Review: Kebos Powergarde 1000VA UPS

I've been an APC guy for many decades, since the time of Intel486 and Pentium133. But now when it's time to add-in a speaker hungry for higher wattage on a UPS, I knew it was time to check out and gamble on other brands. Im also counting on the high chance that, for a relatively simpler circuitry of a UPS, APC's competitors should have caught up somehow with APC's vaunted reliability. It shouldn't be that hard to reengineer a power device (as opposed to a driver-controlled circuitry of a say, a processor) after all. And it has been so many years since various companies from Asia launched their own companies to produce UPS's.

And so there are firms like Secure, Intex, Kebos, Ablerex, Izuki, FSP, et al to choose from. But I can't find a full review of any one except a quick one liners on forums. Intex did not last one year, Secure is unproven, etc.

Kebos and FSP, to their credit, have one liners in US forums. They must have been good enough to be picked up by US distributors.

Also, there might be a multitude of choices when you check glancingly, but as regular buyers at Gilmore knows, availability is also very important. You may be tempted by PC Option's or PC Express's long item list, but youll know eventually that not all of them are in stock. And so I saw Kebos as one readily available, at a better price, at the VA rating that I need, thats the one candidate possible to gamble on. Here's my review of it after one week's use:


Positives: 

The box is pink. It's not everyday when you see electronics boxed in pink. This in fact bore 50% on my decision to choose and gamble on Kebos. I loved their audacity to use pink. Does Kebos's market research discovered that somehow there's already so many female gaming enthusiasts who would be attracted to pink? And it was time to attract them with a UPS in a pink box? They should have made the UPS pink also, but alas audaciousness is always limited.

I dont know what the Plus means, but whether it's more reliable battery or just a higher beeping sound, it should still mean one level higher than plane Powergarde, and therefore... a cause of gladness.

The box is also fairly articulate on its labels outside, unlike the others which are screaming-made-in-china (although this Kebos is still made in China) via it's awkwardly phrased one slogan, a generic brand name, and then a slew of mis-spellings somewhere.

The build of the Kebos also seem solid enough. The metal is not of the thinny type, the painting finish okay, the spray painted labels good enough, and the plastic of the button signifying robustness enough.

One also does not need to press 5 or 8 seconds to turn off or on thing. Just one touch is ok. While accidental switching off or on is prevented by the recessed location of the switch. 

I also like the punch-moulded Kebos logo on the top, unlike the other brand that I asked to be opened--Secure--which is purely a black shoebox, not even having the sticker satying Secure anywhere on the UPS itself. That Secure UPS will become brandless once you take it out of the box. 

I peeked at the AC terminals, and the copper plates appear thick and robust enough against constant plug in and outs.  3 outlets are also enough for my need. Enough for the speaker, iMac, and router that I need to plug in. And not too many to encourage adding printers, TV, and others that may overload the thing if all these electronics are  running at the same time at peak power.  

The plug is just enough for this setup of mine. 

I tried to peak at the circuitry inside, but wasnt able to perceive anything. Apologies. 

Kebos also bothered to write and print a fairly complete and understandable manual. This useable manual is also complete with a graph. It's also not in hurry to explain. There's some sincerity to teach, thus.

Negatives

I dont like the sharp screws protruding on the bottom. Although it wont scratch your floor (since there are bumps that serves as stands, and are higher than the screws),

The UPS is continually charging even at off state. The blinking green light at off state is supposed to indicate charging state. But I left it overnight and it is still blinking the following (late) morning. Does this mean the UPS doesnt know when it is fully charged? This is bothersome. Need to buy one of those kill-a-watt watt loggers to check on actual power consumption. This thing might be making Meralco richer needlessly. 

Verdict

Got the Kebos to 2700 PhP. APC's model at the same power rating already is around 10 K PhP. 2700 PhP is a bet on Kebos Im willing to lose 

If this Powergarde Plus guards me indeed from power surges and dips, no fried electronics in its service, and battery lasted me 2 years, I'll be happy. 

Go Kebos!