Business processes these days increasingly rely on technology, which by default relies on a clean and reliable source of electricity. As more and more industries turn to computerization, mechanization and automation, an unprecedented strain is being placed on already overworked electricity infrastructures around the world. It has taken the developed world by surprise. Managers are now faced with the real prospect of energy rationing and power supply issues. If any part of their business cannot continue without electricity, they have to find alternative ways of securing supply and/or generating their own. Making the correct choice of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is now more important than ever.

What’s an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

A UPS sits between the mains supply and ‘the load’ (equipment and systems in a building or datacenter that need a continuous source of electricity). At its simplest, a UPS conditions electrical current, converts it from AC to DC, and negates potentially harmful power problems including sags, surges, brownouts and fluctuations. In the case of a total mains power outage, the UPS powers the load from its back-up battery until another energy source starts up. Put simply, an uninterruptible power supply can mean the difference between life and death for some businesses.

Different types of UPS

There are three primary types of uninterruptible power supply:

• Online or Double Conversion

• Line Interactive

• Offline (or Passive Standby).

An Online or Double Conversion UPS maintains voltage and frequency variations within prescribed limits so output is independent of supply fluctuation. As well as conditioning mains power to negate problems, this is the only UPS solution that provides break-free supply to the plant or datacenter during a power outage.

A Line Interactive UPS uses built-in passive electronic regulation devices to stabilize and regulate voltage fluctuations. When mains supply power is present, the output frequency of the UPS tracks the input of the mains. Line Interactive and On-Line UPS use tower or ‘rackmount’ case formats and sit next to their respective loads, typically in a datacenter or computer room.

An Off-Line or Passive Standby UPS is a compact device designed for desktops or wall mounting, which uses its own output to track voltage and frequency variations in the mains supply power.

Extended UPS benefits

As well as obvious continuity and power conditioning advantages for a datacenter or computer room, larger uninterruptible power supplies can work in parallel to improve system resilience, MTBF (mean time between failure) and availability.

For a network-sized uninterruptible power supply, the installation of an external UPS maintenance bypass enables routine or emergency maintenance to be carried out (without supply disruption) during normal working-hours.

Extended runtime (the time a load is running on back-up power) can be provided by a combination of extra battery packs and an external standby power source such as a generator or fuel cell.

The transformer-based UPS system

While many UPS are transformerless, organizations reliant on larger datacenter and voice networks, industrial processes, security or hospital applications, often require transformer-based uninterruptible power supply. This gives greater robustness, albeit with slightly lower efficiency and greater heat and noise generation.

Essential protection against power outage and rationing

As well as industrial processes, uninterruptible power supplies may be used to protect large site-wide installations. From the smallest desktop units to the largest parallel redundant installations, a correctly sized, reliable UPS system, provided by an established manufacturer such as Riello UPS Ltd, offers essential protection against the growing risks of power outage and power rationing.



Thanks to Alison Campbell for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Solar Power Generator

As you’re going to learn, in the event of a power outage, a standby generator is your best choice. When a person first hears about backup generators, emergency generators and dealing with power outages, invariably they usually only hear about portable generators. To be fair, portable generators are a lifesaver. If they were the only choice, there would be no reason whatsoever for me to address this issue, but there is another choice. Before generators became popular, I was using portable generators as backup power and to provide power at the numerous sporting events, camping excursions, family outings and outdoor events. Needless to say, they make life easier.

However, the difference between a portable generator and a standby generator is a major one. If you have a portable generator and the power goes out, there is a sequence of steps that you must take before your portable generator can provide you with power. Step one; you have to retrieve the generator from storage. Step two, you have to connect extension cords to the generator and then to the appliances you want to power. Step three; you have to insure that you have enough fuel and oil. Step four; you have to start the generator. Unless your unit has a special automatic start feature, you will have pull start it just like you start a pull start lawnmower. Imagine having to do all that in the middle of an ice storm?

During a power outage, with a standby generator you have DO NOT have to go outside and set the unit up. Standby generators are permanently installed. You DO NOT have to manually start a standby generator; the unit has sensors designed to detect power outages and then an automatic transfer switch switches on your standby generator. The operation is so seamless; you’ll hardly notice it. If you use propane as your fuel source, you could literally give your standby generator five to eleven days or more of backup power.

Just think about the advantages of a standby generator. In the event of a power outage, you don’t have to go outside to set the unit up or start it. If your unit is fueled by propane or natural gas, you’ll never be caught off guard due to a lack of gasoline or diesel fuel. In outages caused by inclement weather such as the ice storm, it seems as though one of the first things to go is gasoline stations. The problem is, people who have gasoline and diesel fueled generators are now forced to drive around town desperately trying to find fuel. They essentially have to leave their homes after they run out of fuel. This is what makes the standby generator such an awesome invention.



Thanks to Joe Elliot for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

Generac Generator Reviews

Can you answer Richard C’s question about Generators?:

I have 5 elevators in one building, 4 units are identical with motor 15kW, and one unit is 11kW. The power supply is 3-phase, 380VAC, 60Hz. I want to know how to calculate the size or the capacity of the standby generator if:-
Case 1: All 5 units elevator should be operative by standby generator when power outages
Case 2: Only one elevator to be operative during power outage driven by standby generator.

Solar Power Generator

What is the difference between a portable generator and a standby generator? The standby unit is capable of powering an entire home. A portable unit can supply power to an appliance and it can be moved around. You cannot move around the unit that is capable of powering an entire house.

When a power outage occurs, the standby generator will start up on its own. These are large devices and are fixed in one place. It looks similar to a large outdoor air conditioning unit. Portable units are much smaller; they are about the size of a regular cooler. A small gas engine also powers them.

The basic difference is that a standby generator will power everything in the house, while a portable generator will power one electrical appliance at a time. Another very important difference is that a professional must install the standby units. This is because they must be connected to a propane or natural gas fuel source. The generator also must be connected to your home’s electrical system.

A standby generator must also have a transfer switch installed with a separate electrical panel. This switch allows the power to come on within a few seconds of a power failure. When your regular electricity has been restored, the transfer switch senses this and powers down the generator.

Some generators actually come with software that allows you to check the status of it even if you are not at home. It can also let you know if there is something wrong with the device. This can be very helpful information.

A standby generator requires periodic maintenance just like any other mechanical device. Your operator’s manual will provide information on how to do this yourself. Alternatively, there are companies that can do this for you.

You should test your standby generator on a regular basis to make sure the starting battery is still in good shape. It should be charged about once a month. If you do not test it, chances are that it might not work when you need it most.



Thanks to Martin Applebaum for contributing this article to our Generators blog:

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