Summary: In the event of a power failure, the most common UPS mechanisms used are those that can be conveniently placed next to your desktop PC. However they do not provide the ideal protection against brownouts and spikes. This is the reason why you need to have a proper UPS system that can supply energy as well as shield your PC.
During an unexpected power failure a UPS system will have the ability to transform AC power from the main source to DC power that is stored in the battery and then back again to the AC power meaning your equipment stays connected. This type of UPS system not only is able to provide an uninterrupted power supply but can give complete security against spikes and brownouts.
UPS systems generally refer to more than one UPS working in conjunction with another UPS, thereby providing superfluous energy and better security to equipments. Power is stored in the UPS system in batteries, most common of which are the lead acid batteries that can last anywhere from 4 to 5 years.
The capacity of these UPS power supplies is determined by the usage requirement that can be evaluated by the number of equipments that will ultimately use its power source. In order to maintain the system and to ascertain proper service times it is essential to scrutinise it at regular intervals. After all, it’s supporting a vast number of pieces of equipment.
However, the UPS systems cannot provide unlimited power and maybe restricted to a provision of energy for say a few days or probably a week. A generator is therefore a necessity for backup purposes. The uninterrupted power supply is provided to a vast number of equipments by the two working together; this safeguards them from disruptions like brownouts and spikes.
There are three types of UPS systems available that include on-line, line interactive and standby UPS systems. The least expensive UPS system is the ’standby UPS’, it provides upto 20 minutes protection. However, it consists of rudimentary attributes offering only surge defence and backup energy. Due to the fact that this does not have the potential to self-test or the ability to monitor, it makes it very vulnerable to any sudden unexpected power surges. They cannot hence be considered a reliable option for your equipments.
Apart from the fact it has the ability to control the output electrical energy of the transformer by adding and minusing power coils from an autotransformer, the line interactive UPS is very similar to the standby UPS. Low voltage brownouts along with high voltage surges can be withheld by this. Although similar in technology the on-line UPS is more costly than the other two UPS systems, due to the fact that it has an advanced cooling system and a more powerful charger.
With its’ protective electric firewall between the inward bound energy and the vulnerable equipment, the on-line UPS system scores high in comparison to that of the standby and the line interactive UPS systems. If you are considering buying a UPS system, then this is a more feasible option.