The Glossary of UPS Terms

To understand UPS specification better, you should learn the basic terms of UPS and its technology. We have provided the glossary of UPS terms to help you. VA (Volt-Amp): The unit of measuring electrical power consumed by non-linear load. The UPS also uses this unit to show its capacity. For example, a PC with 17" color monitor uses with 220 volt and need current 1.5 amps so the total VA need would be 330 VA (220 x 1.5 = 330). Load: Any equipment plugs into the UPS and gets power from the UPS such as computer, printer, fax machine and modem.  Power Watcher: Full time load power monitoring and warning to make sure that your UPS will be able to backup power to all connected loads. Power Watcher helps users know all the time that they are not overloaded their UPS. Users can increase loads as much as they want until the UPS overload warning is reached.  Battery Watcher (Battery Replacement Indicator): It will perform a battery condition evaluation to determine the battery that used by the UPS is still good condition or should be replaced. The replace battery indicator will show when the battery should be replaced.  Digital/Microprocessor Control (Digital UPS): The UPS has microprocessor for controlling its working so it can protect the power problems more quickly and accurately than any other UPSs. If the designing technology is not good enough or microprocessor is low quality, its working will lack of stability and often hang. Remark: LEONICS ULTRA Series, ULTRA SINE Series and Ultimate-X UPSs use Advance LEONICS's microprocessor produced especially for LEONICS UPSs so they can protect the power problems quickly, accurately and high stably.  Fast Charging: It is the fast charging battery system to speed up charging time. For this case, the designer must be expert and use high technology in controlling charging system so battery does not damage. Remark: LEONICS ULTRA Series and ULTRA SINE Series UPSs are designed by the expert engineer; they use 3-Stage Charger (Bulk-Boost-Float) to speed up charging time without harming the battery. Besides fast charging, UPS also maintains the proper charging voltage to preserve the battery from self-discharge and to make sure that it is always fully charged and ready to supply backup power to your PC.  Intelligent Battery Management (IBM): The intelligent battery management will manage charging and discharging to get longer backup times and prolong battery life. Remark: LEONICS ULTRA Series and ULTRA SINE Series UPSs use this system. Backup Time/Runtime: The duration that UPS supplies backup power to the electrical appliances when black out. The unit of backup time is minute and calculates backup time from black out happening to battery used up. LAN I/F or Communication Port: This port is the communication outlet from UPS to computer. The signal from UPS will send to computer through this port.  Schedule Shutdown, Restart and Self-Testing: These features are available only with the UPS with Communication Port. It also needs computer and UPS Monitoring and Management Software, which is known as Easy-Mon X. Users can set shutdown and restart schedules of both computer and UPS. The features of LEONICS UPS which runs Easy-Mon are Show the status of UPS and power situation that comes from utility power line on your computer Schedule shutdown and restart computer and UPS (Option) Schedule UPS self-test (Option) Log the self-test data and power events (Option) Send the self-test data and power events via fax machine (Option) Automatically save files before shutdown the computer The features of LEONICS UPS which runs Easy-Mon X and Easy-Mon X's Plug-Ins are Real-time graphical display of power/UPS status Display the power status in graphical and numerical format Schedule shutdown and restart computer and UPS Schedule UPS self-test Log the UPS power events and data Able to select automatic save file command and three types of computer shutdown commands; Normal Shutdown, Force Shutdown or Hibernate Shutdown Capable to work efficiently on network systems which run different operating systems (Windows 95/ 98/ ME, Windows NT/ 2000/ XP, Linux (Redhat 7.0, 7.1, 7.2/ Mandrake 8.0, 8.1, 8.2), UNIX (HP, Sun Solaris) AC Start System: The system for starting UPS by plugging the UPS inlet to the utility power, UPS will start when input voltage reaches 220 Volts. DC Start System: The system for starting UPS by itself, UPS draws DC power from storage battery to start. No Load Shut Down: UPS will shutdown itself when power line fails and there is no load connected to UPS. This feature is to prolong battery life. The dark side of this feature is when loads are too little until UPS cannot detect, UPS will shut down immediately and loads will be damaged. (Every model of LEONICS Line interactive UPS with stabilizer has this feature. Users can select to enable or disable this feature from the switch at the back of the UPS.) Low Battery Shut Down (Automatic Shut Down): UPS will shut down before the voltage reaches the critical point which may harm battery. This feature is to prolong battery life. (Available in every LEONICS UPS.) Auto - Charging System: The system for charging battery automatically. Users just plug power cord to wall receptacle. The UPS will charge automatically. No need to switch on the UPS. It works all the time no matter switch on or switch off. If the UPS is low quality and battery control technology, it may cause fire when users forget to unplug the UPS. (Every model of LEONICS ULTRA Series UPS has auto-charging system that controls by IBM, Intelligent Battery Managements so the users ensure to use the UPS safely.) Magnetic Breaker: This device protects overloads or short circuits. It functions as same as fuse. Users do not have to change it (like fuse) when the circuit is cut, just only reset. Magnetic Breaker must be high quality; otherwise, it causes fire. Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR or Stabilizer): An AVR regulates voltage to the appropriate level. In general, an AVR in UPS regulates utility voltage to 220 Volts.  Surge Protection for Telephone Line: Surge protection protects fax and modem from instant voltage surge that comes from telephone line. This feature is to prolong fax and modem life.  Surge LAN Line: Surge protection protects computer (LAN) from instant voltage surge that comes from LAN line. Restart Voltage Checking System (RVCS): The system for protecting computer and electrical appliances when they return to normal condition after blackout. In case of the UPS supplies backup power from battery until running out and self-shutdown, if the new voltage flows into the UPS, it will check its status for acceptable power quality for computer and electrical appliances, and then it will restart and re-supply.  Hot Swappable Battery (Hot Swap): Users can replace the battery even the UPS is running and without turning off the computer or the electrical appliances and UPS. This qualification has to be designed accurately as the safety standard so the user is safe while replacing the battery.  Advance Load Outlet Management (ALOM): This system is designed for users to preset suitable operation of the "Intelligent output channel" via Easy-Mon X software. The users can preset the intelligent output channel to cut off power to low priority loads when the UPS is overload, over temperature or low battery. The UPS will provide power supply to main channel for critical electronic equipments (such as computer, server, etc.) and intelligent channel for peripherals (such as printer, scanner, etc.).  High Rate Battery: The high rate battery is designed to extend backup time to 25%. The longer backup time helps users save data file and shutdown the computer completely and safely.