UPDATE: After talking more with customer support, they sent a replacement unit which has none of the problems my first one did. I still need a bit of gaffer tape to cover up the lights from the buttons, but other than that, it's perfect. APC customer support was helpful and communicated clearly.
The original review follows:
I STRONGLY recommend you get the gift wrapping instead of going with standard shipping in the original box that shows what is inside.
The unit is about half the size of a PC tower and is it ever heavy. I'm impressed with the packaging being minimal, recyclable, and yet sturdy. The battery was easy to take out and turn around the right way to get the unit working. The sockets on the back are pretty close together and I'm only able to fit three plugs in the five sockets (computer equipment tends to have big plugs).
When the unit is on, the screen turns off with inactivity, but the three buttons remain illuminated. When the power went out, I couldn't figure out how to turn off the screen and it remained on using up a small amount of battery.
I had some issues with the unit, but the manufacturer is quick to respond (4 min from my first question) and worked me through some troubleshooting. I've been using this brand for years and I'm always impressed with their service.
But this brings us to the parts I don't like about it.
I live in a semi-rual part of Canada, and our island has more trees per km of electrical line than anywhere else in North America - or so the power company tells us every storm season. 6 months of the year is storm season and I felt it would be nice to have something to protect my PC better than a regular surge protector.
I had hoped the battery backup would even out the electrical current but it doesn't. Even at high sensitivity, the light plugged into the battery backup still flickers when the neighbour is welding or using heavy equipment. It also makes some noise that most people probably wouldn't hear but are obvious if I'm trying to sleep in the same room as the machine.
If I turn the unit off at night, it thunks when clicking back and forth to the battery backup due to inconsistent power from the mains... even though it is turned off, my computer is getting a flash of power when the unit makes this switch. I've given up keeping it off and used some black gaffer tape on the glowing buttons.
On the whole, I feel this isn't what I expected. I got it with the idea that it would even out the issues with my local power supply quality - but these same issues seem to bother the UPS just as much as they bother the computer and lights. What it does best is to be a battery backup and I'm glad I got the larger size because if the storm is strong enough to knock the power out for more than a few days, it's too cloudy to use my solar panel to charge my gadgets. This will do the trick nicely.
| Brand | APC by Schneider Electric |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | APC |
| Place of Business | WEST KINGSTON, RI, 02892 US |
| Model | BX1500M |
| Model Name | BX1500M |
| Model year | 2017 |
| Part Number | BX1500M |
| Compatible Devices | Echo dot, Alexa, Computer, Router, Wireless router |
| Mounting Hardware | UPS^User Manual^USB Cable^Coaxial Cable |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Wattage | 900 watts |
| Power source type | Corded Electric |
| Batteries included | Yes |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Battery cell composition | Sealed Lead Acid |
| GSM frequencies | 60 Hz |
| Includes Rechargable Battery | Yes |
| Manufacturer | APC |
| Item model number | BX1500M |
| Product Dimensions | 38.2 x 10.01 x 24.99 cm; 11 Kilograms |
| ASIN | B06VY6FXMM |
