Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems
What is a UPS/UPS used for?
UPS is the abbreviation for Uninterruptible Power Supply or, by its initials in English, Uninterruptable Power Supply. These devices are specially designed to protect all types of equipment, whether domestic, industrial, or structural, against electrical issues, power outages, and damage caused by the usual fluctuations in mains voltage.
The best-known function of a UPS is to supply electrical power for a certain period of time via its batteries to the equipment connected to the UPS, for example, in the event of a sudden blackout, preventing damage and breakdowns of different kinds. PHASAK UPSs include an Automatic Voltage Regulator or AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator), which ensures output current stability, eliminating harmonics from the mains and providing a constant, stable supply, extending the service life and performance of connected equipment.
What is the difference between Interactive and Online technology?
Over PHASAK’s 25-year history, we have developed and adapted our equipment to the world around us. Problems, devices and, above all, solutions are constantly changing. Today, it can be said that there are three main technologies:
- Offline technology
- Interactive technology
- Online technology
Uninterruptible Power Supply systems with offline technology are the simplest and offer basic protection against blackouts and power supply failures. They do not guarantee current stability and are therefore practically obsolete. In fact, PHASAK no longer offers any models equipped exclusively with this technology.
Interactive UPSs are, by far, the most common in home environments and small offices. Thanks to the built-in AVR system, PHASAK Interactive UPSs are not only used to protect IT equipment, switchboards, or televisions; increasingly, people choose to protect their investments with these safety systems: from home aquariums or streaming setups to freezers and video surveillance systems. The key difference between offline and interactive technology is the presence of AVR, which activates when high or low voltage spikes occur, stabilising the current entering the connected device and acting as a protective barrier against extreme surges or drops, such as those that occur during an electrical storm.
The most advanced systems are Online with True Double Conversion, offering complete and comprehensive protection against power issues. An Online UPS continuously converts the current, not only when voltage spikes occur, making it the ideal solution for critical equipment, mid-sized businesses, and servers.
What is a Three-phase UPS?
These are high-power units used in industrial installations, telecommunications, data centres, or hospitals, among others. PHASAK offers Uninterruptible Power Supply systems with three-phase input and output, and even convertible models, allowing the output to be configured as single-phase.
These units are mainly used in industrial installations, data centres, traffic control, telecommunications, banking, laboratories, broadcasting stations, etc.
How to choose a UPS?
The first thing to be clear about is the objective and the devices or installation you want to protect, as buying a PHASAK UPS to protect a computer or games console, where you are looking for backup time and to extend service life with an Interactive UPS, is not the same as buying one for a mid-sized company’s data centre.
Second, you should calculate the total power you will connect. It is recommended to choose a UPS that provides 20–25% more power than the sum of the watts (W) of the connected equipment. For example, for a 400 W home computer, we would recommend choosing a unit with at least 480 W.
Choosing the power rating and the number of connected devices is directly related to the backup time (or runtime) the UPS will provide in the event of a power outage, as the battery will not discharge at the same rate if it is being used at 30%, 50%, or 90% of its capacity.
Finally, once you know the characteristics of your installation and your objective, all that remains is to choose the model that fits in terms of size, price, and number of sockets.
What does the runtime of connected equipment depend on?
Do they require maintenance?
What is the service life of a UPS?
What warranties do the UPS and the battery have?
