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Electricity is not just a want; it’s a necessity, which has led to the creation of several devices that can alleviate concerns about sudden blackouts. You can use an uninterrupted power supply or inverter to avoid losing important data or getting stuck without electricity. While they solve similar problems, they serve different purposes when an outage strikes.
Learn how they differ so you select the most appropriate solution for your devices and appliances when grid power goes out.
What Is a UPS?
A UPS, or uninterrupted power supply, eliminates or minimises the interruption of a grid outage. UPS systems are typically connected to computers to provide sufficient energy that allows users to save their data and correctly shut down the computer when a sudden blackout happens.
They’re not meant to be long-lasting solutions and usually only supply power for 10-15 minutes. They’re only intended to avoid damage to delicate electronics and ensure proper shutdown can occur.
UPS are made up of a rectifier, which converts AC into DC energy and charges the battery. The battery is then connected to an inverter, which converts the DC into AC energy. Finally, a controller helps manage how the system functions.
How Does UPS Work?
A UPS can provide a seamless and uninterrupted supply when it has energy storage since electrical service will not be available when a blackout strikes. As mentioned above, a UPS usually stores energy using batteries and a charge controller.
It also requires an instant and automatic reaction to a sudden lack of electric grid connection. This immediate transition keeps the devices connected to the UPS running to protect essential data and information when grid issues arise.
UPSs can be used at home but are also commonly seen in large industrial settings, such as data centres, which hold vast amounts of critical data.
UPS Applications
UPS’s primary function is to reduce the interruption of blackouts by creating a smooth transition to an alternative power source. It can’t serve as a long-lasting energy source and is only meant to operate for a few minutes—just enough time to save what matters most.
For example, you can use the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel to integrate your EcoFlow DELTA Pro into your home’s electric panel as a UPS when an outage hits. It will immediately switch to your ten integrated circuits and start drawing electricity from the EcoFlow DELTA Pro.
UPS are helpful in both residential/domestic and industrial settings. At home, they can help you save work progress before initiating a proper computer shutdown. In more extensive commercial settings, they can protect vast data collections and prevent large-scale system issues.
What Is an Inverter?
An inverter provides usable electricity for electronic devices. Its principal function is converting DC energy into usable AC power. Technically, it also takes AC power from a main supply and uses a rectifier to convert it into DC, but this is only used to charge the inverter’s battery.
Household systems require AC energy, so the inverter converts the battery’s DC power into AC so your electronic devices or appliances can use it. When a blackout happens, an inverter no longer receives AC energy and uses its battery supply to create usable AC power for essential electrical equipment.
Its primary use is providing additional electricity support when a blackout occurs, and it can supply power for several hours.
How Does an Inverter Work?
The inverter doesn’t generate or store electricity but converts DC power to AC power. It only works if connected to a DC power source, such as an EcoFlow Portable Power Station. They are rated by power, and residential systems usually have a rated power of 10kW or below.
They also require a specific voltage range and flowing current from both DC and AC ends. That being said, for an inverter to work correctly, you’ll need to find the right size for your home to ensure it can satisfy your energy needs.
Inverter Applications
Inverters are most commonly used at home in residential settings as an alternative power source for grid outages. Inverters transform DC energy into usable AC energy, but they are not an electricity source on their own. They must be connected to a battery, portable power station, or generator for sustained energy.
For example, EcoFlow’s Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is an inverter generator that uses propane or gasoline fuel. It can be paired with the EcoFlow DELTA Max or EcoFlow DELTA Pro to create a hybrid generator that combines an inverter LFP battery storage and fuel operation, converting DC energy to usable AC power.
Another example of an inverter application is the EcoFlow Powerstream Microinverter, which stores excess DC energy from the daytime in a battery and gives it back to you as usable AC energy whenever you need it, such as at night or on cloudy days.
It integrates seamlessly with your home electrical system and refrains from supplying AC energy if it notices that an outage has occurred to prioritise your safety.
What Are the Differences Between a UPS and an Inverter?
The most obvious differences between a UPS and an inverter are their duration and intended function, but there’s more that sets these two power solutions apart.
Function
The bottom line is that a UPS is a temporary power solution that allows for the safe preservation of data and work before shutting electronics down during blackouts, while an inverter is a long-term power solution that must be connected to a power source to convert DC energy into usable AC power during blackouts.
Backup Duration
As previously mentioned, a UPS can only provide backup power for a few minutes, usually no more than 15 minutes. On the other hand, an inverter can provide energy for an extended period, depending on the amount of stored energy available in the power source, such as a portable power station or generator.
An inverter can provide electricity for as long as necessary from a renewable power source such as a solar generator.
Switch Over Time
The primary benefit of a UPS is its immediate switch over time. It says it right there in the name—it’s uninterrupted. A UPS that works properly will immediately switch to the reserved power to avoid voltage fluctuations or sudden shut-downs that can damage equipment and cause data loss.
Inverters require a longer switch over time. It’s still quick, usually between 300 and 500 milliseconds, but it can’t compare to the UPS switch, which is essentially nonexistent.
Types
There are only two types of inverters: stand-alone inverters and grid-tied inverters. Grid-tied inverters convert energy from the grid into usable AC energy, while stand-alone inverters require an independent power source, such as a portable power station.
On the other hand, there are multiple types of UPS systems. Offline, online, line interruptive, and standby UPS systems all exist. Offline UPS systems have the longest transfer time, line-interactive systems are faster, and online UPS systems have no transfer time.
Offline systems only switch to battery power when there’s a grid failure, while online UPS systems double-convert AC input into DC power and then back to AC power to keep the load running. Line-interactive systems redirect the battery’s DC energy when it experiences an outage.
Connection
UPS devices are connected directly to the appliances you want to protect and preserve and use their own battery, while inverters are connected to a battery and the designated appliances. Inverters require both connections to work.
Abnormality Protection
UPS protect against abnormalities in electricity, such as voltage fluctuations, while inverters simply relay electricity when a power failure occurs without monitoring for fluctuations in the electricity.
Cost
UPS is much cheaper because it doesn’t provide electricity anywhere near as long as an inverter can. Inverters are more costly but can offer extended backup time and be used in more applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
A UPS isn’t designed to be used as an inverter. It’s only meant to provide short-lasting power that enables a safe shutdown. However, you can use a UPS as an inverter by connecting it to a battery as the power source.
Both play crucial roles when trying to protect your lifestyle from load shedding. A UPS is vital in protecting critical data and allowing for safe computer shutdown, while an inverter can provide sustained power during load-shedding blackouts. Using both, you can protect your electronics and continue using electricity during outages.
Final Thoughts
Inverters and UPSs can be valuable additions to any home that faces recurring outages or load shedding, like many residents in South Africa. A UPS can protect your data and work progress, allowing you to safely shut down your electronics in the face of sudden or scheduled outages.
An inverter can sustain you with energy through extended blackouts but can’t provide you with immediate protection. By leveraging the strengths of both UPSs and EcoFlow’s Inverter Generators, you can avoid electronic damage and continue using power even during grid blackouts.