3 Phase UPS for Commercial Buildings

Written by Nite and Day Power on September 27, 2022.

Are you considering a 3-phase UPS for your commercial building? The 3 phase UPS provides an even more reliable approach to delivering battery backup power. To understand just why a 3-phase UPS is superior in many cases, you need to know a little bit about how electricity is delivered.

Understanding Phase in Electrical Delivery

The phase describes the current or voltage as mapped out over time. Under ideal operating conditions, a phase graph would show a gently curving wave going up and down, then up again. In technical terms, this is a sine wave. It represents a safe and steady transfer of power to equipment.

Having high-quality energy transfer makes a substantial difference when you’re working with sensitive equipment. Voltage spikes and sags can damage electronic components and shorten the lifespan of mission-critical equipment like high-end servers.

Single-phase power distribution uses a dual-wire alternating current power circuit, which entails just one power wire and one neutral wire. This is also referred to as residential power, because it is used almost exclusively for domestic power consumption needs from lighting, heating, and small appliances.

Since the flow of one-phase electricity comes through a single wire, there are many more situations that disrupt the current between the electrical utility and the endpoint in your building. Conversely, a three-phase power connection consists of three separate conductors.

Although lights flicker and air conditioners may cycle on and off when power quality is low, single-phase power poses few risks to these relatively simple devices. On the other hand, commercial buildings use three-phase power. The UPS must be designed to work with the building itself.

The Benefits of a 3-Phase UPS System

While a single-phase UPS may be appropriate for small consumer goods, a 3 phase UPS means a more robust option capable of handling larger loads and supporting more sophisticated equipment. Here are some of the key differences that a 3 phase UPS system offers a Bay Area business:

Additional conductors mean you do not need to worry about a single point of failure
Phase-to-phase voltage for a 3-phase UPS system is higher than single-phase voltage
A 3 phase UPS system can handle much higher power demand than a single-phase one
The initial investment in the 3 phase UPS system is greater, but it also lasts much longer