UPS is an acronym for uninterruptible Power Supply and it is a type backup power device. There are many UPS brand names to choose from, and it can be confusing to sort through all the claims. UPS devices store electricity in batteries that can be used to discharge the battery through an inverter assembly if the mains power supply is interrupted or lost. They can be either internal or user hot-swappable, or they may be supplied in an external cabinet. The inverter can be set to standby, line interactive or on-line during normal operation.
Standby UPS Units
A standby UPS provides basic power protection when mains power is not available. It normally works by using an EMI/electrical silence filter or surge suppressor. The inverter is turned off and the internal battery is charged. The inverter activates the battery and powers it when the mains power supply goes down. Modern server and computer power supplies can accept a slight drop in the output power. Inverter output waveforms can be square or stepwave. This is suitable for most server power supplies. The size of standby UPS units is typically between 300VA and 1.5kVA.
Load in VA/Watts & Battery Runtime
It can be difficult to estimate the load in Watts or VA. Expert advice is needed and measurements may need to be taken. Although datasheets are useful, they can lead to oversizing because the power supply ratings are given at maximum rather that a true running figure. This is how long it takes for your battery to either run through intermittent power cuts, wait for a local power generator to start, or power your network servers and computer for a prolonged period of time. It could even be several hours.
UPS devices have a longer runtime when the load is lower than full load. This is a benefit when choosing a UPS unit. A single UPS that is larger than the right-sized one may be less expensive than one that has a shorter battery life at full load.
Server and computer shutdown
Many UPS devices have a USB port that can be used to connect to UPS monitoring software or shutdown software on a computer. This allows for alarm messages to be sent and the system to shut down automatically. Online and line interactive UPS allow for a slot in SNMP card which allows for remote monitoring via an IP connection.
MultiLink Engineering is, an independent UPS supplier, can offer the best advice in selecting UPS units for servers and computers. We have the best UPS that keep your servers and computers safe from power blackouts and outages. You don’t have to worry about your systems when you have our UPS.
