Sensitive electronics require thorough protection to prevent causing permanent damage or disruption. An Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS, provides reliable, consistent power when the power grid goes down. Common in computer centers, industrial facilities, and private businesses, these systems are an insurance policy against weather, construction accidents, and other unforeseeable events that can cause power disruptions.

Components of an Uninterruptible Power Supply

UPS systems consist of four primary components. There is the rectifier/charger that produces the DC power that is used to charge the battery and provide a consistent supply of power to the inverter. The inverter generates power so that the UPS delivers a consistent flow of electricity when micro-outages and power spikes occur. There is the battery that provides power during the disruption. However, most batteries only provide power for a few minutes. This is sufficient for most micro-outages, and for longer outages, it provides sufficient time for the power supply to switch over to a secondary power source such as an emergency generator. Finally, there is the static switch. This is a semi-conductor that transfers the load from the inverter towards the utility and back without causing disruption or interruption to the power supply.

Types of Uninterruptible Power Supply

There are three types of UPS systems your business can choose from. Offline/standby UPS systems are basic but effective. These provide surge protection and a short battery backup time. When a disruption occurs, and the incoming voltage drops below or rises above a pre-established level, the UPS system kicks in. These types of systems are most commonly used on personal computers, televisions, and other small devices.

Line-interactive systems operate in much the same way as offline/standby systems. These systems have the additional feature of including a multi-tap variable-voltage autotransformer. This device utilizes a specialized coil that can increase or decrease the magnetic field within the transformer. Line-interactive systems are commonly used in areas where Undervoltage brownouts or overvoltage surges are common. While line-interactive systems have limited battery power, they compensate for this by utilizing different power taps within the autotransformer.

Finally, there are online UPS systems where the batteries are constantly contacted to the inverter When power disruptions occur, the rectifier within an online UPS disconnects the input from the power supply and transfers it to the battery. This keeps the power supply steady and ensures that power fluctuations don't damage sensitive components. While online UPS systems are most commonly used in large facilities, there are a number of modern options that are designed to operate with consumer electrical devices.

Choosing the Right Uninterruptible Power Supply

There are many factors to consider when selecting a UPS system. The first among these is what types of problems you need to protect your equipment against. Specifically, harmonic distortion, frequency variations, line noise, under/over voltage, brownouts, blackouts, and surges. Standby, line-interactive, and online systems all have different capabilities in these regards.

You also need to choose a UPS system that is sufficiently large enough for your power needs. Carefully calculating the load is vital to ensure that the UPS will run as expected when the power goes down. The higher the capacity, the more equipment the UPS can support.

It is also imperative to determine the runtime you require. Do you want a system that will maintain full operation for the duration of the power event? Do you need power for just long enough for the backup generator to turn on? Or, do you need just enough time to turn devices off and disconnect them until the power returns to normal?

We encourage you to contact Wistex at (800) 726-7307 for more information about the products we offer that can keep your equipment operational. It is our pleasure to answer your questions and help you identify the ideal uninterruptible power supply. You can depend on our team to address your needs and protect you against power outages and other disruptions.