Choosing a UPS may seem complex, but with a little knowledge about the types available and the elements to consider before purchasing, the experience becomes interesting. Below, we provide the information users need to select the one that best suits their needs.
What is a UPS and what is it for?
The first thing to know is what a UPS is and what it is for. UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply. It is a device that, in case of electrical failures, blackouts, or voltage fluctuations, ensures the continuous power supply to connected equipment: computers, modems, game consoles, routers, servers, and communication devices in general.
It serves as a backup system in any place where critical-use equipment is present, from homes, small businesses, offices, large facilities, and corporations to Data Centers. It is becoming increasingly necessary in daily life, particularly in the current context where remote work, virtual education, and the hobby or profession of gaming are part of everyday life.
Types
Schneider Electric classifies its UPS into three types:
- Standby/Offline: The UPS power supply is through the secondary line (where some electrical protection devices and the filter are located), and the energy goes directly to the load. However, when there is a power cut or high fluctuation, an internal switch in the UPS allows power to the main line where the battery, its charger, and the inverter are located. It has a transfer time of 6 to 8 milliseconds.
This configuration is reserved for low power, such as personal computers or any domestic use device. A product of this type is the Back-UPS BK with models of 500 and 650 VA.
- Line-Interactive: The backup power is always connected to the load but not in the main circuit. The commercial grid powers the load through a secondary circuit, which in turn finds a voltage fluctuation correction in the alternate part of the inverter. When there is an electrical failure, an unexpected power cut, an internal switch activates the main line, the secondary line is isolated, and the battery and the inverter work together. This way, the load is properly backed up. The transfer time is 2 to 6 milliseconds.
This configuration is ideal for moderately critical applications that can be perfectly backed up.
A product of this type is the Smart-UPS SMT, designed for IT managers or network administrators of small and medium-sized businesses, network racks, and server rooms, as well as points of sale, switches, and routers. It provides intelligent and efficient energy protection for business networks with standard and scalable runtime. It can be mounted in a rack or tower. It has advanced additional features such as automatic extended range voltage regulation (30% voltage increase without using the battery), battery replacement notification, configurable and multilingual LCD, and switchable output group.
- Double Conversion Online: The backup power is always connected to the load, which makes the transfer time 0 seconds when switching to batteries. It is double conversion online because the UPS has the alternating current rectification stage and the continuous alternating current inversion stage, and in the central part, there is the central charger attached to the batteries.
When there is a power cut, the batteries automatically start working. This type has a static bypass that allows protecting the UPS from overloads or making a manual bypass if necessary.
This configuration is the most popular, especially for medium or high-power UPS, as it optimizes the quality of the voltage supplied to the load. Therefore, it is suitable for all types of loads, even the most sensitive ones.
The Smart-UPS SRT is a product of this type. It is highly valued for the protection it provides to critical equipment, such as Data Centers. Its power ranges from 1000 to 10000 VA. It is very versatile, as its models are convertible (rack/tower) and can be complemented with external batteries. It has communication cards for powers of 5 kVA and above. It has a multicolor LCD that changes color tone with any change in the equipment and its operation. It has different output sockets. It is ideal for the IT segment.
Elements to Consider When Choosing a UPS
- Voltage based on the characteristics of the equipment to be connected.
- Power depending on the load to be connected.
- Applications for use, from residential, gaming consoles, medium critical load equipment, to Data Centers.
- Autonomy considering the time you want to back up or supply power.
- Additional added values, such as output sockets, monitoring options, types of batteries, types of screens, warranty, and secondary services.
Schneider Electric offers a variety of UPS models to meet their customers' varied needs.
