-friendly |
| Best For | Single-node protection, modest runtime | More runtime or headroom for extra node |
π Recommendation
If:
β’ We run K8 and want a compact, quiet, cost-effective UPS: go with the CP1500EPFCLCD-UK.
β’ We want more runtime during outages then the CP2000EPFCLCD-UK.and an alternative, but not really:
π UPS Comparison: SKE 1500VA vs CyberPower CP1600EPFCLCD-UK
| Feature | SKE 1500VA/900W | CyberPower CP1600EPFCLCD-UK (1600VA/1000W) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Line-Interactive | Line-Interactive |
| Capacity | 1500VAβ/β900W | 1600VAβ/β1000W |
| Waveform Output | Likely Simulated Sine Wave (check model specifics) | β Pure Sine Waveβββsuitable for sensitive electronics |
| Output Sockets | Varies (usually UK only) | 2βΓβUK, 3βΓβIEC C13 (total: 5) |
| Input Cord | UK power plug (typically attached) | UK power cord attached |
| Voltage Regulation (AVR) | β Yes | β Yes |
| LCD Display | β Yes (basic info like battery, load, voltage) | β Yes (detailed status: load, runtime, voltage, faults, etc.) |
| Runtime @ 100W | ~50β60 minutes (approximate) | ~55β65 minutes |
| Runtime @ 200W | ~20β25 minutes (approximate) | ~30β35 minutes |
| Battery Replacement | Possibly non-user-replaceable | β User-replaceable |
| Fan Noise | Quiet when idle, may lack fan control | Generally quiet, but has controlled active cooling when needed |
| Build Qualityβ/βReliability | Entry-level, varies by OEM | β Higher quality, known brand, reliable long-term performance |
| Monitoring Software | Unlikely | β PowerPanel Personal/Business Edition (USB monitoring supported) |
| Form Factor | Tower | Tower |
| Best For | Home users, basic PC/router protection | Proxmox nodes, NAS, servers, or sensitive electronics |
| Typical UK Price | ~Β£130βΒ£180 | ~Β£280βΒ£320 |
π’ Summary:
π CyberPower CP1600EPFCLCD-UK:
On Amazon UK Price Β£319.78 in vat
- β Better for Proxmox, NAS, and devices needing pure sine wave output.
- β More socket options, better runtime, and user-replaceable battery.
- β Includes PowerPanel software supporting automatic shutdown scripting for VMs.
- π‘ Slightly higher cost but justified by features and build quality.
πΈ SKE 1500VA:
- π² Cheaper option, okay for basic desktop or router backup.
- β Check waveformβββlikely not pure sine wave.
- β May lack automation, brand support, or expandability.