How To Choose The Right UPS

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How To Choose The Right UPS

UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply and is a device that protects connected appliances against power problems and provides emergency power when the primary power source is lost. The emergency power gives you time to save unfinished work and properly shut down any attached appliances (computer, television, etc.) hence taking away risks of potential damage. If you are thinking about purchasing a UPS for personal use or for your business, here are some things to keep in mind to ensure a good purchase:

What types of UPS are there?
There are 3 general categories of UPS systems: standby/off-line, on-line and line-interactive. These UPSs meet enterprise and consumer needs.

Standby/off-line
The standby UPS is the most common type used for desktop computers, modems, and other hardware. Once the power goes out, the UPS will then go on to use its internal battery to power any attached appliances.

On-line
In a double conversion online UPS, the batteries are always connected to the battery-to-AC power converter (inverter), so no power transfer switches are necessary. The main advantage of an on-line UPS is its ability to provide an electrical firewall between the incoming utility power and sensitive electronic equipment.

Line-interactive
The line interactive UPS is the most common design used for small business, web, and departmental servers. When the input power fails, the transfer switch opens and the power flows from the battery to the UPS output. With the inverter always on and connected to the output, this design provides additional filtering and yields reduced switching transients when compared with the standby UPS topology.

Why do you need a UPS?
Due to unexpected power problems like power outages, voltage spikes, surges, and brownouts, your electronic devices are constantly at risk for damage and failure. Unexpected power problems not only affect on a personal level but a company level as well. You can prevent your business from suffering losses during downtime by purchasing the right UPS to protect your appliances from power disruptions. As aforementioned, another reason why UPSs are handy is that they save you from the frustration that comes with losing precious data.

What size UPS do you need?
Every UPS has its own capacity. If you want to connect a number of devices to a UPS, it is recommended that you calculate the total capacity of your equipment. Based on this total you can determine what kind of UPS you need. A UPS must always work efficiently. To run your UPS efficiently, the load on it must be between 60% and 80%. For example, if you purchase a Back-UPS with 1000VA, the devices connected to this UPS must have a total capacity of no more than 60% – 80% of 1000VA. This is so that your UPS is not overloaded.

What are the basic factors you must take into account when purchasing a UPS?
When purchasing a UPS there are a few basic factors you must take into account to ensure you make the right purchase:

  • What connection voltage do you have at home or in your company (110/220)?
  • What is the power capacity of the appliances you will be connecting to your UPS?
  • What type of appliances will you be connecting to your UPS?
  • What type of power sockets do you have at home or in the office?
  • What type of power sockets do the appliances have that you want to connect to your UPS (European or American)?

What are some other features UPSs possess?
Some other features APC’s UPS possess apart from providing back up power during power outages are:

  • User-Replaceable Batteries – Increases availability by allowing trained users to perform battery upgrades and replacements.
  • Building Wiring Fault Indicator – LED indicator that informs users of potentially dangerous wiring problems in wall circuits.
  • Predictive Failure Notifications – Provide early-warning fault analysis, ensuring proactive component replacement.
  • Plug-and-Play External Batteries – Ensure clean, uninterrupted power when adding extra runtime to a UPS.
  • Scalable Runtime – Allows additional runtime as needed via external battery packs.

Where should you place your UPS?
When installing a UPS, it’s important to take into account where you’ll be placing it. The UPS should not be placed closely to open windows or in places that have high amounts of moisture. It also shouldn’t be placed in places that are dusty because the ventilation of the UPS at the front, side or rear should not be blocked.

Where can you get your APC UPS?
ICS is now the only Authorized Distributor and Authorized SWAP Center for APC by Schneider Electric in Suriname. Find out what this new status means for you as a consumer here. You can get your authentic APC UPS at ICS or any one of our trusted resellers listed below:

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