The stability of the operation of computers and many other devices - both household and those used in production - depends on whether the power supply from the mains to which the devices are connected is uninterrupted. In the event that the electricity supply is intermittent, a situation may arise in which a UPS is indispensable. What is the purpose of these devices? Based on what criteria should you choose uninterruptible power supplies for PCs and other types of equipment?
Should I buy a UPS?
Before considering how to choose a UPS, it is useful to decide whether it makes sense in principle to purchase an uninterruptible power supply. So, if we are talking about the need only to stabilize the voltage in the network, then other, more affordable devices can be used for this - for example, special surge protectors.
But if there is a need to ensure the functioning of the device during power outages, then you can’t do without a UPS. Of course, if the device has a reliable built-in battery - the need for a sourceuninterruptible power supply and in this case may be absent.
UPS purchases are a significant cost item for large enterprises. At the same time, managers may face a variety of questions: how to choose the best uninterruptible power supply, which battery to choose for a UPS for a computer, an industrial device, an element of a heating infrastructure.
UPS classification
In accordance with the approach common among specialists, UPSs are classified into the following main types:
- reserve;
- line-interactive;
- Online class UPS.
Let's consider their features in more detail.
Standby UPS
Standby UPSs are primarily designed for applications where a device powered by an electrical outlet needs to be kept operational during regular power outages. This UPS is enough, in particular, to ensure the operation of the computer - for example, if necessary, while there is no electricity, save a file or complete the game. Many experts advise users who are thinking about how to choose a UPS to pay attention to the peculiarity of many models of devices of the corresponding type: they do not have stabilizing elements. This means that there will be a small power outage when the computer is switched to standby power.
Line Interactive UPS
Line-interactive UPSs are highly resistant to surgesvoltage. To which, in turn, backup devices are sensitive. Line-interactive devices have a number of features, they should also be considered when considering how to choose a UPS. So, these devices can generate network interference that enters the public network. In addition, the corresponding type of device is characterized by a rather high noise level, which makes it difficult to place them in residential areas. But, one way or another, their main advantage - resistance to voltage surges, makes the corresponding UPSs in demand.
UPS class online
UPS type online have, according to experts, the highest resistance to power surges. In addition, they do not create network interference. Thus, they do not have the disadvantages that characterize other types of UPSs that we have discussed above. However, the corresponding devices are much more expensive. In addition, it should be borne in mind that in some cases they are inferior to backup and line-interactive ones in terms of energy efficiency.
There are other criteria for classifying the devices in question. In many cases, the question - how to choose a UPS, should be considered in the context, first of all, of the equipment for which the corresponding device is purchased. So, the characteristics of a UPS adapted for a PC can differ significantly from those of a device designed, for example, to connect to a gas boiler. The fact is that this device is designed to ensure the functioning of the corresponding equipment as a complex infrastructure component of the system.heat supply.
Therefore, choosing a UPS for gas boilers based on this feature can be difficult: in particular, a detailed study of the power indicators of devices and their compatibility with specific types of technological infrastructure will be required.
UPS power as a device selection criterion
Thus, power is one of the key criteria for choosing an uninterruptible power supply. It is measured in Volt-Amps or VA. If necessary, they can be converted to watts. To do this, the indicator in volt-amperes must be multiplied by 0.6.
The power requirement of the UPS depends on the device to which it is supposed to be connected. For example, if the question is how to choose a UPS for a computer, then you should focus on an uninterruptible power supply with a capacity of at least 500 volt-amperes. A device designed to ensure the functioning of a gas boiler must have an incomparably greater power. In turn, if you need a UPS for a refrigerator - how to choose it, of course, consultants can always tell you when purchasing the appropriate type of equipment, but the buyer should have guidelines for the parameters of the device in question - then its power will be closer to that which still characterizes the UPS for PC.
The next most important criterion for choosing a device is its battery life in the absence of electricity.
Battery life
The parameter under consideration is most often expressed in minutes, sometimes in hours. If the question is - how to choose a UPS forat home, you can pay attention to those solutions that provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity for about 5-7 minutes. As a rule, this time is enough to perform the necessary operations with the computer. However, if we consider a refrigerator, then, obviously, a significantly longer autonomous operation of the device will be required. In principle, turning off the refrigerator for 5-7 minutes is not critical, and in this case it is not even necessary to connect a UPS to it. But if such outages are regular or significantly longer, then an uninterruptible power supply will be needed, and it should work significantly longer than the specified time - for example, about 20 minutes.
The next most important criterion for choosing a UPS is the number of devices that can be connected to the corresponding device.
Choose a UPS: the number of connected devices
Uninterruptible power supplies are most often equipped with a number of outlets from 1 to 8. Which UPS should you choose considering devices with a different number of outlets?
The answer here will not always be obvious. The fact is that experts advise paying attention not only to this indicator, but also to the quality characteristics of sockets. So, among them there may be those that have increased immunity from interference in the electrical network, and there may be ordinary ones. If a UPS is chosen for a computer, then you can buy a device that has about 4-6 outlets, and it is not necessary to have surge-protected ones among them. UPS for more powerful devices may already require special outlets.
Features of the electrical network as a criterion for choosing a UPS
The next most important criterion for choosing a UPS is the features of the electrical network operating in the building or room in which uninterruptible power supplies are installed. So, if the network works without failures, then, probably, the user will not need to purchase expensive devices that have the appropriate security.
UPS selection: nuances
Let's consider a number of nuances that characterize the choice of an uninterruptible power supply.
It is desirable that the UPS ensures that the device switches to battery power in no more than 10 milliseconds. Only in this case the computer will continue to function fully - for example, in the mode of launching a game or editing a document. But it is worth noting that most modern models of backup uninterruptible power supplies meet this criterion.
True, if power outages are too frequent, then the battery installed in the UPS may experience excessive load. In this case, quite soon the user may need to solve another problem - how to choose a battery for a UPS, the cost of which is not always affordable. In this case, it may be worthwhile to consider purchasing a line-interactive UPS. These devices are usually equipped with a voltage regulator that operates in automatic mode. An uninterruptible power supply of an appropriate type can, by transferring the device to which it is disconnected, to the battery,adjust the output voltage if the voltage in the network increases or decreases.
In turn, if you need to ensure the highest possible stability of the system to the appearance of problems in the network, it is better to focus on more expensive, but at the same time technological UPS of the online type.
The choice of UPS by power: the nuances
Choosing the UPS power that is optimal for ensuring the operation of the device is a task, the solution of which is also characterized by a number of nuances.
So, experts advise purchasing uninterruptible power supplies that have a capacity of about 30% higher than that of the device to which the UPS is supposed to be connected. In the case of computers, this is due to the fact that PCs sometimes reach a power significantly higher than that corresponding to the average load on the device - for example, due to heavy use of the processor.
It may well be that the user may need to install a more powerful hardware component in the computer's system unit - for example, a cooling system or a video card. This hardware upgrade can significantly increase the overall power of a system connected to an uninterruptible power supply.
Another criterion that should be considered when deciding how to choose a UPS for a computer in terms of power is the number of additional devices that are supposed to be used simultaneously with the PC in offline mode. So, for example, this may be a printer: it is quite possible that when the power is turned offcomputer, the user will need to not only save, but also print the document. If the printer works simultaneously with a PC, especially when it comes to printing a large number of pages in a row, then the total system power can jump by an order of magnitude. This is where the indicated backup of the uninterruptible power supply comes in handy.
Selecting a UPS by battery life: the nuances
As a rule, it takes about 5 minutes for a user to save documents and even complete key operations with programs. Therefore, if there is no objective task of working with files, which requires a lot of time, then there is no need to buy uninterruptible power supplies that provide autonomy for the above 20 minutes or more. At the same time, it is quite possible to choose a good UPS, albeit not designed for long battery life, at a very affordable price, from a branded manufacturer.
UPS selection: software
Another noteworthy criterion, according to which an uninterruptible power supply can be selected, is the equipment of this device with functional software. The fact is that the situations in which users most often need to use the UPS are quite typical. If the device to which the uninterruptible power supply is connected is a PC, then its operation, as a rule, is accompanied by the need to quickly save files. Many manufacturers of relevant devices implement similar data protection algorithms at the firmware level.
The advantage of such solutions may lie in the fact that the files will be saved, in accordance with the program, even if the user for some reason will not be at the computer. In many cases, UPSs are also equipped not only with sockets, but also with connectors for connecting peripheral devices - for example, those that are powered by a USB cable. Some uninterruptible power supplies are adapted to protect network equipment and other devices that operate using technological interfaces.
UPS selection: controls
Another important criterion that you can focus on when considering which UPS to choose is the convenience of managing the device. In principle, the user should not have any particular difficulties in bringing the device to operational readiness, and, if necessary, in turning it off, replacing the battery, and conducting simple diagnostics. Many devices of the corresponding type are equipped with quite informative built-in displays, which can reflect various parameters of the device. For example - voltage level in the network, power, consumed system.
In addition, manufacturers of uninterruptible power supplies can also supply the market with specialized software that will allow the user to receive the same data, and many others, directly on the PC screen. And this will be another aspect of the convenience of managing the device, which you can pay attention to when choosing the optimal model of an uninterruptible power supply.
UPS selection: battery replacement
An important, according to many experts, criterion for choosing a UPS is the ability to change batteries in it. It happens that the user needs to quickly replace the battery. For example, if power surges are very often observed in the network, while the device may not be designed to operate in such conditions. Therefore, it is desirable that the owner of the equipment to which the uninterruptible power supply is connected has the opportunity to relatively easily purchase an average computer store and install new batteries in the UPS.
UPS selection: manufacturers
So, we now know how to choose the right UPS. But many users make decisions about the purchase of the corresponding devices, focusing on the manufacturer. The most popular brands that produce uninterruptible power supplies include:
-APC;
- HELIOR;
- Huawei;
- CyberPower;
- Powercom;
- BASTION.
Each of these manufacturers produces competitive and popular equipment - reviews of experts and users can confirm this. Based on the opinions present on thematic portals, it is difficult to objectively identify the best and worst examples of UPS. One way or another, focusing on these brands, in most cases, the user will be able to find a device that is suitable both in terms of functionality and cost.
