Uninterruptible Power Supplies, What’s The Bare Minimum Required
Feb 22, 2010 Tech News
If this is your first time buying a UPS system, you may find that you are completely lost, and that are wondering what you need. Here we provide a broad outline of the various types of uninterruptible power supplies on the market. From the home user to the industrial client, every user will need a different degree of power protection. The following should, hopefully, make the process a little easier for the new uninterruptible power supply buyer.
So let us say that you want to provide yourself with a UPS system in order to protect against power outages, spikes and so on. Thst is an excellent decision on your part, but what type of uninterruptible power supply do you need?
Essentially, there are three levels of need for UPS systems.
Home
A home uninterruptible power supply user’s needs are typically the least demanding. Generally, all you need is something to make sure your computer stays on for a few extra minutes in the event of inconsistencies with your primary power supply. Just long enough to save whatever you were doing on your PC and shut it down safely without worrying about losing any data or frying the motherboard.
As a home uninterruptible power supply user, you also have more options than anyone else when it comes to buying backup power, as there are literally thousands of products available for this purpose. Some are better than others, of course. For example, Riello is typically seen as one of the leaders in this market, but there are also dozens of companies who have a, well, shall we say not so sterling reputation.
Business
A typical business owner or manager’s needs from their UPS systems unit are similar to that of a home user, although a bit more demanding. You are going to need to supply uninterruptible power to several computers, or else to a wireless network. In any event, you’ll need something just a bit more heavy duty than the UPS systems marketed at the home computer user.
You should expect to pay a little bit more than the home user, but you should realise the fact that a UPS system for your business is actually much more of an investment than a simple convenience.
Industrial
Industrial UPS is the most specialised market and the most demanding. Rather than simply keeping a computer or a series of work stations up and running, an industrial UPS is usually tasked with the job of maintaining power for an entire building. To put this into perspective, most of the support for the industrial uninterruptible power supply market comes from hospitals, where there is a need for power to constantly be on in order to curb any safety and health risks.
Typically, an industrial UPS systems system will be based on a pre-existing unit, but will have to be customized to an extent when it comes to installation and integration. Every single building and business will need a different level of backup, so industrial UPS is a difficult thing to mass produce.
Tags: power protection systems
Is A Battery On Your Shopping List
Feb 1, 2010 media technology
Shopping for double A batteries is a fairly easy procedure, but shopping for APC batteries for your power protection systems, such as an RBC7, can be a little more complicated. The process, however, can actually be really easy if you know what to look for and what to do beforehand. Here, we hope to simplify the process by laying out exactly what steps need to be taken.
If you are shopping for a replacement battery, it’s one of those events, that can either be really really simple or a major hassle. Do you just point and click when ordering a replacement battery as there are a few steps you need to take prior to this.
There is no guarantee, for starters, that when you order a replacement battery, that you are actually going to receive the correct one. Unlike, say, triple A batteries or 9 volts, which all really come in the same size and shape, there are dozens of different shapes and sizes for any given APC battery.
Furthermore, manufacturers of equipment that uses RBC7 batteries are frequently known to change specifications without notice, so just know that you can’t, say, rely on the specs listed on the manufacturer’s website, but rather, you actually will have to take the battery out of your unit and see what the specifications are.
Certainly, one of the most common complaints dealt with at APC battery retailers is that the customer’s new RBC7 doesn’t fit, no matter how they try to put it in. It can be a very costly event if the wrong shape, size battery has been ordered, as it is perceived to be the responsibility of the buyer to send the wrong battery back, at their own expense of course. This also means you will be paying out a second time to get a new battery shipped. Before ordering your RBC7 replacement batteries, check the specifications.
As for when, exactly, you should replace your RBC7 battery, as a general rule, most APC batteries will last longer than one year, but not as long as two years. However, nothing is set in stone and there are many exceptions. You will find that some batteries may last longer than a year or so, whereas others may not even last a year. Using the warranty as a guideline, is usually the rule of thumb when it comes down to replacing your battery. This is due to the fact that the battery is guaranteed to last as long as the warranty. If you want to look after your ups system and have continual uninterrupted power supply, then it really is better to replace it before it expires.
In truth, a good made battery will last much longer than the warranty, but if the retailer only offers a one year warranty, then it would be wrong to assume the battery will last longer. It’s important to replace your RBC7 as soon as the warranty runs out. You need to remember that your powerware needs to be working in an emergency; so why wait until something terrible happens to find out your battery does not work. By replacing it in a one year period, you will be certain to be safe in an emergency.
Tags: power protection systems, uninterrupted power supply, ups system