The Basics of UPS

	The UPS meaning UPS is an abbreviation for Uninterruptible Power Supply. A UPS is the ideal equipment, which provides continuous power to all connected electrical and electronic loads even in the event of blackout or variations in voltage. It regulates the voltage to the constant range that is safe for its loads. The main functions of UPS are to protect all connected electrical and electronic loads, especially, computers and peripherals, from power problems such as brownout, blackout, spike and surge, etc. and to supply backup power to its loads.
The UPS general functions In general, the UPS takes the utility power and supplies to its connected loads. The principle of the UPS is to keep the connecting loads continuously working without any interruption. It converts the AC power to DC power and stores it in the storage battery. Whenever power problems occur, the UPS still supplies power by regulating, or drawing backup power from the storage battery as long as the battery is not flat. The UPS components The UPS consists of Charger or Rectifier - takes the utility AC power and converts to DC power. Then charges the batteries Inverter - takes the DC power from the batteries and converts to AC power for electrical and electronic loads Battery - backs up power to supply during the power problems. It can supply DC power to the inverter in case of the UPS cannot take the utility AC power. Stabilizer - regulates the voltage to the constant range that is safe for the electrical and electronic loads
	The UPS advantages The UPS can protect the electrical and electronic loads, especially computers and peripherals, from the damages caused by such things as the utility power supply malfunction, natural phenomena like thunderstorm, rainstorm, and power disturbance of electric loads in the building, etc. Each power outage may cause many problems but the UPS can protect as the following Supplies backup power to all connected loads during blackout or brownout to save open file promptly and extend the floppy disk and hard disk lifespan Regulates the voltage to the acceptable range to all connected loads during the power problems Protects all connected loads from data and equipments damage caused by electric noise
The UPS types The UPS are classified into three types: Offline UPS or Standby UPS In the normal mode, the load is directly supplied with the utility power supply at the same time the charger charges the battery. In the event of a blackout, the battery will supply power to the inverter to convert the power and supply to all connected loads. The transfer switch is used to switch between the utility power supply and the inverter. If the UPS is operating in normal mode and the utility power instantaneously fluctuates, the transfer switch is not sensitive enough to detect. So the power will be directly supplied from the utility power supply. If the low-quality power is supplied, the load will take the low-quality power. The Offline UPS or Standby UPS is only designed to protect the loads from a blackout, it cannot protect from the variations in voltage and electrical noise, therefore, its cost is lower than the other types. Moreover, it is unsuitable to use in any places where close to generated power sources such as dams, power stations and substations, etc. The features of the Offline UPS or Standby UPS Low cost Protect only a blackout Unsuitable to use in any places like nearby generated power sources, power stations and industrial area, etc. Short battery and UPS lifespan Online Protection UPS or Line Interactive UPS with Stabilizer As a flow chart, the Online Protection UPS or Line Interactive UPS with Stabilizer is similar to the Offline UPS but it includes the stabilizer. In the normal mode, the load is directly supplied with the utility power supply through the stabilizer that its function is to regulate the voltage to constant range, to protect from brownout, surge and spike, etc. At the same time, the charger charges the battery. In the event of a blackout, the battery will supply power to the inverter to convert the power and supply to all connected loads. The transfer switch is used to switch between the stabilizer and the inverter. The Online Protection UPS or Line Interactive UPS with Stabilizer is developed from the Offline UPS by addition the stabilizer to protect from power problems. With this feature, if the utility voltage is out of range that the loads can take but still in the input range of the UPS, the stabilizer module can regulate the voltage to the acceptable range. So that the UPS does not have to draw backup power from the battery, which means that your system are more stable and reliable. The features of the Online Protection UPS or Line Interactive UPS with Stabilizer The cost may be similar to the Offline UPS or Standby UPS cost Suitable to use in some places where there are many variations in voltage such as Thailand, Myanmar, Philippines and Indonesia, etc. Incompatible with the sensitive electrical equipments such as medical equipments and industrial instruments, etc. With the stabilizer to protect from excess voltage and voltage drops Allow the acceptable electrical noise through the loads Long battery and UPS lifespan True Online UPS As a flow chart, the True Online UPS is the ideal UPS with maximum performance. The charger and inverter will operate all the time. Whatever its power conditions, the UPS always supply clean power to all connected loads until the storage batteries are flat except when the inverter malfunction, it will supply power from the utility power supply to all connected loads. It is recommended not to use the failure inverter anymore. The True Online UPS is the most performance of all UPS on the market. It can protect from all power problems and provide the high-quality power. Therefore, its cost is higher than the other types. The features of the True Online UPS High cost High performance and capable to protect all power problems AC power from the UPS is high-quality, precise voltage and without electrical noise Take the DC power from the storage battery and convert to AC power for all connected loads during a blackout or brownout The UPS applications If the purposes of the UPS applications are to back up power to supply to all connected electrical and electronic loads, especially, computers and peripherals, during a blackout or brownout, to regulate the acceptable voltage to its loads during power failure or to protect its loads from electrical noise caused by destroying data and equipments, it can be applied. For example Computer systems Computers and peripherals such as printer, monitor, speaker and modem, etc. Office Communication systems, computer systems, machines, OA and electrical equipments, etc. Industrial Communication systems, computer systems, machines, instruments-equipments, measuring instruments and electrical equipments, etc. Medical Medical equipments and surgical equipments, etc. Telecommunication Communication equipments and telecommunication control room, etc. Process control Data processing and report systems of banking and stock exchange, etc. Home electrical equipments such as TV, stereo, radio and fan, etc. , and computers and peripherals Remark: All combined electrical and electronic loads will be connected to the UPS, their power need must be less than or equal to capable of UPS supply.