Power surges are probable occurrences if you depend on electricity from power lines. A simple action such as switching on your TV at the plugged-in point may trigger a power surge. Even unexpected power outages from time to time are a recipe for power surges.
Well, UPS systems employ various mechanisms to protect against spikes. Some of the mechanisms include regulating the incoming voltage, the use of inbuilt surge protectors, and having backup batteries.
Get to understand the concept of a power surge in detail through this article, and learn the protection mechanisms that allow UPS systems to handle surges effectively.
Understanding Power Surges
A power surge occurs when the current flowing through an electric circuit increases abruptly beyond the set maximum. Your home or office may experience a power surge due to numerous reasons.
Short Circuits
As the name suggests, an electric short circuit occurs when the current follows the shortest route. Normally, current flows from the source to the appliance through the live terminal. The current then flows back to the source via the neutral terminal to complete the circuit.
So, if the live wire happens to get into contact with the neutral wire before reaching the target appliance, the current bypasses the appliance and flows back to the source through the neutral terminal, and this creates a short circuit.
You should note that short circuits usually force large amounts of current to flow to the ground via the earth terminal. In such cases, the amount of power flowing through your circuit increases, causing a surge to occur.
Lightning Strikes
Lightning strikes are common during the rainy seasons and may cause surges in two different ways. First, the current from lightning can hit exposed connections within your wiring system leading to the flow of very high voltage. The sudden rise in voltage levels constitutes a power surge.
Besides striking the exposed connections, lightning may generate a lot of current in the wires through induction and your UPS should better be in a position to handle it, or your components will likely experience some serious destruction.
Electrical Overloads
An electrical overload is a situation in which a power source cannot adequately provide power to your appliances. Overloads are also experienced when switching on devices that require an extremely high starting current.
So, if you turn on an appliance that takes up lots of power during start-up, more current flows in the system leading to surges that can result in losses worth thousands of dollars.
Power Outages And Spikes
Many people wonder if power outages can cause surges, and we understand them because such a possibility sounds really weird. Well, the truth is that when power goes out, the voltage in electrical circuits drops rapidly, causing spikes to occur.
The other consideration is during power restoration. We find that the utility grid tends to come back at voltages higher than normal immediately after restoration. Such surges may destroy most electrical devices in your home or office unless appropriate protection measures are in place.
Potential Damage Caused By Power Surges
Depending on the extent, power surges can cause varied damages to your electrical system, some of which include:
Harm To Electrical Devices
Most electrical appliances have been designed to tolerate power within a set voltage range. That means if power drops below the minimum, your devices won't work at all, or they will run but not correctly. Excessive voltage, on the other hand, will damage your appliances and force you to repair them if possible or even just do a total replacement.
Data Loss And Corruption
Data losses may occur due to a surge if you're operating power-sensitive appliances such as computers. Data loss is one of the worst surge-related destructions because, unlike others, you can't recover or fix lost information easily. The same would apply to data that has been corrupted as a result of very high power flowing in the circuit.
Reduced Lifespan Of Appliances
Voltage surges cause an excessive amount of electrical energy to flow through your system. Power that's higher than the maximum set level strains your device components, at least if it doesn't damage them. In such situations, the cooling mechanisms, such as fans, will get overworked, thus limiting the overall lifespan of your electrical appliances.
What Exactly Is a UPS System?
An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system is a unit whose components work together to maintain a steady supply of electricity to your residence or workplace.
UPS systems process the power from the utility grid by regulating the voltage if necessary and eliminating electrical noises, if it has, before feeding it to your wiring system. Moreover, UPS units ensure that power remains available even during outages.
However, the emergence of more sophisticated electrical appliances and the discovery of Alternating Current (AC) demanded more reliable and efficient UPS systems. This gave birth to the present, modern, and more advanced UPS systems that use pure sine wave technology.
Brief History Of UPS Systems
The early forms of UPS systems were used mainly for providing backup when power was not available. As such, they were less complex and did not involve any advanced technology. Another defining feature of the early forms of UPS systems was the production of Direct Current (DC).
With DC, transporting power over long distances was impossible due to potential energy losses. Also, DC could not be stepped up or down to serve various purposes. As a result, the adoption was slow and largely localized.
Types of UPS Systems
So far, your UPS system can fall into any of the below three groups.
Standby UPS
Standby UPS systems primarily provide an alternative power source during interruptions. They don't have voltage regulation capabilities and, therefore, offer no protection to electrical devices. Standby UPS solutions are ideal for small-scale use, for example, at home or inside a small office.
Line-Interactive UPS
Line-interactive UPS units are more advanced and reliable than their standby counterparts. They control the amount of power entering your place and produce a more refined and stable output. Line-interactive power backups also act as alternative power sources in case your area experiences outages. They are suitable for medium-sized business premises.
Online (Double Conversion)UPS
Online or double conversion UPS systems are the best overall, with more advanced features, top-notch power output, and the ability to serve larger business organizations. They take in AC (Alternating Current) from the utility grid, convert it to DC (Direct Current), and then back to AC.
The resultant clean and stable power is then supplied to your electrical appliances. Online UPS units offer the highest protection to electrical devices and handle surges more effectively.
Mechanisms Of Protection In UPS Systems
Power surges were a major challenge back in the days when technology was not as advanced as it is today. UPS systems employ the following mechanisms to contain surges.
Voltage Regulation
The UPS systems in the market nowadays are more than what your eyes can see. The units come packed with several safety features to offer you the best experience while maintaining the safety of your appliances.
Through automated voltage regulation, UPS systems can detect when the incoming power is too much for your devices to handle and then lower it to the desired levels before letting it into your electrical wiring.
Similarly, a UPS unit would detect if the incoming voltage is below the specified range and then steps it up accordingly for better performance. This prevents any possibility of surges and keeps your appliances safe.
Surge Suppression
Manufacturers understand how destructive power surges can be, and therefore, they have designed highly reliable safety components such as metal oxide varistors (MOVs) and integrated them into UPS systems.
Such surge protectors can detect if the power is too high in your electrical system and then dump the excess to the ground via the earth terminal. Discharging excess power from the system protects appliances from damage and makes them durable.
Battery Backup
The battery is among the primary components of your UPS unit. It gets recharged using power from the mains supply when there's no blackout. In the event of an outage, it's the battery that supplies current to the inverter that converts it to AC for use in your electrical system.
It is crucial when it comes to protecting your devices against power surges. For example, when an outage occurs, the battery facilitates a smooth transition to an alternative power source, thereby minimizing the chances of a spike. The battery also prevents data loss by avoiding a total outage or by allowing people to save their current work.
Filtering And Noise Reduction
Electrical noise is an electromagnetic disturbance that develops around electrical cables transporting power with inconsistent characteristics. Electrical noise is harmful to any nearby sensitive devices and would seriously damage them over time if not well managed.
Luckily, all modern UPS systems use pure sine wave technology. A pure sine wave is a true game changer because it ensures the UPS backups produce clean power with very little electrical noise. The enhanced power quality and minimal noise keep surges out of the system.
Takeaway
UPS systems effectively protect electrical devices against power surges. Although this may not be their primary function, such advantages are critical for the safe use of electronics and justify the UPS as valuable and significant as buying a laptop.
Most people think UPS is useful in office environments and IT-related projects. Finally, you’ll acknowledge that your home appliances deserve to function with a UPS in place. Get yourself one to keep your electrical devices intact and lasting a lifetime.
