Uninterruptible power supply, also known as UPS, is a power back UPS that helps in protecting the critical amount of electric load from utility-led power issues such as fluctuations, spikes, power outages, brownouts, etc.
UPS generally performs three basic functions:
- Assists in avoiding damages caused to the hardware due to a spike in the voltage or overcurrent. They also constantly regulate the power input.
- Helps in preventing loss and damage of data. UPS are very useful for those devices that shut down suddenly as their absence might corrupt a file or damage it permanently. Even with the use of power management software, UPS facilitates the shutdown of the system in a controlled way.
- Avoids downtime by making networks available for different applications Top
Advantages of Using UPS for Power Back Ups
- Prevention of Data Loss: Computers like desktops do not come with batteries like seen in laptops. Due to this, in case of a power outage, the data might get lost in the system, as they are active equipment that is being run on electricity. UPS helps to keep the system running. It provides users with enough time to save the data and shut down the system safely.
- Emergency Power Supply: For areas and facilities that face regular blackouts and power spikes, back UPS is a great option for them. It is a reliable alternative source of power. Users have the liberty to keep using their system or working on their files, even when the power has been cut for a long period.
- Protection from Power Surge: In case of a power surge, UPS can become handy. It detects the supply of bad power and stops its supply directly from the source. In addition, it provides some power stability from its stock. This ultimately helps in preventing damage to devices due to interruption in power.
- Battery Life is Maintained: When the power supply is cut, UPS helps in keeping the equipment in operational mode by constantly charging the battery of the equipment. Once the device is connected to UPS, the battery starts getting charged.
Why Is Using Back-UPS Essential for Computers?
Back-UPS is useful for both commercial organizations and households. In both these environments, computers are used on a large scale. Without the use of UPS, major work can come to a standstill.
Computers only have the capability of tolerating minor differences from their set specified order of voltage supply. Any major deviation can lead to a failure in the power supply. UPS protects the computer in four different ways:
- Spike and Surges of Voltage: This is the case when the voltage is greater than its determined amount
- A sag in Voltage: This is the case when the supply of voltage is less than its determined amount
- Complete Power Failure: In these cases, the fuse blows out on the grid, or a particular line goes down in a facility.
- The difference in Frequency: Cases where the power oscillation ranges other than 60 Hertz
Types of UPS System in Use
Today the common use of UPS systems is – Continuous UPS and Standby UPS. With a Standby UPS, the computer is run using normal utility power till a problem has been detected. In such a case, the power inverter is turned on, and the computer is run off of the battery of UPS. With this, the power inverter turns the DC power delivered by a battery into 120-volt, 60-Hertz AC power.
With Continuous UPS, the computer is continuously running off of battery and getting recharged. In case of power failure, the inverter provides a battery for the power. While there is no time for switching over, the setup has proven to be a stable power source.