Generally, when purchasing an impassive item, like an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), we look for the lowly price of the simplest unit that meets necessities. However, liberal rewards wait for those that look around, and think, about cost-effective resolutions previous to buying UPS. UPS systems defend computers when utility power is obtainable and continue to supply conditioned power from batteries during a power outage. As per the exact application, basic necessities should be defined, such as the type of the UPS, its Capacity in VA (Volt-Ampere) or kVA (kilo-VA) units, and the battery backup time. Here are seven points to deem buying a Power UPS:
- As a rule: For better defense, the Line Interactive type should be favored over the Standby type and the On-Line type over the Line Interactive type. So, unless other considerations reign, select the better system if its price is only somewhat higher.
- Contrast specified UPS price to the cost of the next size system. Consider buying a larger unit, if the added price isn’t important. Bigger UPS enables to amplify future loads, it has a larger battery with increased backup time and expands battery lifetime.
- Consider purchasing a larger system if you have to add to battery capacity, further than the standard battery coming with the UPS. You might pay for a larger UPS, already equipped with the battery size, significantly less than the cost of the smaller system with an extensive battery.
- Check the cost effect of splitting the load or acquiring systems that can work in parallel. In some cases, the price of two systems, each rated half total capacity, maybe lesser than a single UPS system.
- Consider using numerous stand-alone single-phase UPS systems, rather than a three-phase UPS, provided loads and fitting allow. Usually, the cost of two or three single-phase units is less than one three-phase system. Many systems may in certain cases amplify power reliability by adding redundancy.
- Consider the cost of using three single-phase UPS systems, each fed from a diverse phase, instead of a single three-phase UPS system, provided loads and fixing permit. This pattern lets continuing fractional operation, in case of a single UPS or input phase failure.
- In the redundant arrangement, two or more units work in parallel, whilst at least one is a standby unit. Thus full power is supplied even if a single UPS fails. Check probable combinations to find the lowest cost.
Based on standard prices of low-power UPS systems, the cost of an Online UPS is almost twofold contrasted to the Line Interactive type. This ratio reduces when power grows. You will almost certainly have to add only 10% to buy 5 KVA Online UPS. Executing the recommended cost-efficient points, previous to buying an Uninterruptible Power Supply, might lead to better resolution with radically lower cost. Local accessibility and price of the precise system, as well as additional technological restraints on using the recommended resolutions, should all be checked before a final choice is made.