Are UPS systems mandatory for the success of modern businesses

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Despair and irritation!! These are the outrageous feelings one gets when there are unexpected power outages. A sudden failure in the power supply spoils your mood, effort, and, Alas! the equipment too, especially when someone is working with important equipment or critical data.

Though a whole house generator can save your day, it cannot provide data and damage protection at times of unprecedented, immediate power failure. This is because the generator takes a considerable amount of time to get started and restore the electric supply. A generator is only a conventional means to provide power backup in case of electric supply failure or interruption. If the data you deal with is of utmost importance or if the equipment is too expensive to bear a malfunction, a generator will not be of much help to you.

Voltage dips, surges, harmonics, or voltage spikes are the other various disruptions in the electrical power supply that can cause serious harm to sensitive and expensive electrical equipment. To reduce the risk of power supply distortion, a one stop solution is the usage of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system. It can be incorporated in electrical networks to provide reliable, high-quality power flow for sensitive electrical load equipment facilities. A UPS system is a successful and helpful tool that ensures uninterrupted, quality power supply. This empowers your business operations that eventually result in success.

If we look at the market growth of the UPS industry, one thing is evident. The growth graph is always upwards. UPS Market size exceeded USD 11 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% between 2020 and 2026. These are some impressive figures. The data clearly shows that it has become customary for any modern business to use UPS systems in their business line to become more productive and stay successful.

The working of a UPS

An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is an electrical apparatus that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source or main power fails. Though a UPS system is mainly used with computer devices at times of sudden power blackouts, it is not necessary that UPS supports only computer systems. With the support of a UPS system, a computer gets the sufficient amount of power to save the data it is working on and also gets time to safely shut down. Likewise, there are various fields where UPS has proved its worth since its inception.

Some of the business domains where a UPS can be functional and supportive are listed below:

Industrial or manufacturing units use Industrial UPS. Eg: Plant facilities and factories.
Hospitals and medical centers normally use Medical UPS. These Medical UPS systems are incredibly important, as they hold up life-support systems and other critical equipment.
Computer server farms, web hosting sites, phone companies, etc. rely on Computer and / Communication UPS mostly. When a common person hears the word UPS, he mostly thinks of a computer UPS. This shows the wide popularity and usage of these types of UPS in the computer industry.
Military Specific (MIL-SPEC) UPs are used in various military operations throughout the world. The main characteristic of these systems is that they undergo strict quality analysis and verification under the MIL-SPEC certification.
High Temperature UPS that are specially designed to work optimally under high temperatures are useful in deserts, oil rig machineries,

Types of UPS

Different types of UPS cater for the differing power load requirement of each equipment. Those being used at homes for PCs and gaming machines are at the lower end of the power load capacity spectrum. At Offices, similar ones with a higher capacity can support a series of computers, printers, fax machines etc. However, in industries and hospitals big UPS systems cater for the important, heavy duty machines and life supporting equipment. There are three main types of UPS based on the power problems that they alleviate.

Offline UPS / Standby: These systems help in the basic protection against sudden supply breakage, power surge or brownouts. In case of any fluctuation in voltage, the UPS battery backup takes over.
Line-Interactive UPS: This type functions in the same way as the offline UPS but with one major difference. It has an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) that corrects any irregularities without having to switch to the backup battery. Since the backup battery is not getting used, Line Interactive UPS can promise a prolonged battery life. They also offer extra protection against a spike in the voltage and under voltage.
On-line UPS: This type of UPS follows a different principle than the above two. This UPS draws current from the backup battery which alternatively is charged continuously. The main advantage of this model is that the output voltage remains stable regardless of the quality of the main power.

Advantages of UPS

If your organization still relies on a generator for power backup, it is essential for you to analyse the advantages of a UPS in comparison to generator as numbered below:-

Prevention of uncertain data loss: In case of power failure, a UPS can automatically turn on the power supply to the device connected without any interruption whereas a generator can not function without a momentary time delay or data loss.
Protection of voltage sensitive devices from bad quality electricity: Direct alternating current is not void of voltage fluctuations and distortions. This may lead to the degradation of gadgets overtime. Since UPS is capable of providing stable output by controlling voltage fluctuations, gadgets connected to it are safe.
Surge protection: If there is an unusual spike in the voltage, it might damage the device at the receiving end beyond repair. A UPS can detect a spike in the incoming current and regulate it to provide the required power for its connected device. Thus a UPS acts as a surge protector in the electrical networks where it is deployed.
An alternative source of power: At times of extended power failure, a UPS can act as an alternative source of power as long as its battery is charged.
Noiseless power supply: UPS is noiseless whereas a generator creates a lot of noise. Due to this fact, a generator might not be an optimal choice for life saving machines inside critical care units of hospitals or other medical facilities.
Support to selected equipment: A UPS can give uninterrupted power even to a single, selected electronic equipment such as a computer. The size of the equipment is not a factor here. Whereas generators are not that effective in this scenario.
Maintains battery life: During power cuts, UPS can help you continue with the operation mode since it can maintain constant charging as long as connected to a charged battery.
Serves as backup for organizations: The output of industries may be affected very badly if there are extended and frequent power outages. During those testing times, the UPS systems connected to the organization's gadgets and machines can promise a smooth workflow.
Perfect companion for households: A good quality companion can be a perfect companion for households and commercial institutions as it serves as a backup and alternate source of power.

How to Choose the Best UPS?

The number of devices one wants to connect to a UPS decides the type of UPS you would buy. Other factors to be considered while selecting a UPS for your equipment/ machine are listed below:-

Power output and Battery capacity: These are two different criteria that appears to be same but are different. Power output is the maximum load that can be obtained from a UPS. However, battery capacity is the amount of charge that can be stored by the battery. Higher the number of devices connected, more power is withdrawn. It is of utmost importance to purchase a UPS of higher wattage or power output than the power required by your devices.
Efficiency: The market is dominated by the ever efficient UPS Systems. Efficiency can be determined by comparing expected loaded capacity and the output efficiency at the loaded capacity.
Reliability: Reliability is based on the allotted period of time for which the best UPS is produced. Remember that a high level of reliability is not assessed considering one device and the entire electrical system design is considered.
Cost: UPS comes at all price ranges. It's for you to choose one that fits your bill.

Closing Thoughts

Now the billion dollar question is, does your business need a UPS? From the above passage it is very evident that a UPS is an invaluable add-on if your business requires a constant power to function. We have also seen that for any business that considers storing and processing of data are critical, they absolutely need a UPS.

Norden Communications introduces Line Interactive UPS systems in two powerful series: Euro Power Series and Nano Power series that can cater to all types of your business needs. The Euro series is integrated with an AC voltage stabilizer that can suppress surge voltage with its compact size. These UPS are full function, high efficiency, high reliability, easy to use systems suitable for office spaces and homes. The Nano series is specially designed for personal computers with multiple functions. Norden Communication also provides Online transformer UPS and online transformerless UPS. Please visit our website to view Norden's entire line of UPS and other power conditioning equipment.

As UPS systems are mandatory for any modern business, it is crucial to determine the type of UPS that fits your business. Feel free to contact us to get the expert opinion from the team of dedicated professionals at Norden. We can help you with the optimal selection of UPS from the powerful range of UPS offered by Norden Communications. Call us today.