Best UPS for UGREEN NAS - US3000 or classic APC

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Best UPS for UGREEN NAS? Short answer

If you only want to protect the NAS itself and have room for just a small device, get the UGREEN US3000. If you want your router to keep working during a power outage too, or you have a DXP6800 or DXP8800, you need a classic UPS with mains sockets, for example from the APC Back-UPS family.

Why do you need a UPS at all? In a sudden power outage, a RAID array can get damaged or require a long check. A UPS gives you a few minutes to shut the device down safely.

In this article we compare both solutions for the DXP2800, DXP4800 Plus and DXP4800 GT NAS models. Drives and RAM for the DXP4800 GT are covered in separate articles.

UGREEN US3000: how it works and what it connects to

According to the NASCompares review, the US3000 is a 120 W DC UPS built for UGREEN NAS devices powered by an external DC power adapter. It plugs in between the power adapter and the NAS, so there is no break in power when the mains goes down.

Inside is a 12,000 mAh lithium-ion battery (four 3000 mAh cells), which is 43.2 Wh. According to NASCompares, this is enough for about ten minutes of NAS operation, depending on the load. That is enough for a safe shutdown, but don't count on running for half an hour.

The device connects to the UGOS Pro system over a USB cable. The system can automatically shut down the NAS, go into standby at a set time and turn it back on when power returns. You don't have to be near the device when the power goes out.

There is one limitation regarding models. According to Notebookcheck, the US3000 works only with some UGREEN NAS devices and does not support the DXP6800 or DXP8800 series. UGREEN also sells the DXP4800 GT in a bundle with the US3000, so this model works with it. For the DXP2800 and DXP4800 Plus, check the manufacturer's description to see whether your model is on the list and whether it is powered by an external DC power adapter.

UGREEN also has a smaller US2000 (72 W) and a larger US7000 (300 W), according to the manufacturer's listings. With the US2000, check whether 72 W is enough for your NAS power adapter.

Fun fact: The UGREEN US3000 weighs about 439 g and measures 120.6 x 80.5 x 29.6 mm (NASCompares).

We selected the products below by a single criterion: small UGREEN DC UPS units for NAS devices of this brand and classic APC UPS units with mains sockets.

UPS units for UGREEN NAS we recommend

Classic UPS: what it offers and what to check before buying

A classic UPS, such as the APC Back-UPS, has mains sockets. You can connect a NAS, a router and a switch to it at the same time. It also has a larger battery than a small DC UPS.

This matters, because a NAS without a router is of little use. If you want your data to stay available on the network during a power outage, the router needs power too. With the US3000, you power only the NAS.

A classic UPS is also the only sensible option for the DXP6800 and DXP8800. For a larger NAS, or when a computer is to be connected to the UPS as well, a more powerful model rated at 1500-1600 VA is a better fit.

Check three things before buying:

• the UGREEN compatibility list for your NAS model, because it decides whether UGOS Pro can read the UPS status over USB - don't assume it definitely works,
• the number of battery-backed sockets, because in some models only some of the sockets offer surge protection alone,
• the space, because a power-strip-style UPS is easier to hide behind a cabinet than a classic casing.

How much power you need: NAS and router

A NAS's power draw changes with load. It rises when the drives are working, so choose the UPS power rating for the peak, not for standby.

Fun fact: A NAS in standby usually draws less than 10 W (Notebookcheck).

For the US3000, the limit is 120 W of output power. For a classic UPS, add up the total: the power ratings of the NAS, router and switch power adapters. You will find the values on the adapter labels. Compare them with the power in watts given in the UPS specification, not just the VA value.

Leave some headroom. A UPS running close to its power limit will keep devices running for a shorter time, and under load it may simply fail to cope.

Frequently asked questions about a UPS for a UGREEN NAS

Which UPS for a UGREEN NAS?

For a NAS alone with an external power adapter, choose the UGREEN US3000. If you also want to back up a router, or you have a DXP6800 or DXP8800, choose a classic UPS with 120 V outlets.

Does the UGREEN US3000 work with the DXP4800 GT?

Yes, Amazon sells the DXP4800 GT bundle with the US3000. However, the US3000 does not support the DXP6800 and DXP8800 series. For other models, check the manufacturer's description.

How long will the UGREEN US3000 keep a NAS running?

According to NASCompares, up to about ten minutes, depending on the load. That is enough time for a safe shutdown, which UGOS Pro will perform automatically over the USB connection.

Does an APC UPS work with a UGREEN NAS?

Physically, you can connect the NAS to the 120 V outlet of any such UPS. Whether UGOS Pro will read its status over USB and shut the NAS down on its own needs to be checked on the UGREEN compatibility list for your model.

Does a NAS need a UPS?

It is worth having one. A sudden power loss can damage a RAID array or force a long check, and a UPS gives you a few minutes for a safe shutdown.

See also

• Best hard drives for UGREEN DXP4800 GT - HDDs up to 32TB and M.2 cache
• Best RAM for UGREEN DXP4800 GT - DDR4 SO-DIMM, how many GB and whether you need ECC

Sources

• UGREEN: NASync DXP4800 GT - manufacturer page (ai.ugreen.com)
• NASCompares: UGREEN US3000 NAS UPS review - industry article (nascompares.com)
• Notebookcheck: Compact UPS protects data integrity of NAS - industry article (notebookcheck.net)
• PCWorld: Ugreen DXP4800 GT review - industry article (pcworld.com)