You can pick up and buy an uninterruptible power supply yourself in the corresponding catalog. And below we will tell you what is important to pay attention to when choosing a device.

UPS should be used for equipment that
really needs an uninterrupted power supply
 

Uninterruptible power supplies provide protection of the electrical equipment connected to them from various problems related to electricity. As already mentioned, the state of the power supply network in the country is very deplorable, cases with sudden voltage surges are by no means rare. In other cases, electricity can simply disappear, and if at that moment the user was working with important data and did not have time to save them, because no one ever warns about a power outage, it's worse for him. No one is immune from this, except for users of laptops and tablet computers, who have enough battery power to save the necessary files and watch a movie.

Types of uninterruptible power supplies

Our catalog contains many different blocks that differ in both price and technical characteristics. It is quite difficult for an untrained user to understand this. To simplify the situation as much as possible, first let's pay attention to the fact that all these models can be divided into three large categories:

1. Backup or offline UPS

One of the simplest and most inexpensive means of protection. The unit connects the equipment directly to the power supply network, and in case of any problems, transfers it to battery power. Everything is extremely simple, but only the reaction speed averages about 10 milliseconds, which is actually a lot — even if not often, but there are cases when the unit does not have time to switch to another power mode and the computer shuts down without saving the data. Such a model can serve as a good solution for protecting a home computer rather in cities with a relatively reliable power supply system. Another point: frequent switching to battery power negatively affects its resource, and after a few months the user may find himself in a situation where the battery needs to be changed. And this is an additional expense. It is quite possible that you will have to spend the money saved on the purchase of a low-cost UPS.

2. Interactive UPS

The inverter UPS is one of the most reliable solutions on the 
in the modern market, they are used mainly for servers
 

Unlike the backup, this "uninterruptible power supply" has a built-in input voltage stabilizer. And when voltage fluctuations occur in the operating range, it compensates for them independently, bringing a constant voltage to the load, and only when it goes beyond this range, it switches to the battery. Such a system, among other things, allows you to increase the service life of the battery itself. The response time is 2-5 milliseconds. Perhaps an interactive UPS is one of the most preferred options for a home computer or office equipment. The middle link between simple and inexpensive backup, as well as advanced, highly efficient, but at the same time very expensive inverter models, which are further discussed.

3. Inverter or online UPS

They are also called UPS with double conversion. This type has the most advanced and reliable protection technology. The peculiarity lies in the fact that the inverter supplying voltage to the load constantly receives power from both the mains and the battery. With a complete power outage, the transition from network mode to offline mode occurs without any interruptions or delays. Also, such UPS have the highest power, can support three-phase connection, are equipped with additional batteries, etc.

In a classic hard disk, the reading head constantly moves over the surface of the plates during operation, and when the computer is safely turned off, it automatically hides in a special parking space. But if the power supply disappears suddenly, the head does not have time to go back and just falls on the plates. This is fraught with damage — from a specific file to the hard disk as a whole.

 

What should I pay attention to when choosing?

First of all, the maximum output power. But first you need to decide what kind of equipment you are going to connect to the UPS. The necessary minimum is the computer itself and the monitor, because without this you still can't save data. To maintain an Internet connection, you will also need a modem or router. But do I need to load the unit with a printer or scanner? Especially when you consider that such equipment consumes a lot of peak power, and this can lead to overload.

On the websites of UPS manufacturers, you can often find special programs that, after specifying the brands and models of all PC components, automatically calculate the power of the system — this may be a more effective solution than determining the power from the computer power supply. Also, when calculating, it is recommended to make a margin of 20-30% for a future upgrade.

The operating time at full load is, accordingly, the time that the unit will provide you to save all the necessary files and safely shut down the computer. Usually, 5-10 minutes for such work is quite enough if we are talking about home and office systems. For server models, it is recommended to use more "long-playing" models.

A visual diagram of the UPS connection, the printer is connected to an outlet without a reserve
 

It is worth paying attention to the time it takes for the IPB to switch between network mode and offline operation. On average, it is 10-15 milliseconds, the perfect value is 5 milliseconds. For the most high-quality and expensive UPS with double conversion, this indicator is generally zero.

You also need to look at the list of additional functions and decide which ones are really necessary. "Cold start" will allow you to turn on the device and supply power to the load in the absence of mains voltage, but if the operating time is less than 5 minutes — will you have time to do what you need during this period?

The ability to connect an external battery will extend the battery life. The high-frequency interference suppression system will ensure a uniform output voltage. Data line protection may not be superfluous if you use modems or fax machines. Sockets without a reserve are not connected to the battery in any way, when the voltage in the main network disappears, the voltage in them also disappears, but such solutions are very convenient for connecting the same printers or scanners. The presence of a display can simply increase the convenience of operation — the user will always be aware of the operating mode, battery status, current parameters or other service information.

Is it possible to do with a simple network filter?

To buy or not to buy an "uninterruptible power supply" is a personal matter for everyone. For someone, an ordinary mains filter is quite enough, which can really save from small voltage surges and serve as a good solution for regions with minimal power supply problems. When the rest of you should still think about purchasing a UPS to ensure the normal operation of the equipment and avoid data loss due to problems with electricity. Even if they have never been observed in your city, this does not mean that you are insured against a wonderful neighbor who decides to start repairs one morning from doing nothing and simply de-energizes the whole house...

 

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