INTRODUCTION

    One of the very first things I tell people to get when they are about to buy a new PC (or even an expensive home theater system) is a UPS (uninterrupted power supply) since I can't really count the times, they've saved both my work and potentially even my systems. Unfortunately, more people tend to ignore my recommendation than the ones that do (primarily due to cost) and so it's not a surprise that many of the former have come to regret their decision. On the other hand, just like with everything else the market is currently filled with UPS models and well, it's not the easiest thing to pick the right one for the job. Eaton has been one of the leading companies in the field for as far back as I can remember and today with me, I have yet another of their best-selling models, the Ellipse ECO 1600.

    Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come. Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries.

    The Ellipse ECO line of UPS currently includes 500/650/800/1200/1600VA models (available with either Schuko, FR or IEC outlets) which unlike the higher end PRO line they all follow the standby/offline topology. Now as I've stated in previous reviews standby/offline topology may not be quite as good as line interactive (due to voltage regulation, battery life and even power transfer) but compared to just even 10 years ago standby/offline models have improved considerably and so they are more than sufficient for most uses, including PCs (still for very sensitive equipment I'd clearly go with either line interactive or online topology models). The Ellipse ECO series also features automatic surge reduction (protection against power surges, IEC 61643-1 standard), telephone line & modem/fax protection (two RJ11 connectors), front activity LEDs, horizontal or vertical placement, EcoControl function (automatically shuts down attached devices of specific outlets when your workstation/system is turned off) and a USB host port via which you can use Eaton's UPS Companion software (enables safe system shutdown, energy usage metering and easy configuration of UPS settings). The Ellipse ECO 1600VA/1000W model which I have here with me today sports a total of 8 Schuko outlets (4 battery powered and surge protected and 4 surged protected only) and uses two 12V 9.0Ah maintenance-free sealed lead-acid batteries (charge/discharge/storage temperature range: -15°C/45°C) easily replaceable by the end user.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

At the front of the box, we find a large product picture along with the company logo and the main features.

The technical specifications are printed on the left side in two languages.

On the right side we find three pictures showcasing the different outlet models (DIN/FR/IEC).

Turning the box around we find another product picture and a table showcasing the uptime for all available models.

Opening the box, you'll see the power cord and the UPS closed inside plastic bags (the UPS is also placed between several pieces of foam).

Along with the Ellipse ECO 1600 and its power cord inside the box you'll also find a USB cable, warranty paper, safety paper and the quick start guide.

THE ELLIPSE ECO 1600

The Ellipse ECO 1600 is a rather small UPS that weighs 7.8kg and measures 312mm in width, 305mm in height and 81mm in depth.

All 4 outlets located at the top are surged protected while 2 of them are EcoControl ones, meaning they automatically shut off once your system turns off.

At the front we find the on/off button and two activity LEDs next to it (the capacity is also printed here).

Moving at the rear we find the USB host port, 2 RJ11 ports (line/fax/modem), 4 battery powered and surge protected outlets (the master outlet is the one that controls the EcoControl ones), power port and the circuit breaker reset button.

At the base we find the battery compartment cover held in place with 4 screws.

Replacing the two batteries is very easy even by just removing the bottom cover as seen above.

Accessing the entire interior requires removing 4 screws from the side cover as seen above.

From the factory the Ellipse ECO 1600 is equipped with two 12V 9.0AH lead-acid batteries by LEOCH (the brand however may vary due to battery availability).

UPS COMPANION SOFTWARE

You can download the UPS companion software from the Eaton support page.

The UPS companion software has been improved since 2021 when I last used it and so the main tab just lists the UPS model, current battery charge, estimate runtime, output load and estimated energy consumption.

From the settings tab you can adjust shutdown criteria and type, output voltage, sensitivity, energy consumption period, enable/disable the EcoControl feature, enable/disable audible alarms, set battery test intervals and change the language.

TESTING METHODOLOGY

    It's been a while since I had a UPS on my test bench and so I decided to slightly tweak my testing methodology. I will again be using a TV set to match the same wattage, but I will also be using a short throw projector model with a media player and even my newest Intel Core Ultra 9 285k test rig (mostly for stability purposes). Once again, power draw is not 100% fixed but the minimum and maximum numbers during all tests don't exceed 10W for the first and 20W for the latter (so do keep this in mind).

    To simulate real power outages, I will be turning the corresponding power switch in the lab a total of 5 times (5 for each test), 3 of which I will pushing it back on immediately and 2 which I will allow a couple of minutes to pass. If any of the UPS models I test fail to protect the connected equipment (or fail to keep it running) I will be sure to mention it at the end of the review.

    As for noise levels I’ll be using the ExTech HD600 decibel meter placed 5cm away from each UPS model (i will not however be recording beeping sounds coming from their internal speakers).

TEST RESULTS

CONCLUSION

    Roughly 3 and ½ years after I reviewed the very good Ellipse PRO 1600 model by Eaton, I also got to review the Ellipse ECO 1600 and even though it’s not a line-interactive one it did surpass it’s higher-end brother in one of the two battery tests. It’s also completely inaudible due to the lack of an internal fan (unlike the ECO) something which actually is a double edged sword since while lack of noise is always good during the summer the lack of a fan may not be ideal if placed somewhere with high temperatures. That being said during my tests even while playing games with my 285k/4080 test rig I encountered no issues with the Ellipse ECO 1600, even while in battery mode. Once again, the EcoControl outlets are a very useful feature if you’d like to save a bit on your electricity bill and the same goes for the UPS Companion software since it does allow you to adjust several settings some of which are quite important (sensitivity, battery test). The lack of an LCD screen at the front of the UPS is not something I expected (it’s nice to be able to see current load or min/max load) but since the Ellipse PRO line does have it, I can understand why Eaton did not include it with their ECO series.

    As I type these lines availability on the Ellipse ECO 1600 UPS model by Eaton is not great and so it currently retails for USD502 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 301.88Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which is well over what I was expecting (especially on the other side of the Atlantic – same as when I reviewed the PRO model). Price aside however the Eaton Ellipse PRO 1600 did well enough during the almost 2 months I used and tested it to deserve the Golden Award.

PROS

- Excellent Battery Life (Performance)
- 8 Outlets (4 Powered & 4 Surge Protected)
- 1600VA/1000W
- Electrical Protections
- Available Models (DIN/FR/IEC)
- UPS Companion Software
- Vertical / Horizontal Placement

CONS

- Offline/Standby Topology
- Price (For Some)