A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is a backup power device that provides support when your equipment suffers voltage drops or a power outage. The UPS automatically switches to battery power, ensuring your equipment continues to operate and preventing data loss.
Diesel generators provide vital support for residential, commercial, and industrial operations. They work by offering prime or standby power in remote locations without electricity or during a power outage and are known for their durability and reliability.
Areas that experience regular outages or unstable grids can pair their diesel generator with a UPS, ensuring ongoing power. The combination provides vital protection for sensitive electrical equipment while reducing downtime and ensuring essential services can continue.
Investing in a UPS for your generator can prevent operational downtime and maintain productivity. The UPS stores energy in its internal batteries, which means you can benefit from instant electricity for critical systems while the generator switches on and powers up.
UPS systems work by providing immediate power support during outages, but they also regulate voltage to protect sensitive equipment. By storing energy in internal batteries, UPS systems power connected devices even when you lose access to mains power.
When you can access mains power, the UPS will take a background role, ensuring its internal batteries are continuously charged.
Online UPS systems undergo a double conversion process: They change AC to DC, which charges the battery, and then convert it back to AC, ensuring your equipment is powered.
If a power cut occurs, the UPS will instantly switch to battery power and ensure your devices keep running. In most cases, this switch happens within two to ten milliseconds.
UPS systems typically have a short backup time, but it’s enough for the diesel generator to power up or for your systems to shut down safely.
When your power returns, the UPS will revert to its main function and recharge the battery. It also ensures your connected devices continue to benefit from stable power, reducing fluctuations and offering surge protection.
There are three main types of UPS systems, each supporting different applications. Understanding the differences is essential, as choosing the right UPS ensures reliable power.
A standby or offline UPS system is the most basic option, but it offers a range of benefits for homes and offices. It works by automatically activating when a voltage drop or power cut occurs, switching to battery backup power in milliseconds.
Investing in a standby UPS can save money and ensure you don’t lose critical systems during an outage if you have small office equipment or a home computer.
If you’re looking for ongoing support, live-interactive UPS systems can protect against voltage fluctuations.
An (AVR) automatic voltage regulator will adjust voltages without needing to switch to battery power, making it a valuable investment for offices, servers, and network equipment that require consistent power.
An online or double conversion UPS is the most advanced option, as it offers continuous power through AC/DC conversion. If you need backup power for a hospital, data centre, or any other environment where even a small amount of downtime can be damaging, these systems are wise investments.
While UPS systems are an investment, many would agree that they’re well worth it, thanks to each system’s benefits. These benefits include long-term protection, preventing operational downtime and ensuring safety when operating powerful equipment.
An Online UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is connected in line with your server and protects your IT equipment and systems when power is lost. In the unfortunate event of a mains failure, the UPS will automatically transfer your equipment to its internal or external batteries until power is restored.
Your UPS will backup your servers for a period of time, allowing other protective actions to take place, such as saving work or making essential communications, before power is lost.
Sometimes, a UPS is combined with a standby generator, keeping your systems online while the generator starts and transfers power to your building.
A line-interactive UPS will monitor the quality of your mains power and automatically transfer your load onto batteries if surges or irregularities occur. This protects your servers from damage caused by the main supply.
When investing in a UPS, choosing the right option for your needs is essential. Here are the key factors you should consider:
Keeping your UPS healthy ensures your business is, too. By practising regular maintenance, you can benefit from peace of mind and avoid expensive repairs. We recommend following these best practices:
We provide complete uninterruptible power supply service. At Solent Power, we specialise in keeping your home or business running. Whether you’re looking for a new UPS system for your diesel generator or need help determining the best support for your current setup, our specialists can help.
As an authorised distributor, we refuse to compromise on quality and offer reputable brands like AEG UPS.
CONTACT US TODAY TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS
We offer an extensive range of UPS (uninterruptible power supply) systems to serve our customers’ needs. We supply various brands of UPS to suit your requirements and budgets.
Our qualified and experienced electrical engineers can also install your new UPS (uninterruptible power supply), and you can trust that Solent Power will ensure your system is safe and compliant.
We offer site power surveys nationwide to help you understand your UPS requirements and help you with what size UPS you need.
As authorised distributors for leading UPS brands such as AEG UPS, we have the trust and support of UPS manufacturers to provide outstanding service for you!
The duration that your UPS will provide power is known as its ‘UPS automation’. Your UPS’s automation depends on factors such as battery capacity, load size, and power factor. Other considerations that affect how long your UPS will last include battery age and condition, operating temperatures, and efficiency.
A UPS system is common in commercial applications, providing battery backup and power supplies for computers and IT systems.
Smaller devices or entry-level units can simply plug into the outlets in your building and have their own protected outlets on the rear of the unit. These types of units are readily available for purchase in stock in the UK.
If more power or a larger capacity unit is required, this will usually be fulfilled with an industrial three-phase UPS system. These are common for businesses with larger output requirements and large amounts of data and systems to protect, such as data centres.
Your UPS system size or power capacity is rated in kVA and is calculated by determining the maximum load of all the equipment and services needed to power your UPS output.
Always factor in the power factor of your UPS device and loads to allow for losses. You will almost always need to oversize to accommodate this. Contact us for advice or to book a site survey.
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