UPS types (or topologies) include standby, line-interactive and on-line. They are explained in more detail above in Top 3 UPS Features and compared below in the UPS Comparison Chart.
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If you are selecting a UPS for a home or office application, you will likely choose between standby and line-interactive UPS systems. Standby UPS systems typically cost less and have some of the smallest space requirements. Even if cost is your primary concern, however, always consider a line-interactive UPS. The price difference is negligible in many cases. If you want to protect valuable and sensitive computers and electronics, especially in locations with unstable utility power or frequent storms, choose a line-interactive UPS whenever possible.
If you are selecting a UPS for a network application outside your home, such as protecting servers and network hardware for a business, you will likely choose between line-interactive and on-line UPS systems. Generally speaking, line-interactive UPS systems have lower acquisition costs and on-line UPS systems provide significantly more protection. The question comes down to whether the extra protection is worth it to you, and that usually depends on your application and tolerance for disruption and downtime. How much does it cost to replace damaged equipment? How much does it cost in revenue and aggravation if your network is down for a while?
For most types of equipment, line-interactive UPS systems provide excellent, cost-effective protection. For critical equipment essential to productivity, devices sensitive to power quality and locations with difficult power conditions, on-line UPS systems are a better choice. They provide complete isolation from most power problems, the strongest protection against costly downtime and the best compatibility with sensitive equipment.
Key Point: If budgetary considerations require you to use a line-interactive UPS where you would prefer an on-line UPS, make sure it provides pure sine wave output in battery mode instead of pulse width modulated (PWM) sine wave output.
ShojinRyori:
Can anyone kindly recommend one suitable for outlets in Italy? I&#;m most interested in a continuous system, as mentioned in the below article.
Hi and welcome to Babypips. I am by no means an expert, but I have lived in the Philippines where brownouts were common in summer (decades ago) but more of a challenge was Syria, where outages could be up to 6 hours per day (20 years ago). Now you are lucky if you get 4 hours ON per day in the city, and an hour a day in the sticks.
hbcy contains other products and information you need, so please check it out.
Before you believe my answer at face value please always check with an Italian supplier or engineer to validate my calculations and statements.
First advice. Buy a UPS made in Italy, and preferably from a local dealer who can offer break/fix support. Alternatively a global brand like APC. Locals know best. The line voltage to domestic supplies in Italy is 220-230V EU standard and outlets should be two pin round + external earth - a Schuko socket. If the property is old, that may not be the case. Use a Schulo adapter in that case. Depending on where you are living you may also wish to buy a surge protected UPS or an extension lead with in-built surge protection if lightning is a common occurrence or building ground rod is not good.
Second, find out how much power your UPS consumes. You could do this yourself by plugging an inline watt meter and measuring the power consumption over a few days.
Third, figure out the frequency of power outages (or power dips that cause your electronic equipment to reset) and how long the outages last. A good retailer of electronic goods should be able to tell you.
Fourth, work out how many hours you really need to stay online before losing connection. You may also try to find out how long the local exchange (or street side box) has power autonomy designed for. This used to be 12 to 24 hours for a local exchange but has fast reduced in recent times. It may only be 2 to 4 hours anyway which means even if your router is protected, the local exchange or streetside cabinet may not be.
Fifth, figure out what duration of autonomy you want to design for, and remember in the worst case you can always either trust your stop loss or close all trades out.
Your broadband router may typically consume 70W. If you want the router to be powered for four hours, that is 70W x 4 hours = 280WattHours or 0.28kWh. UPS units are rated in kVA (kilovoltamperes) not kW. A safe conversion factor for kW to kVA is to divide the kWh consumed by 0.7 (or multiply the kW load by 1/0.7 = 1.4. So if you are consuming 240Wh in 4 hours that is 240 x 1.4 kVA = 336kVA. A 500kVA UPS should be more than adequate to power your router for 4 hours autonomy. Your laptop batteries should last from 4 to 8 hours depending on model. A desktop machine would need powering from the UPS, so best to use a laptop.
Finally you can subscribe to always on services that are accessed via a browser. Check out the cost of such services, it may be cheaper than gearing up to cope with power cuts for long periods of autonomy.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website uninterruptible power supply distributors.