Uninterruptible Power Supplies provide valuable fail-safe memory protection for computers and hardware. Read on to find out everything you need to know about UPS devices with this helpful guide from RS and Eaton.
When there’s problems with your power supply, the last thing you need is damage to your computers and memory-based tech hardware adding to your frustration. At RS, we know that Uninterruptible Power Supplies are a vital backup solution. That’s why we’ve partnered with the power management experts at Eaton to help you choose a UPS that'll keep your data and hardware safe at the most critical times.
The core purpose of a UPS is to function as a constant secondary power source - effectively an on-demand, instant-switch battery backup - for computers, servers, data centres, and anywhere else you need to store information. A sudden loss of power can cause damage to the delicate hardware components in your PCs, so a quality UPS system is designed to protect them (and the data they rely on) in the event of a blackout, mains surge, or other unexpected power events.
These devices are becoming increasingly popular as add-on peripherals for home and work PC setups, server and network environments, and many other hardware-critical computing applications. In these sorts of scenarios, uninterruptible power supplies can offer you additional peace of mind and an extra level of safety for both your hardware and your data.
In the context of tech hardware, the acronym UPS stands for uninterruptible power supply, and so technically the phrase ‘UPS power supply’ is a handy example of RAS syndrome (along with ‘PIN number’ and ‘LCD display’)! However, it remains a very commonly used term among customers and suppliers alike, and so for this guide, we’ll use both the standalone acronym and the longer version interchangeably.
As we noted earlier, a UPS works as an uninterruptible backup power source for your computer setups and other important hardware arrays in the event of electrical disruption. These units are designed to provide a limited window of time in which you can perform a controlled shutdown of the device when mains power is no longer available. How does a UPS do this? Essentially by collecting and storing some of the power being drawn from the wall socket in its internal battery, with the remaining power being sent onto the computer as normal. When power flow suddenly stops for any reason, such as a power cut, the UPS instantly switches to sending out the stored backup power.
Keep in mind…
A UPS isn't designed to provide long-term backup use of connected devices for extended periods without power, or offer a battery-operated solution for continuing to work off-grid.
A typical home or office UPS battery backup usually consists of a high-drain rechargeable power cell encased inside a small ‘smart’ unit. You’ll find these power supply units placed between the mains wall socket and the PC being powered, plugged into each by separate cables. Traditionally the battery will most often be a lead-acid (VRLA) type, but ongoing advancements in lithium-ion technology mean that Li-ion cells are now becoming increasingly used as well.
UPS units are critical for protecting vulnerable (and often expensive) hardware components from physical or memory-based damage when they’re suddenly disconnected from the main power circuit. Even in the case of a total power-off event mid-transfer, a UPS can ensure vital data isn’t lost.
Why is this a big deal? Well, interruption of core processes can cause serious irreparable physical damage, as well as massive data loss/error, which is why there is usually an approved disconnect process for almost any type of data transfer activity. In the worst-case scenarios, files can become unreadable by devices at both ends of the transfer if it’s interrupted. Corrupted data can sometimes still be salvaged by a specialised recovery technician (often at a large cost!) but if they’re unable to repair or retrieve it then your data can be lost forever.
You may already have some of your important data backed up, but a UPS will help you to also protect the more integral background transfer processes that are constantly happening at both hardware and operating system levels any time a computer is powered on and running – many of which are key to the machine’s ability to function.
Choosing the right UPS power supply to best suit your hardware setup and operating requirements comes down to a few key variants. Read all about the different types and their features below:
A phase refers to the number of electrical phases that a UPS receives and transmits. Three-phase power is the most efficient way of transporting electricity over long distances so for larger power consumers a three-phase UPS is required. For smaller power consumers such as office buildings and schools, power is converted to single-phase. A split-phase UPS can simultaneously provide 120V and 208V output for applications which use a mix of single-phase and three-phase equipment, protecting both.
The types of circuit protection you need, such as:
The amount of UPS power you need i.e. the capacity, which will involve working out:
How long you need to be able to run those devices in the event of a blackout:
The UPS runtime depends entirely on the size of the battery and how many devices it is being asked to support. This is calculated by capacity and load. You’ll need, as a bare minimum, to know the amount of time needed to access your computer(s) and shut down properly
Other factors to consider:
If you need a UPS that delivers steadfast power protection whilst saving on energy costs, Eaton’s 9PX UPS is the ideal choice. These units offer double conversion protection with 40% less energy usage, constantly monitoring your power conditions and regulating voltage and frequency. They come in a conveniently compact and versatile rack/tower form factor and are perfectly suited for use in small and medium datacentres, IT rooms, and Infrastructure.
Features of the 9PX UPS:
