Product ReviewsAPC UPS: 550VA 120V BE550G

Great Under Desk Unit

The best thing about this UPS is the replaceable battery. Easy to replace, and sold by many vendors. This means years of use down the road. APC's smaller UPS, like the 425VA, make it tougher to do this, unless you have special tools, then, the batteries are not so plentiful.

The size is good for under desk use. I am really fond of the separate bank for surge protection, only. You can put your printer, your phone charger, and your desk light on these, and your CPU, monitor, and other critical service gear on the UPS side. At desk, the UPS will give you about five minutes, depending on the load, of course. This is plenty to save your work, and shut down.

APC is the premier name in UPS. Why buy less? The saving is miniscule.

I'm using mine for an old CPU and monitor, and a MaxNC CNC mill. The mill is about the size of your Mom's Mixmaster. Perfect for the job. We have iffy power in my area. The less than a minute outages don't stop the work.

Yes, I recommend this size and larger. I would recommend this as the minimum size APC UPS to buy for any application.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: esalesbyme

Finally a proven legacy UPS that actually works!

I already own 3 APC BR550G family UPS's. The big flat-on-the-floor kind with the G suffix. I tried a newer more vertical form factor APC UPS, and when we had a power outage the unit constantly switched in and out, the change-over relay clicking loudly. I could no longer trust it, so I bought an A****n brand UPS after reading the reviews. It kept turning itself off at random times, dumping my router, so I exchanged it for another. The replacement did the same thing! Returned for credit! So here I am, buying a proven refurb UPS with a new battery for half the price. It actually works! Thanks!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mntechnology

Excellent Purchase and Investment for use with one desktop PC

The product works as advertised. No rocket science involved so to speak. These products are heavy so try to find a permanent spot for the set up. The software offers simple power plan options. If your worried about testing it on your computer the first time around, like me, my house has taken a allot of power surges, PC's will only reboot so many times after multiple power hits before its time to replace the MB. So after the initial set up, and software install I let the "battery charge up completely"!(24hours). I verified the PC and software recognize the APC battery. I then shut down and unplugged the PC, plugged in my modem and Wi-Fi router and a lamp for the power test, I pulled the power cord out of the wall socket, the lamp didn't even blink. I then shut the breaker off, not sure if the lamp blinked but the modem and wi-fi were still showing solid green and broadcasting, which means they did not reboot. For the technical aspects of this unit. Go to this web site. https://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=BE550G&tab=models. Check out the power graph and length of "on" time in relation to power output. Hold your mouse cursor over the green line. Most desktop PC power supplies are spec'd for 200 to 250 watts, doesn't mean it's using the whole 200 or 250 watts, then take into account how many USB cables you have plugged in for external accessories, then use common sense. The PC is the only thing I have plugged into the battery back up side. Everything else is plugged into the surge protect side. My PC power supply is 250 watts, so I set the APC PowerChute software to shut down my PC in 3 minutes.
Its been 2 months now, the software told me I took a power hit Dec. 14 for 25 seconds, I didn't even know this until I checked 3 days ago. My old W7 Dell 620S is humming along fine. I expect the batteries to last at least 2 years regardless of what the warranty or manufacture says.Read full review...

This is a basic dependable battery back up

The APC battery back up is a basic and dependable piece of hardware. I have had other brands before and none have compared to the dependability and the functionality of this model. The company has put our newer models which I think are not as good as this standard basic one. Straightforward and simple to use you know that you can trust it to work. With an easy to replace battery so it can last a long timeRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mntechnology

Assured Reliability

This is my second UPS ES 550 Backup unit and if my second experience with the UPS ES 550 will be anything like the first, it will be an outstanding one as was the first.

These units are rock solid in performance from my past experience of the last ten years or better.

I highly recommend this battery backup system. It has performed well beyond my expectations.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: clr_solutions_llc

APC Backup power supply

Don't know why I didn't get one years ago. 2 nights after installing it we had another 1 sec brownout while watching TV. These have been happening with regularity for the 5 years I've lived here. The only reason I knew this happened is that the clock on the stove made its ceremonial, power outage, "beep". The TV didn't miss a lick. I purchased one for the TV and one for the computer.
I researched UPS's for a week before I made the leap. Glad I did.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: member0630241

Keeps Things Going During Utility Power Interruptions

My best success with UPS devices has been with the APC brand. This model is no different. My APC UPS: 550VA 120V BE550G is compact, reliable and uses a replaceable battery which greatly prolongs its useful life.

I'm using this model to protect my TV, Dish satellite receiver and attached hard drive from power blinks and surges. Having even a momentary power interruption turns off the hard drive, stops recording TV programs and movies and causes the satellite receiver to go through a lengthy reboot.

This UPS is robust enough to keep that equipment going during utility power interruptions for several minutes while also protecting that equipment and my TV from power surges. For interruptions longer than this UPS can handle, I'll start my backup power generator.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: teknologic2020

Keeps computer running during power blinks

Good product. I own four of them. One for TV, one for computer / modem, one for Stereo and one used as a charging station for our iPhones & iPads. Units are only as good as the condition of the battery inside. Replacement batteries are cheap and available. The time it takes to change the battery is less than 10 minutes.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: business_tech_o...

Great product! I recomend it! I bought one over a year ago and I just bought 2 more.

Pro- I like that you can change the battery as needed. I tested one of my APC 550 with only my modem plugged into it and it lasted for 3 hours.

Con- If power goes out it beeps until it loses its charge. I have not been able to figure out how to turn off the beeps which is why i gave it 4 stars. No beeps=5 stars! :)Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ironmancd

a must have

Anyone who has a flat screen TV needs to use a good quality battery back-up power supply and not a "surge protector". Your warranty does not cover damages caused by power surges. And surge protector do not protect if the power drops and comes back quickly.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: ironmancd