Types of UPS
All UPS systems are not alike. There are three basic types of UPS available.
Standby, or off-line, units switch from the regular power source to an internal battery when
they sense a power disturbance. There is a brief lag time before the internal battery comes on-line.
This downtime should be brief enough, however, to avoid causing a computer to shut down.
Line-interactive UPS systems add a transformer to minimize the need to use an internal battery
with every power fluctuation. These units monitor the line voltage at all times, activating the
power transformer when the voltage falls below certain parameters. The battery is activated when
even lower voltages are recorded.
On-line UPS units constantly supply power to connected equipment from an internal battery, with
battery recharging occurring on an ongoing basis. There is no lag time when power failures occur
since these units serve as the primary source of power to equipment. In the case of a blackout,
the UPS will continue to generate power, but will be unable to recharge.
|