The task of the UPS is to provide continuous power to the connected device, even if there is a power outage in the network or its large fluctuations occur. You can find various types of such power supplies on the market, so you can easily choose a model that suits the parameters and needs of the powered device.
UPS is an abbreviation of the English phrase Uninterruptible Power Supply, which simply means an uninterrupted supply of energy. This is the main task of UPS power supplies (e.g. Eaton UPS 5E 650i DIN UPS ). Depending on the capacity of the attached battery, the power supply can provide voltage from several dozen minutes to several hours.
How does a UPS work?
The structure of UPS units is similar regardless of the model. Each of them consists of several basic elements. Belong to them:
- rectifier (input DC voltage converter) – charges the batteries and powers the inverter;
- inverter (output alternating voltage converter) – powers the receiver;
- battery;
- by-pass (bypass system).
See UPS power supplies at the Onninen wholesaler
To describe the principle of operation of a UPS, it should first be emphasized that such a device draws power from two different sources:
- power grid/generator (basic power supply);
- battery (emergency power supply).
When the mains power fails or its parameters are not appropriate, the power supply switches to emergency mode. This means that the inverter starts drawing energy from the battery. However, when the mains power returns, the system starts drawing energy from it again. Typically, such switching between power sources is instantaneous (in milliseconds), which does not interfere with the operation of the connected device. The most popular UPS models provide single-phase 230 V voltage (e.g. Eaton UPS 5E 850i USB DIN UPS ), while three-phase (400 V) power supplies are rare. There are UPS models on the market with built-in batteries or powered by an external battery ( rechargeable battery), which often has to be purchased separately (e.g. Ever Specline W/SPECTO-001K00/00 UPS ).
Types of UPS power supplies
There are different types of UPS available on the market:
- Online – power supply system separated from the input voltage. The alternating voltage from the network is converted into constant voltage in the rectifier, which is then converted into alternating voltage again by the inverter. Thanks to this, the output voltage is very stable and resistant to interference. Unfortunately, such a power supply is usually larger and heavier and requires additional cooling.
- Offline - this time the device connected to the power supply draws power directly from the network, while the UPS batteries are constantly recharged with low current, so they are always ready for use. When mains power is available, only the control system operates in the power supply. When there is no such voltage, the system switches to battery operation mode. This type of power supply is characterized by low operating costs, lower temperature and greater reliability. The defect may be interference that appears at the output when switching from one operating mode to another.
- Line-interactive – an improved Offline version that uses an inverter for mains and battery operation. The output voltage is stabilized.
Where can a UPS be used?
UPS power supplies can be used to provide uninterrupted power to a wide variety of electrical devices. In fact, their use is almost unlimited. You just need to select the appropriate power supply parameters to suit the needs of a given device and the possible emergency power supply time that you want to provide to the connected device. UPSs are most often used to power:
- computer at home or office - emergency power supply allows you to safely save all data on the central units and also allows you to work on the computer for some time;
- devices included in the monitoring system in industrial plants, offices, shops and homes;
- central heating pumps, boilers and furnaces - thanks to this, a network failure does not interrupt heating (e.g. VOLT Polska 3SP100012W power supply);
- medical devices and apparatus in hospitals - turning them off could threaten the life or health of patients;
- various types of office equipment, as well as servers, etc.
UPS brands in Onninen include:
UPS power supplies are often small, compact devices that can be used successfully not only in the office, workplace, but also at home. Thanks to such support, we do not have to worry that important devices will lose power.