An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is used to provide backup power to your equipment for a set period of time. It is a battery-powered device that plugs into a power source (wall wart) and converts power from AC to DC and then back to AC to provide backup power for your critical loads.
UPSs come in all sizes, from small systems on your desk to keep your computers up and running, to large systems used to maintain factory processes.
A UPS plays a key role in allowing you to keep important information or data on your computer or server at all times allowing you to keep your processes up and running so you don't lose your product.
A UPS can help users survive power outages, also known as voltage dips. This can happen when you lose part of your power supply or lose a leg of your three-phase system. When an entire facility loses power, it's not like a complete blackout.
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UPS batteries will last a certain amount of time. This depends on the type of batteries in the system. They can be sealed lead acid or lithium ion batteries. It also depends on how much load and capacity your UPS has. A lightly loaded UPS can last for hours, while a fully loaded UPS may only last a few minutes. On some UPSs, you can add external batteries for longer run times. Adding more batteries to the system will not allow you to increase the capacity of the unit or the amount of load it can support. It will allow you to increase runtime.
It is good practice to size your ups and determine your load and verify the power consumption of each device. You will be able to size the UPS accordingly and then determine how much capacity or additional batteries you need to get the desired runtime.
You should avoid placing high surge devices such as motors or laser printers on your UPS. They can quickly drain your UPS or cause it to fail with an overload.
Most UPSs have surge-protected outlets as well as surge + battery backup outlets.
A UPS and generator can be used in series. With a generator and UPS system, you can achieve virtually unlimited runtime, with the UPS providing runtime when the generator is up and running.
Online vs. Offline UPS - An offline UPS is a type of UPS that will take the supply voltage and pass it on to the connected load. An online or double conversion UPS always has the inverter and converter online. It takes the supply voltage and converts it to DC and trickle charges the batteries. It then converts the DC back to AC to provide a pure sine wave output.
Not all batteries require maintenance. Some smaller devices only require battery replacement. On some larger systems, the level and trickle charge need to be maintained, as well as maintaining a certain temperature.
Maintenance bypass allows the user to take the UPS offline when work needs to be done on the UPS or when it needs to be replaced without unplugging the loads or disconnecting the load wiring.
The UPS can also play an important role in automation projects to ensure that the PLC stays up or the IPC can shut down properly so you don't lose any data or recipes.