Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Hone your insight into power protection and review the critical component makeup of uninterruptible power supplies to make sure that you protect what counts when it counts. From staging to power ratings, topology, and form factors—if it's UPS-related, we'll help you grow your knowledge. (Powerhouse systems Brisbane)

What is an Uninterruptible Power Supply?

A standby power system, commonly referred to as a UPS system, is generally an electrical device that provides emergency power to a load in the event of utility power failure. Here, the three main functions a UPS system executes are conditioning the incoming 'dirty' power from the utility company to assure you of clean, uninterrupted power, providing backup power to allow graceful system shutdown in the case of complete power loss, and making up for short-term power sags and outages through the battery.

What is the Difference Between Single Phase UPS, Three Phase UPS, and Split Phase UPS?

The phases of a UPS refer to how many electrical phases a UPS inputs and outputs, like a single-phase UPS or a three-phase UPS. Electric utilities generate/distribute three-phase power since three-phase is the best method to send a lot of power over wires across long distances. Also, for larger power users, such as large data centers or industrial manufacturing and hospitals, the power stays three-phase and requires a three-phase UPS. For smaller power users, like residential or office buildings, or most elementary schools, the power is transformed to single-phase power.

Some applications have both single-phase and three-phase equipment and require a UPS that is rated to handle both. A split-phase UPS is typically the best solution for this kind of setup as it can provide both 120V and 208V in simultaneous output.

What Size UPS Do You Need?

UPS devices are rated in voltage-amperes, or VA, ranging from as low as 300 VA to as high as 5000 kVA. This rating shows the maximum load that a UPS can support; it should not, however, correspond exactly to the power load you have. For growth, the best situation is for a UPS whose VA rating is 1.2 times the total load you would want to support. If your UPS is intended for motor support, variable speed drives, medical imaging, or laser printers, add more VA capacity to your requirement to accommodate the high inrush current at turn-on.

Businesses that expect high growth should use a multiple higher than 1.2. Newer server equipment has higher power ratings than their predecessors, so allowing extra VA will accommodate newer equipment.

What are the Different Types of UPS?

UPS systems are categorized according to topology, meaning how the UPS and commercial power interact. The different topologies translate into the overall level of efficiency and reliability you can expect to have in your power supply. The five major types of UPS topologies include:

Standby UPS

The standby UPS lets equipment run on commercial power until the UPS detects a problem, then switches to protecting battery power against brownouts, surges, or interruptions. This topology is best suited for applications requiring simple backup or less sensitive equipment, such as small office/home office and point-of-sale equipment.(Powerhouse systems UPS)

Line-Interactive UPS

This topology is similar to the standby topology, except that it does allow current flow from the DC bus into the inverter when the input voltage is within specification. The line-interactive UPS actively controls voltage-boosting or decreasing commercial power, as needed-before passing it through to the protected equipment or switching to battery power. Line-interactive models are ideal when protection from power anomalies is required but commercial power is relatively clean—rated for MDF and IDF communications cabinets, non-centralized server and network rooms, and general IT cabinets.

Online UPS

Online UPSs offer the best protection since they isolate the equipment from raw commercial power, while changing the power from AC to DC then again back to AC; in this way, it offers zero transfer time to the battery for sensitive equipment, unlike other topologies, since the power is already being provided from the UPS. This topology of double conversion online UPS is applied best, rather with respect to the critical equipment or wherever the power turn outs to be poor or unreliable from the utility. 

Ferroresonant UPS

Ferroresonant UPSs operate much the same as line-interactive UPSs, with an added ferroresonant transformer conditioning the output and producing enough power to bridge across the transition time in switchover from line power to battery power, essentially providing continuous, seamless power. Many ferroresonant UPSs are 82 to 88 percent efficient and offer superior isolation. Although they are not as commonplace as they used to be as a type of UPS, these rugged units still find application in industrial environments such as oil and gas, petrochemical, chemical, utility, and heavy industry.

Multimode UPS

It can thus be said that any business may find a perfect balance of efficiency and protection in multimode UPSs. The two modes into which these UPSs are divided are a high-efficiency power protection eco mode and a premium power protection mode. Now, if the UPS senses any problems in the commercial power, it automatically switches over to one of these modes from another. This can help an organization reduce its operating costs to a substantial amount.

Should I Install a Rack-Mount or Tower-Mount UPS?

Rack-Mount UPS

Rack-mounted UPSs may be mounted in a server rack or on a wall. These are typically single-phase, but Eaton does have some rack-mount UPSs - BladeUPS and Eaton 9PX, Eaton 9PXM-that are three-phase or split-phase UPSs. A rack-mount UPS is perfect for organizations seeking to economize on space by condensing equipment into a rack or enclosure, or by using otherwise wasted wall space. (flat for sell in dhaka)

Tower-Mount UPS

A tower, or standalone form factor, is available for UPSs of almost any size. From small SOHO UPSs to data center UPSs that are too large to fit into a rack, the tower form factor is a desirable method to preserve rack cabinet space or deliver stand-alone UPSs for a distributed power protection architecture.

How Do I Choose the Right UPS?

Choosing a UPS is far more than identifying how big and what form factor you need for your application. The range of optional features an Eaton UPS offers can help you pinpoint the right UPS for your needs, from a family of UPSs protecting your mission-critical equipment to the perfect UPS solution for your specific application.

UPS with Longer Runtime

Most UPSs are fitted with internal batteries to support their electrical loads for 10-15 minutes of runtime. For some applications, however, more battery backup is called for. Extended Battery Modules (EBMs) are additional batteries that connect to a UPS to allow it to be expanded in order to hold more runtime. A UPS can easily add up to an extended runtime of several hours, depending on the level of the total UPS load being used and how many EBMs are connected.

UPS Compatible with Generators

If space allows, pairing a generator with your UPS will ensure that your backup power system gets you through any blackout scenario. When deployed together, the UPS's role at this point is to hold up power for one to five minutes, which is the time it takes for a generator to start up.

Not every UPS is friendly to a generator. In fact, here are six considerations for UPS and generator harmony when choosing a UPS for your generator. next blog