What is UPS Power Backup?

2 min read
11/28/22 9:00 AM

Are you looking for a better battery backup option that will improve your system while providing you with a reliable power supply? Look no further, because lithium-ion power for UPS offers a variety of features that can change the game for your organization. They are more eco-friendly than their VRLA counterparts, but that is only where the benefits begin. Keep reading this blog post to learn more about why lithium-ion power for UPS is the right choice for you and your organization!

What is an Uninterrupted Power Supply and How Does It Work?

An uninterruptible power supply or UPS is sometimes also referred to as a battery backup. As you might imagine, it provides backup power when your regular power source fails or you experience an unacceptable drop in voltage. A UPS is designed to allow for the safe shutdown of computers and connected equipment, and the size and design of the UPS determine how long it will supply power. There are three basic types of UPS:

  • Standby is the most basic UPS topology. It resorts to battery backup power in the vent of a blackout, voltage sag, or voltage surge. This type of UPS is designed for consumer electronics, entry-level computers, POS systems, security systems, and any other basic electronic equipment.
  • A line interactive UPS corrects minor power fluctuations without switching to battery using an autotransformer. This type of UPS is typically used for consumer electronics, PCs, gaming systems, home theater electronics, network equipment, and entry-to-mid-range servers. It provides power during a blackout, voltage sag, voltage surge, or over-voltage.
  • A double-conversion or online UPS provides constant power regardless of the condition of the incoming power supply. This type of UPS is designed to protect mission-critical IT equipment, data centers, high-end servers, large telecom installations, and advanced network equipment. It protects against damage from a power blackout, voltage sag, voltage surge, over-voltage, voltage spike, frequency noise, frequency variation, or harmonic distortion.

Why Should I Choose Lithium-Ion Batteries For My UPS Power Backup?

VRLA batteries used to be the only option for mission-critical applications, but not anymore. Not only do lithium-ion batteries offer a longer lifespan, increased power density, and a smaller footprint, but they are also more eco-friendly and cost-efficient. This means you will be replacing your UPS batteries less often, and they also require less energy to stay charged in case of an outage.

Let’s put this into perspective: a lithium-ion backup power supply has three times the lifespan of a VRLA backup power supply. That means that when you invest in lithium-ion, you are investing in a battery backup that supports critical functions during an outage, and that backup will continue to function consistently over several years without needing to be replaced. This is not true of the VRLA backup power supply, which is low cost but only has a lifespan of three to fifteen years maximum if run for only five minutes at a time. By comparison, a lithium-ion backup power supply has a fifteen to twenty-year lifespan with a runtime of anywhere from two to twenty minutes.

What’s The Bottom Line?

With a lithium-ion battery backup, you will achieve higher power density with a smaller footprint. Specifically, you can expect your lithium-ion battery backup to be 40% to 60% smaller and 60% lower in weight, which means you can leverage this free space for more critical equipment. Most importantly, you will not have to sacrifice power for space, and you can enjoy a lower total cost to own and a longer life span for your UPS.

Are you struggling to find the right UPS power backup for your organization’s needs? 

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