Choosing the Best Power Protection for Your Application
UPS systems are critical to keeping your equipment online. Unexpected power disturbances can result in costly downtime and loss. It is important to choose a UPS system that is designed specifically for your application. The two most common UPS topologies are Line Interactive and Double Conversion. There are several factors to consider when determining the best topology.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A UPS
Amount of power connected equipment consumes
Sensitivity of your equipment
Length of backup runtime needed
Types of power problems you have
How critical the application is
If the loads can tolerate a transfer time
Available budget
THE MOST COMMON POWER PROBLEMS
Power Failure – Total loss of utility power.
Voltage Sag – Short term low voltage.
Voltage Surge – Short term high voltage.
Brownout – Reduced line voltage for extended period of time.
Overvoltage – An extended period of increased voltage for a period of time.
Line Noise – High frequency waveform.
Frequency Variation – Instability of the power supply’s normal frequency.
Switching Transient – Instantaneous under-voltage in nanoseconds.
Harmonic Distortion – The distortion of a normal power sinewave.
LINE INTERACTIVE
Line Interactive systems are connected between the incoming utility supply and the load, and will monitor the incoming AC voltage. When the UPS senses voltage fluctuations, such as power sags, brownouts or swells, the UPS will correct it by bucking or boosting utility power via the built-in automatic voltage regulator (AVR). This allows the UPS to correct these abnormal voltages without switching to battery. The AVR feature allows a much wider input voltage range before transferring to battery, thereby extending battery life. Because Line Interactive systems operate in a similar manner as a standby or off-line system, they are quite efficient and ideal for applications where the utility power is fairly clean and little ‘conditioning’ is needed. Line Interactive systems are a reliable source of protection for transportation equipment, IT, telecom and emergency lighting, and will help protect connected loads from power failures, sags, swells, brownouts and over voltage conditions.
DOUBLE CONVERSION
Double Conversion or On-line UPS systems provide top-quality protection for sensitive applications with the highest level of protection. These UPS systems help protect connected loads from all 9 of the above-mentioned most common power problems. They also provide backup power with no transfer time between loss of utility power and battery backup mode which is critical for loads that cannot tolerate even the shortest of transfer times. This is achieved by converting the incoming AC power to DC, then converting the DC power back to clean AC power. This process enables the downstream equipment to be well protected from incoming power failures, voltage fluctuations, spikes, surges, frequency noise, harmonic distortion, frequency variations and other power anomalies.
Contact us at sales@marathon-power.com for further assistance and finding the best solutions for your application.