Power Outages...

[capone]

That's a nice improvement. Thx for that.

You can get around the parts problem if you use XRecord, espcially w/ files mode on so you see everything in the folder.

[capone]

"APC 350VA BE350U 6 Outlet UPS
Protects your data and hardware from surges, spikes, and power failures

Up to 8 minutes backup run time
200W/350VA "
Can that even run a computer.. for a minute?
I might need one of the 150dollar UPS's...

The key thing, I learned in researching this, that the VA rating is something you can know in advance. Search around, but you can figure out what VA you will need by doing some math on the Voltage and Wattage of your device. There's a formula you use that will tell you exactly what you will need.

It will also depend on the quality of your PSU, and if it will fail on even the slightest change in power supply (even just the bump of the UPS fully taking over).

[gEd]

nice one Sub - thanks.

Even with stable power, my pc still manages to crash occasionally, so I will definately find this mod useful.

[roy]

In the spirit of the original post, I've modified it so it wont overwrite the original part of the file. The target file will be renamed if the old name already exists.

Outstanding! This will also resolve an issue I've been having where the system goes into standby prematurely, and upon waking, begins recording again, overwriting the initial recording.

Now I just need to resolve the standby problem :confused:

[ram4x4nut]

I know, I know..."Get a UPS". That would cause the WAF to take a SEVERE hit, because a UPS isn't exactly cheap.

Actually you could pick one up fairly cheap on ebay. Don't plug your monitor into it, just the PC. Should keep it alive from 10-30 minutes depending on how beefy of an UPS you get. I got mine (750VA) for under $30 US shipped to my door, and will keep two of my PC's running under load for about 12 minutes without A/C power.

[Pilot]

In the spirit of the original post, I've modified it so it wont overwrite the original part of the file. The target file will be renamed if the old name already exists.

First: Unsolved Mysteries_20060201_07000800.mpg
Then: Unsolved Mysteries_20060201_07000800-2.mpg
Then: Unsolved Mysteries_20060201_07000800-3.mpg
etc...

Obviously though, this is only part of your probem. You'll end up with a recording that points to part the last of a show. Comskip or any post processing will only run on that last part of the show etc. I wont be doing anything about these potential issues, but at least you'll still have all the video.

Thanks a ton, Sub! That almost solves the entire problem (at least for me, personally). I don't use any sort of post processing (at least not now -- not even Comskip). Also, because I'm recording things for the entire family of six people, I frequently have to move the recorded files around and then use the Video Library function to view them later on. This would be no different, and I'd only have to do it when someone at the power company is practicing a yo-yo over the main reset button.

This is a great day for at least the Florida whiners! Okay, maybe that's a group of one...

[Pilot]

Actually you could pick one up fairly cheap on ebay. Don't plug your monitor into it, just the PC. Should keep it alive from 10-30 minutes depending on how beefy of an UPS you get. I got mine (750VA) for under $30 US shipped to my door, and will keep two of my PC's running under load for about 12 minutes without A/C power.

Yeah, after snooping around my various favorite electronics sites online, I discovered that finding an APC or Belkin model (500VA) for $25-30 on sale is not a rare event. 500VA should be plenty for just my CPU. We'll see. The change Sub is making will be the best fix for me, because with the lack of reliable power around here, a UPS more than likely simply postponing the replacement of the file since there are easily power outages that last longer than 5-10 minutes.

I need to get that edition of Popular Mechanics with the plans for making a whole house battery backup system (in the garage) with a generator tie-in. Hey, my GBPVR system would be worth it. Oh, and I'm sure it would benefit the rest of the household, too.

[dragonfiregum]

The key thing, I learned in researching this, that the VA rating is something you can know in advance. Search around, but you can figure out what VA you will need by doing some math on the Voltage and Wattage of your device. There's a formula you use that will tell you exactly what you will need.

It will also depend on the quality of your PSU, and if it will fail on even the slightest change in power supply (even just the bump of the UPS fully taking over).

How do you figure that out..?
I have a 350w power supply i think....As would most people the lil thing i quoted doesnt look like it will work.

[capone]

You'll need to google for it, unless someone knows. It was a while ago.

[gEd]

http://www.powerstream.com/VA-Watts.htm

[edit]: sorry, that link is just for doing the VA --> W conversion thing

try this

http://windows.uwaterloo.ca/Hardware/PC_...mption.htm

Also, a 350W supply is the max load for the supply not how much it consumes. Ideally, an efficient supply should only consume a little more than it delivers to the pc.