We’ve all experienced sudden power blackouts at some point in our lives. It’s really inconveniencing, especially when you’re carrying out critical activities on your computer. You’re in the middle of a tech task, school assignment, or online client meeting, and suddenly, your screen goes off.
That’s when you realize the importance of a continuous electricity supply with the help of a UPS connection. The UPS keeps the computer running smoothly during an unexpected power outage. That’s a major function, but this article sheds light on its more significant benefits.
The Main Benefits of UPS Systems
Why own a UPS system? Is it vital? These questions have rung in your head long enough, and the answers are right here to ascertain the need for UPS systems.
Protection Against Power Outages
Well, UPS really comes in handy when there’s an unplanned interruption in the electricity supply. That abrupt power cut is dangerous to connected electrical appliances and devices. It can lead to system damage and malfunctioning, and computers might not boot properly when switched on.
Also, a loss of power might lead to the loss of unsaved data, hampering the operations and service provisions in a company set-up. Imagine losing clients or simply the client’s trust because of a delay caused by data disappearance essential in meeting the client’s needs.
Hence, it’s crucial for well-established companies and organizations to employ the use of UPS to ensure their systems run a little longer when electricity failure occurs. It also boils down to you, as an employee, working remotely in the comfort of your home. Not only can you run tech-related devices, but you can also run your TV so that you can view your favorite programs for an extended period and keep the TV safe at all times.
Regulation of Voltage Fluctuations
The UPS is also a voltage regulator, in addition to being a temporary power supplier. It can control voltage fluctuations when there are voltage spikes. By this, we mean that voltage may exceed the set voltage range, especially when there is an irregular electricity supply. Even lightning and overloading an electrical circuit are likely to cause voltage surges.
When these eventualities happen, the UPS system maintains the voltage at a particularly favorable level. It trims down the power or voltage excesses averting electrical damage to the electronic equipment. Therefore the UPS supports the lifespan and durability by eliminating malfunctions brought about by voltage instability.
Surge Protection
The normal household voltage level of electricity supply to homes ranges between 120V and 240V. When electricity exceeds this range, appliances connected to wall sockets face a power surge. This surge can be destructive in the sense that it burns the appliances or, worse, causes electrical fires.
Letting the UPS act as an intermediary between the wall socket and the appliance reduces the risk of electrical damage. UPS systems are good surge protectors if you can afford one.
Backup power for Critical Systems
Systems dependent on electricity in data centers, hospitals, and large-scale industries, which require a constant electrical supply, deserve power backup equipment. In hospitals, for instance, interrupting power supplies threatens people’s lives.
With a UPS set-up, the UPS is responsible for providing power when a power outage occurs. As such, it maintains workplace productivity by ensuring critical operations continue for the best service delivery.
Types of UPS Systems
While you may know what benefits to expect from UPS systems, do you know the different types of UPS? Being aware of them aids in selecting one that aligns with your needs, which could be business or personal needs.
Line Interactive UPS
Line Interactive operates mainly with a battery in its panel and works on standby mode. As most tech wigs describe, this type of UPS is an intermediate between offline and online.
Under normal operations, with the incoming input power from the wall outlet, its AC/DC inverter charges the battery. So, the battery remains charged. When the power goes off or voltage fluctuations arise, the battery becomes the power source. The inverter reverses its circuit mode so that the charged battery provides uninterrupted power to the connected devices.
The inverter always stays functioning and also comprises an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator). Because of that, the line interactive UPS is a great voltage regulator and surge protector for optimal safety of your tech equipment.
Online (Double-conversion) UPS
This type of UPS is essential where a consistent power supply is critical since it has zero transition time in times of power outages.
It’s referred to as an online UPS as the UPS continuously runs and powers the electronic device. It doesn’t give power only when a blackout emerges but throughout the connection. Its inverter receives the direct line AC current, incessantly converts it to DC current, charges the battery, and converts it back to AC current. As you can deduce, conversions happen twice, hence the name double conversion UPS as well.
When there is a power interruption, the UPS depends on the battery to discharge power to the inverter for continuity in operations. Like in-line interactive UPS systems, the inverter is always on. Compared to other UPS types, it offers the highest level of voltage regulation and protection against power noises, surges, and defects.
Standby (Offline) UPS
This is the most basic type of UPS, rendering it the most cost-effective UPS system. It’s highly preferable for small-scale applications, like home offices, where power interruptions bear no critical impact. It also consumes little electrical power, saving electrical costs.
As the name suggests, this UPS’s battery and inverter stay off with incoming power from the power line. But immediately it detects a power outage, the inverter converts the battery’s DC power to AC to run the appliances.
The offline UPS begins to function only when there is a power outage. So, the best it can do is to protect the device against power anomalies. Sometimes, it may fail to work when the electricity’s voltage dwindles to an extreme low, therefore insufficiently controlling voltage fluctuations.
Choosing the Right UPS System
Yes, there are benefits to be accrued from a UPS system. But you also should discern the considerations when selecting the right one. Do your homework on these factors, and the outcome should drive you to pick the right UPS.
Capacity and Load Requirements
This is the most important consideration when looking for a new UPS. The load requirement is the total power devices you’re planning to connect to the UPS will consume. So, you will calculate the sum of the wattage of all the electrical equipment to know your load requirement in advance.
After that, weigh the predetermined load requirement against the UPS power capacity. By definition, capacity is the amount of power the UPS can deliver. The UPS capacity should be able to serve the load requirements, and it is better when there is left headroom to accommodate more devices. The capacity shouldn’t precisely match the power load of the devices.
For instance, if your electrical equipment has a 1000-watt total load, buy a UPS with a 1200-watt capacity, having a 200W allowance. Sometimes watts (W) are named VA (Voltage-ampere), as you’ll find such a power unit in a UPS product description. Remember that if you overload the UPS, it gets overwhelmed and switches off, and you also increase the risk of overheating and reduce lifespan.
Type of UPS
UPS systems have either line-interactive, double-conversion, or standby types. The features of these different types vary, hence the variation in the level of voltage regulation, device protection, purchase costs, and environments they’re suitable for.
Therefore, when choosing a UPS, scrutinize those aforementioned features. As discussed before, non-critical equipment can work with standby or line-interactive UPS types, while critical applications require double-conversion UPS systems.
If cost is a primary concern for you, the standby UPS type is the cheapest but is limited to small-scale operations like homes or small offices. However, prioritize device protection and performance over costs when discerning the best type so that you gather long-term value out of your purchase.
UPS Warranty
Also, when buying, ensure the concerned seller or manufacturer provides warranty documentation for UPS. An authentic manufacturer attaches a warranty to its products because it is certain of selling original, unadulterated products.
With a warranty, you’re safe in the event a manufacturer’s defect in the UPS reveals itself after purchase. Or, if repairs or replacements of parts occur within the warranty period, you can return it to the seller, and the warranty will cover the costs involved. Keep in mind that the longer the warranty, the more genuine and durable the UPS is, which means a higher quality.
User-friendliness
This relates to UPS systems relying on batteries for backup power storage. If the UPS operates with an in-built battery, it should have a high-quality rechargeable battery, suggesting a long-lasting performance. If replacement is necessary in short durations, you’ll need a technician to carry out the task, as it’s pretty challenging.
On the other hand, external batteries are easy to replace when they die completely. You can do it yourself because you won’t need to open the battery panel of the UPS unit. You disconnect the old battery and connect the newly bought one.
Conclusion
Having a UPS in your workspace contributes to timely, smooth, and uninterrupted work or project delivery. In a home setting, you can power your TV, radio, or home computer for a longer time during power blackouts. A UPS is typically a temporary power backup system.
Well, keep exploring our website for more UPS and battery insights. A well-informed decision when shopping is ultimately crucial.
