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Want to protect yourself and your sensitive electronics against power outages and brownouts?
If so, you may have heard of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS).
An uninterruptible power supply automatically switches to battery power during a blackout and conditions electricity to avoid minor fluctuations in current — often referred to as brownouts — both of which can be devastating for sensitive equipment like desktop computers, servers, and hard drives.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about a UPS and whether it’s the right option for you.
What Is an Uninterruptible Power Supply?
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS for short, is a device that allows sensitive electronic devices — such as a desktop computer or server — to continue running for a short time – when on-grid power fails.
A UPS is essentially a battery that switches from utility to stored electricity instantaneously — helping protect sensitive systems and allowing you time to shut down a computer manually instead of essentially pulling the plug.
That’s the most common consumer application, but UPSs are also used on a massive scale in hospitals and data centres where even a few seconds of interrupted power can have devastating effects.
Most UPS models made by reputable manufacturers also shield connected devices from fluctuations in current, which can also permanently damage electronics and reduce their lifespan.
How Exactly Does a UPS Work?
A UPS is essentially a battery that kicks in automatically when it detects an interruption in mains electricity.
If a blackout occurs, switchover occurs instantaneously, shielding connected devices from damage.
Most consumer UPS devices only provide backup power for a short period — often 20-30 minutes — offering enough time to manually shut down a computer, server, or hard drive without the potential consequences of an unexpected interruption.
Depending on the AC output and storage capacity, a UPS can protect just one computer or an entire hospital or data centre. In large commercial applications, a UPS prevents surges and allows time for a backup generator to kick in.
What Are the Different Types of UPS Systems?
Not all uninterruptible power supplies offer the same level of protection.
Below, we’ll cover three of the main topologies.
Each delivers different functionality and is best suited for different applications.
Standby UPS
A standby UPS offers basic protection.
When it detects an interruption in utility power, it automatically switches over to battery power.
You plug a standby UPS directly into a wall socket, then plug the devices you wish to protect directly into the unit. Raw mains power passes through the UPS, and the battery and inverter are only used when on-grid power is interrupted.
Unfortunately, that means the electricity passing through a standby UPS is unconditioned. Small variations in current — and brownouts — are not prevented.
Standby UPS models are an inexpensive option for protecting single desktop computers and peripherals. They’re extremely common in home offices.
A typical standby UPS setup might include a unit with three outlets: one for a monitor, one for a CPU, and one for a wi-fi router.
When the power goes out, you’ll have time to shut down your computer and avoid permanent damage or data loss.
Many standby UPS models connect to a computer via USB and can automatically initiate the shutdown process when power is interrupted.
If your setup includes external hard drives that must be plugged in, getting a UPS with enough outlets to accommodate them is a good idea. Hard disks are more or less constantly running in the background. A sudden loss of power can make your valuable data a casualty of blackouts.
Line-Interactive UPS
A line-interactive UPS offers additional protection compared to a standby UPS.
All the power output from the unit passes through its inverter, where a microprocessor monitors the quality of current and smooths out any fluctuations.
Brownouts are far more common than blackouts and can cause significant damage to hard drives and other sensitive electronics. Line-interactive UPSs compensate for fluctuations in current like over and under voltages without switching over to battery power.
By handling fluctuations short of a blackout without relying on battery power, line-interactive UPS models tend to have longer lifespans and greater efficiency.
Online UPS
For data centres and large-scale commercial operations where clean power is a must, an online UPS ensures that electricity reaching connected devices is free of irregularities in current and other types of “noise.”
An online UPS uses “double conversion”. That is, it converts AC power from mains electricity into Direct Current (DC) for battery storage. It then converts DC back to AC to power connected equipment.
This process ensures that not even a millisecond of delay occurs when switching between mains and battery power. An online UPS is overkill for consumer use, but essential to large-scale commercial operations.
What Benefits Do UPS Systems Provide?
The core function of all UPS systems is to provide uninterrupted power during an outage and protect the devices to which it’s connected.
As outlined above, the three levels of UPS systems provide different standards of protection, with standby UPS offering basic blackout safeguards and online UPS providing the highest level of power conditioning and device protection.
Here are the primary benefits of using a UPS to protect sensitive electronic devices.
Protection Against Power Failures
Electricity grid failures are occurring more often.
Blackouts have numerous causes, including:
- Increased demand
- Aging infrastructure
- Extreme weather events
Left unprotected, sensitive electronic devices like desktop computers, servers, and hard drives can suffer catastrophic damage. A UPS can mitigate that damage or prevent it altogether.
Protect Against Variances in Current (Brownouts)
Chances are, you’ve experienced a brownout.
When the lights in your home or office dim unexpectedly but don’t blackout, that’s a brownout. Perceptible brownouts are relatively rare, but in most locations, small variances in current happen almost constantly — or at least hundreds of times a day.
You may never know these mini-brownouts are happening, and most appliances are unaffected. But for sensitive devices like hard drives and other data storage systems, the variance in voltage and current — often referred to as “dirty power” – can exact a heavy toll.
If you store a lot of sensitive data, consider investing a little bit more in a line-interactive UPS rather than a basic standby model. A standby only offers protection against blackouts — not brownouts.
Prevents Unscheduled Shutdowns and Data Loss
A standby UPS gives you time to shut your system down properly during a blackout. Depending on your UPS battery’s storage capacity—and your system’s electricity consumption — you’ll typically have between 10 and 20 minutes to perform a clean shutdown.
If you’re frequently away from your desk, consider a model that connects to your computer via USB and shuts down your system automatically when a blackout occurs.
Additionally, line-interactive and online UPS systems protect against data loss caused by dirty power and brownouts.
When Is a UPS System Not Suitable?
A UPS provides instantaneous backup power during a blackout and can be a lifesaver for sensitive electronic devices.
However, most consumer UPS models only provide about 20 minutes of power before the battery runs out of juice.
If you’re looking for a backup power source that can operate your computer or home appliances during an extended outage, a UPS won’t be much help.
EcoFlow’s portable power stations offer hours, weeks, or even a month of home backup power to keep essential appliances — or your whole home — running during extended outages.
EcoFlow’s RIVER series is outstanding for taking off-grid power on the road. The EcoFlow DELTA series offers essential home backup with the EcoFlow DELTA 2 all the way up to a whole home generator with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro.
All of EcoFlow’s portable power stations offer solar charging. Just connect solar panels to capture clean, renewable energy during extended outages.
Some models — like EcoFlow DELTA 2 — also offer uninterruptible power to protect your sensitive electronic equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Standby UPS models for consumers are typically designed to provide power for only a short time during an outage. They’re not intended to operate connected devices for extended periods. Instead, a UPS allows you to shut down connected systems properly, minimising the risk of damage. A portable power station is the better choice if you’re looking for operational backup power.
Yes. Uninterrupted power supplies (UPS) only function when plugged into a wall outlet. On-grid power either passes through or is conditioned by the UPS and keeps the battery charged. Your protected devices plug directly into the UPS. If you don’t keep the UPS plugged in at all times, it won’t function.
Final Thoughts
Blackouts range in severity from mild inconvenience to life-threatening situations.
Sensitive electronic devices like desktop computers, hard drives, and servers are often the first casualties of an unexpected outage — or even fall victim to less obvious variances in electricity, often known as brownouts.
Protecting your data and equipment with a UPS is a wise decision. But it does not help operate your systems during load-shedding or an extended blackout.
If you’d like to experience true energy security and run your essential devices and appliances during extended power outages, there’s an EcoFlow portable power station for you.
Check out our selection today!
Depending on your needs, you could benefit from a UPS. Or you could be better off with one of EcoFlow’s portable power stations.
At EcoFlow, we have a wide range of backup power options suitable for a wide range of uses.
Check out our selection today!