A UPS system is advisable to protect you from a power failure or electrical voltage fluctuations and interruptions. This stabilizes the electrical voltage in your IT network by intervening when problems are detected in the power grid.
This blog post will give you an overview of which UPS is suitable for your devices and what you should bear in mind.
A UPS protects your technical devices from faults in the power grid by supplying them with battery power. The UPS is used automatically, especially during short interruptions, more often than you might think. The UPS is therefore very important to provide additional protection for your IT systems.
A UPS consists of one or more battery modules. If the UPS only has one, it is activated continuously. If there are several battery modules, some of the modules are only activated as soon as more load is required. This means that one module is activated and the other is on standby, but always ready for use.
Use of UPS systems:
A UPS system is integrated in combination with emergency power systems.
UPS devices are mainly used in hospitals, data centers, but also in small offices and other facilities where a permanent power supply is a top priority. Whether you are a small or large company, a UPS helps with your IT security.
Depending on the type of UPS, it protects against the following faults:
UPS systems have different requirements and are therefore divided into 3 different classes:
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When choosing a UPS, there are many aspects to consider and you should define which systems in your company the UPS will be used for.
The output power of the selected UPS should be 20 - 25 % higher than the total power consumption of the connected systems. However, the more systems that are connected to the UPS, the shorter the bridging time, i.e. the period during which the UPS can continue to supply the systems evenly in the event of a power failure. Therefore, only the most important systems should be connected to the UPS.
Our recommendation:
If you want protection for private use, home office or entertainment, an offline UPS is sufficient, as these are quite inexpensive. For small companies with several networks or computers with high performance, as well as many storage devices, a line-interactive UPS is the right choice. These are very efficient and reliable and offer greater protection than offline UPSs. If there is power up to 20KW, i.e. for large server rooms and network cabinets, you should opt for an online UPS. This also applies to sensitive devices that require a continuous power supply.
This is just a recommendation when choosing a UPS. If you are unsure which UPS is the right one for your application, you can contact us. We will be happy to advise you in detail and help you make the right choice.
The UPS battery takes over the power supply in the event of a power failure and is the most important part of a UPS system. Great importance should therefore be attached to monitoring and maintaining the battery.
Batteries with open cells, for example, should be serviced regularly and replaced when they become weaker. The service life of UPS batteries is determined by the optimum conditions in which the battery is exposed. The better the conditions, the longer the battery will last.
A UPS emits heat regardless of the battery type. If the UPS is not air-conditioned, the battery life is shorter than if the UPS system is air-conditioned. The optimum operating temperature is 20 to 25 °C. In addition, the UPS batteries should not be stored for longer than 6 to 12 months or repeated discharging and recharging of the battery should be avoided. In the event of fluctuations in your power grid, the system switches over to the internal battery without delay, switching from direct current to alternating current (see illustration).
The most common type of battery used in UPSs is the valve regulated lead acid battery (VRLA). These VRLA batteries are usually sealed in a polypropylene housing, which prevents liquid from leaking, spilling or dripping. As these batteries do not contain refillable water, it is important that the evaporated water is recycled to ensure their service life and functionality. If the evaporation is too strong, e.g. due to excessive heat during the charging process, or if water is lost, the service life of the battery will be shortened. A distinction is made between hydrogen cyanide batteries with closed or open cells:
Hydrogen cyanide batteries with closed cells:
Hydrogen cyanide batteries with open cells:
Lithium-ion batteries are another type of battery:
Lithium-ion batteries:
Batteries in UPSs have a limited service life that is difficult to determine precisely.
Four main factors influence this service life:
We hope that this article has given you the information you need about UPS systems. In our store you have the choice between many different UPS systems that could suit your company. Still unsure about the UPS class? We will be happy to assist you and let a specialist advise you on your choice.
Not sure whether it's worth buying a UPS system? In our blog post on "Power failure and overvoltage" you can find out more about how you can protect yourself with a UPS or other options.
In general, batteries are designed to function over 100 discharge and charge cycles. However, many batteries show a noticeable reduction in capacity after around 10 discharges. Batteries with a lower nominal capacity deliver correspondingly less runtime. It is advisable to choose batteries with a high nominal capacity to ensure stable performance and a longer service life.
The service life of unused batteries decreases if they are stored without intermediate charging. Lead batteries discharge automatically, so it is important to recharge them every six to ten months to avoid a permanent loss of capacity after 18 to 30 months. If the batteries are stored at temperatures of 10 degrees Celsius or lower, the storage period can be extended without recharging.
In general, recharging the battery takes about ten times as long as discharging it. For example, a 30-minute discharge requires approximately 300 minutes of charging time. After a power failure, the charging process starts immediately and the consumers are fully protected during this time. However, it is important to note that the available operating time is naturally less if the batteries are needed before they are fully charged.
According to the IEEE, a battery has reached the end of its life when it delivers less than 80% of its original capacity in ampere hours. As soon as your battery reaches this limit, its condition deteriorates more quickly and it should be replaced.
Despite similar battery technology, small and large UPSs differ in their handling. Smaller systems often require only one battery, which simplifies maintenance. Larger UPSs, on the other hand, may require multiple battery strings, which means more complex monitoring to ensure that the failure of one battery does not affect the entire system. In addition, larger systems often use non-maintenance free batteries.
