What is an uninterruptible power supply system (UPS) and why do I need one?
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an electrical device that provides emergency power to a load when the main power source (typically utility power) fails. It conditions incoming power to ensure clean and uninterrupted power, protects devices from power problems and enables seamless system shutdown during complete outages.
With aging electrical grids, rising power demand, severe weather, faulty wiring and disruptive devices connected to AC lines, equipment is under constant threat from power problems, making a UPS system an important investment. A UPS system is especially useful for networking equipment and other devices that can lose data when power is unexpectedly lost. With a wide range of cost-effective models available, a UPS system is an essential investment to prevent damage, data loss and downtime caused by power problems.
Are UPS systems reliable?
A UPS system supplies power to devices while keeping its internal battery charged and protecting them from power issues. In the event of an outage, the UPS uses its battery to keep the connected devices running for a certain amount of time, depending on factors like battery size, wattage, efficiency, temperature and age. If an outage lasts longer than the backup runtime, battery backup helps shut down computers properly to prevent data loss, with automatic shutdown available for unattended devices. For longer outages, network and mission-critical UPS systems can increase battery capacity for hours of runtime or rely on standby generators. During generator operation, UPS systems continue to condition power before it reaches connected equipment.
Visit our battery runtimes page to learn more about the estimated runtimes for each Eaton UPS product.
What is the difference between single-phase UPSs vs. three-phase UPSs vs. split-phase UPSs?
Phases of a UPS, such as a single-phase UPS or a three-phase UPS, describe the number of electrical phases that a UPS receives and transmits. Electrical utilities generate three-phase power because that is the most efficient way to transport electricity over long distances. And for larger power consumers, such as large data centers, industrial manufacturing and hospitals, the power stays as three-phase, requiring a three-phase UPS. For smaller power consumers, including residential or office buildings and most K-12 schools, the power is converted to single-phase power.
Some applications contain a mix of single-phase and three-phase equipment and require a UPS that can protect both. For those deployments, a split-phase UPS, which can simultaneously provide 120V and 208V output, is often the best option.
Do UPS systems offer surge and noise protection?
Incorporating built-in surge suppression and noise filtering, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems provide comprehensive protection to electronic equipment from transient voltages and electromagnetic/radio frequency interference (EMI/RFI) line noise. This eliminates the need for separate surge protectors, simplifying the setup and saving space. By offering all these features in a single package, a UPS system provides a cost-effective and efficient solution to safeguard valuable equipment from power-related damages.
Does Eaton have a DIN rail UPS?
Yes, Eaton has DIN rail UPS units.
The DIN rail industrial UPS is a UL 508 recognized component for use in industrial panels. A pre-installed clamp enables quick mounting to standard 35 mm DIN rails. The UPS also has a wide operating temperature range to withstand cold and hot environments.
AC models are available with 500 VA (DIN500AC) and 850 VA (DIN850AC) power ratings. DC models are available with 240W (DIN24240DC) and 480W (DIN24480DC) power ratings.
What size UPS do you need?
UPSs are given a power rating in volt-amperes (VA) that range from 300 VA to 5,000 kVA. This rating represents the maximum load that a UPS can support, but it shouldn’t match exactly the power load you have. To allow room for growth, the best practice is to choose a UPS with a VA rating that is 1.2x the total load you need it to support. If your UPS will be supporting motors, variable-speed drives, medical imaging devices or laser printers, add more VA capacity to your requirements to account for the high power inrush that occurs when those devices startup.
Companies that are anticipating rapid growth should use a higher multiplier than 1.2x. Newer server hardware tends to have higher power requirements than older models, so factoring in additional VA will account for adding more and newer equipment.