Issue:
What are APC's recommendations for protecting Laser Printers?
Product Line:
SurgeArrest, Back-UPS and Back-UPS PRO
Cause:
Due to the large amount of power consumed by these devices, APC does not recommend protecting laser printers with a UPS.
Resolution:
In most cases, a separate surge protection device is adequate for laser printers. It is recommended the Laser Printer have its own designated circuit, as the high current draw of a Laser Printer can "sag" the utility line causing low voltage situations. The Laser Printer should not be plugged into a UPS's Battery Outlets OR into its Surge Only Outlets. These low voltage situations may cause an APC Back-UPS to transfer to battery operation repeatedly, eventually exhausting the unit's internal battery unnecessarily.
If you must use a UPS with a Laser Printer it is important to size your UPS appropriately. APC recommends a Smart-UPS series product that is sized for the maximum power draw of the laser printer as defined by the manufacturer. This is typically a 1500va or larger UPS. Even small Laser Printers can have very high maximum power draws, due to the nature of the technology. We do not recommend the use of Back-UPS products with a laser printer.
