| Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) or UPS Systems | | | | Environments |
| as they are also known provide two important | | | | Uninterruptible power supplies sized 3-15kVA typically |
| power solutions roles. UPS systems provide a source | | | | power larger ICT installations including server and |
| of standby back-up power when the mains power | | | | comms rooms, Blade servers, virtual PABx and file |
| supply fails, and they also provide conditioning to | | | | servers. UPS systems within this range include floor, |
| remove mains borne power problems – sags, | | | | rackmount and combo formats, with a single-phase |
| surges, brownouts, spikes and electrical noise. Power | | | | output and options for three-phase inputs. Models up |
| problems can lead to IT system hardware failure, | | | | to 3kVA will generally plug in using industrial 16A |
| system malfunctions and corrupt data. In today’s | | | | commando sockets, with larger models requiring |
| 24/7 business continuity conscious world, demand for | | | | electrical installation by a suitably qualified electrical |
| UPS systems continues to grow at an exponential | | | | engineer (working to the latest IEE Regulations), and |
| rate. | | | | then commissioning by a certified engineer. |
| There are off course different types of UPS | | | | UPS for this type of application include off-line, line |
| topology and these include on-line double-conversion | | | | interactive and on-line designs up to 3kVA. On-line |
| UPS, line interactive UPS and Standby or Off-line UPS. | | | | uninterruptible power supplies in this range are |
| Selection is often based upon price budget | | | | transformerless so as to achieve a small footprint, |
| considerations and the level of availability and | | | | minimal weight and low noise and heat output. They |
| resilience required. However it can also be useful to | | | | are usually located in computer rooms, next to |
| consider UPS selection by the application environment | | | | protected equipment. However, their reduced size |
| the UPS system will find itself within. | | | | means fewer output sockets, so in highly populated |
| PC UPS: small Office Home Office (SoHo) ICT | | | | environments a greater number may be required, |
| Environments | | | | which will have an impact on capital and operating |
| Information and Communications Technology (ICT) | | | | costs. |
| environments typically include PCs, POS Terminals and | | | | Datacentre UPS: large-sized ICT Environments |
| small File Servers and run from 300VA-800VA. These | | | | Large UPS systems run from 20-800kVA and |
| are ‘fit and forget’ UPS systems with a | | | | typically form the backbone of large power solutions |
| small internal battery pack. They will provide | | | | projects protecting applications such as datacenters |
| protection from sags, surges, brownouts, spikes and | | | | and telecoms switching centres. These uninterruptible |
| electrical noise and a short duration runtime on mains | | | | power supplies tend to be installed as part of a |
| power failure. Typical applications include: PCs, | | | | centralised or decentralised power protection plan, |
| workstations, small file servers, Electronic Point of | | | | offering N+1 parallel modules for extra resilience and |
| Sale (EPoS) terminals, Small Office and Home Office | | | | a full turn-key package including electrical installation |
| (SoHo) systems, Hi-Fis, satellite systems, routers, | | | | and ongoing remote monitoring and maintenance |
| modems and switches. The UPS systems will be line | | | | plans. |
| interactive UPS or standby UPS. | | | | Industrial UPS Systems |
| Network UPS: small-sized ICT Environments | | | | On-line uninterruptible power supplies are typically |
| UPS systems in this size range (1-2kVA) will be | | | | available in transformer-based and transformerless |
| powering network applications including file servers, | | | | designs. The transformer-based are ideal for use |
| telecoms switches, network servers, Blade servers, | | | | within industrial applications because of their more |
| PABX, PoE, VOIP and PABX telecoms systems. | | | | rhobust design; a transformer performs the essential |
| These UPS will be on-line double conversion systems | | | | mains conditioning role in place of electronics. Larger |
| or line interactive UPS with some offering options for | | | | three-phase UPS systems may also provide a number |
| additional battery runtime packs. Formats include: | | | | of other electrical specification options including |
| tower UPS, floor standing UPS, rackmount UPS and | | | | 6-pulse or 12-pulse rectifiers, and even IGBT |
| combo UPS capable of either tower or 19" | | | | (Integrated Gate Bipolar Transistor) based rectifiers |
| rackmount installation. | | | | to provide very high input efficiencies and low Total |
| Comms and Server Room UPS: medium-sized ICT | | | | Harmonic Distortion (THDi) inputs. |