UPS Basics

For the technical explanation please visit our Lexicon. Off-Line UPS are designed for small load uses.

Pros:

• Installation is easy and quick

• Low costs for less critical loads

• Silent (no fans for cooling)

• Small own power consumption

• Compact UPS

Cons:

• Usually they produce a simulated sine wave

• Transfer times are not seamless

• Loads will receive unfiltered voltage

Application scope: Home, Office and Stores.

For the technical explanation please visit our Lexicon. Line-Interactive UPS are designed for medium cost application with moderate load levels.

Pros:

• Higher protection with more functions

• Cost-effective solution

• Mostly silent. Fans work when not in Normal Mode

• Pure Sine Wave is an option (depends on the model)

• Some accessories are available (depends on the model)

• Protection against voltage fluctuations 

Cons:

• There are still some small transfer times

• There is no protection against transients

• There is no frequency correction or adjustment

Application scope: Home, Office, Stores and IT & Data Solutions.

For the technical explanation please visit our Lexicon. On-Line UPS are designed for mission-critical loads.

Pros:

• Double-conversion, always a clean output

• For high-power demand and for sensitive equipment

• Pure Sine Wave under all conditions

• Frequency can be adjusted if desired

• Zero transfer times in standard operations

• Many accessories are available (depends on the model)

Cons:

• Fans are always on

• This products require space and technical knowledge

• High own power consumption

• High investment

Application scope: Stores, IT & Data Solutions, Medical Equipment, Entertainment, Emergency Situations, and Industrie & Construction.

Interruptions: Also known as a blackout, a complete interruption of the electrical supply. Depending on the duration, an interruption can be instantaneous, momentary, temporary, or sustained.

Voltage fluctuations: Overvoltage and undervoltage are the most commonly known. They are both a prolonged sag and swell respectively. Sags and undervoltage are both a reduction of the AC voltage in a given time. Swells and overvoltage are both an increase of the AC voltage in the circuit.

Transients: The most damaging electrical disturbances. An impusilve transient is a sudden peak, commonly known as surge or spike. An oscillatory transient, just like the name, will swell and shrink in a oscillatory form (like a lie-detector).

Common consequences are damage to electrical components, system halt or shutdown, reduced product-life, overheating, flickering, communication interference, or complete loss of data and hardware.

To get the ideal UPS product we recommend the customer to answer the following questions:

• What kind of electrical disturbances do you want to prevent? What kind of electrical disturbances do you want to protect your devices from? Depending on this, we will recommend different UPS technologies. Each technology supresses diferrent disturbances in the incoming power supply (see electrical disturbances).

• Where is the UPS going to be? In a household, at the office, in a closed-server room or at a building site? This also helps when deciding the correct technology.

• Which electrical components do you want to protect? Do you know the approximate load size in kVA?  This will define how small or big the UPS capacity should be. Please also consider in-rush currents and the characteristic of the load (inductive or capacitive).

• Do you require back-up time? If you require long back-up times, a UPS with the possibility of battery packs or EBM should be important. This will help to define how much extra back-up time the UPS should provide the critical loads.

• And last but no least. Do you require extra or specific features? Special communication, monitoring or managing.

• UPS’s electronics are designed to work for many years. Correct preventive maintenance and optimal operating condition will additionally extend this time.

• If UPS is equipped with fans, please consider that the design life of this rotating component is 5 years.

• If UPS is equipped with dust filter, please consider to check and replace it as soon as it is blocked with “schmutz”.

Please make sure that UPS is operating in allowed environment. Limits may very depending on model, but safe conditions include:

• 0°C – 40°C (for long battery life, keep the UPS at an ambient temperature of 25°C)

• 20% – 80% relative humidity without condensation

• No standing or running water in the vicinity

• No exposure to direct sunshine or heating equipment

• Appropriate electrical input TN-S 230V grounded

• Secure enough space for air circulation; never cover the cooling vents or fans

• Equipment is exlusively for indoor use! IP rating of 20!

UPS is designed to operate maintenance free. Nevertheless, certain steps will extend its life time! We recommend the following:

• Regularly check if the unit’s operating environment is still within the recommended conditions

• For the best preventive maintenance, keep the area around the UPS clean and dust-free. If the atmosphere is very dusty, clean the outside of the UPS with a vacuum cleaner

• Unplug the UPS prior to cleaning and do not use liquid or spray detergent

• Use dry soft clothes to clean the front panel and plastic parts. Take special care for the air inlets for the fans proper funcitioning

• To maintain optimal battery charge, leave the UPS plugged into an AC outlet at all times

• The design life of the battery is 3-5 years counted from the date of production of the battery, which means that effective service time counted from the date of purchase/installation can be shorter. After two years it is recommended to strictly and frequently (e.g. once every three months) monitor the battery condition. If the discharging time of fully charged batteries is less than 50% of the rated value, then the batteries need to be replaced

• There are many factors that can affect the amount of power that your computer system requires. To secure sufficient safety margin in case of sudden consumption peaks, please keep the casual load approximately about 75%,  of the unit’s rated capacity (the system will work more stable)

• Considering internal own power consumption of the UPS, please keep the casual load on the UPS above 25% for optimal system performance. If your load is smaller, consider choosing a smaller unit with smaller own power consumption for energy saving

It depends on the size of the UPS. In every datasheet the maxium capacity is given in watt and VA. Most devices like PC’s, printers, etc, show watt usage/consumption. When selecting appropriate UPS for your load, you need to consider not only nominal power consumption but also maximum power consumption, peaks, in-rush currents and even harmonic distortions. On top of that a safety margin is advised.

We suggest not to connect more than 75% of the nominal watt power capacity of the UPS.

• Make sure the battery is fully charged before the UPS is stored

• Turn off the UPS and disconnect its power cord from the wall outlet. Disconnect all output cables

• The UPS should be stored in a cool dry location

• For extended storage in moderate climates, the battery should be charged for several hours every three months by plugging the UPS to the power socket. Repeat it every two months in high-temperature locations

• For extended storage, we recommend covering the UPS to protect it against the dust or preferably to pack into original foil, cushions and box

• Please transport the UPS only in the original package to protect against shock and impact

• Front panel (the buttons) should be protected against accidental turning on the unit

• A hazardous voltage still may be supplied from the battery and the unit may heat up in the box. Where available, disconnect the batteries for the transportation

Typical power strip is rated to 3000-4000VA, while a small home UPS could be 650-2200VA. If the power strip is connected with enough devices and electrical equipment, the capacity of the UPS would be already exceeded. If really required, we can only recommend that the total VA does not exceed what the UPS can deliver.

An additional hint or recommendation would be to connect the UPS to the power strip and not the way around. Typical power strips already have a higher surge protection as the UPS, and are way cheaper. This way, the power strip will protect the UPS first, and then the UPS the connected critical loads.

Nevertheless, it would function, so there is no serious danger considered.

It depends on the UPS technology. For Off-Line UPS it is unaffordable to back-up such inrush current. The UPS will go into Fault Mode and shutdown immediately (unless the UPS is already oversized). For Line-Interactive, it applies the same, unless the waveform is pure sine wave. Because all On-Line models deliver pure sine wave, they can also work with APFC with no problem.

See: Terms and Conditions for the PowerWalker Warranty