Offtopic: Question about UPS's

[Edward Ned Harvey]

> You can test them by buying an adapter -- L5-30P is for 120V AC, same
> as what comes out of your standard wall plug, but guaranteed to carry
> 30A instead of the 15 or 20 that your wall is safe for. An adapter will
> run under $15. Connect a small load -- say, a 100W lamp -- to the UPS,
> and fire it up.

You don't even need to plug in the lamp.  Just power the unit on for a few
hours, and press the "self test" button.

The only component you even need to remotely think about failing due to
shelf life is the batteries.  But they're fine, trust me.  For another year
or three.