Online UPS Power Supply

When you hear “online UPS,” you might think an online UPS is a type of UPS that connects to your Building Management System or other online platform so it can be monitored remotely. The truth is, though, that “online UPS” has a completely different meaning that’s unique to uninterruptible power supplies.

An online UPS is arguably the most sophisticated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system on the market. As you look at Bay Area commercial UPS systems, many (if not all!) of them will qualify as online UPS. So, it’s a wise idea to know a little bit about them when you compare your options.

What Is an Online UPS Power Supply?

An online UPS has sophisticated online power conversion technology built directly into the UPS itself. It is in contrast to an offline UPS, a kind of UPS that you’re most likely to see in residential applications or the least demanding commercial environments. Almost all of the best commercial UPS systems are online UPS.

How Does an Online UPS Power Supply Work?

An online UPS has one of two types of power conversion technology built right into it:

Double Conversion

Under a double conversion system, the equipment supported by the UPS system never receives electricity from the AC outlet itself. Instead, AC power travels to a rectifier that translates it into DC power. The DC power goes to the onboard batteries of the UPS system and then to an inverter.

Once the power is inverted back to AC, it is delivered from the inversion process back to the equipment. This means the power actually received by the equipment will always be “clean,” without sags or spikes that could damage sensitive computer equipment. This approach is used in virtually all major data centers.

Delta Conversion

Delta conversion makes use of a similar process to double conversion, but it is somewhat simplified. Some of the electrical power that the UPS system initially receives skips inversion. Instead, a fraction of total power is diverted to key equipment items, such as computers or networking devices.

This makes the system more energy efficient, because some of the output will skip the processing steps. But it does mean that some equipment pieces might not always get perfectly “clean” power. As a result, it’s essential to evaluate the needs of your equipment and ensure the right power is going to the right places.

Where Might You Use an Online UPS Power Supply?

Online UPS systems are routinely used in the most demanding applications, including these:

Hospitals and Clinics

Whenever human safety is in the balance, online UPS systems are undeniably the best option. Large hospitals use online UPS systems alongside backup generators, adding significant redundancy to their operations. Even smaller clinics often use online UPS in a limited way – for instance, to support anesthesia in a dental office.

Data Centers

Data centers rely on online UPS systems because even a brief surge or sag in power can cause damage to hard drives, motherboards, and other internal equipment. The artificial intelligence industry, which requires “always on” power for training artificial intelligence networks, uses online UPS systems almost exclusively.

Laboratories

Laboratories, such as those used in the medical sciences, might rely on 100% “always on” electrical power. They may need reliable power to refrigerate specimens that could otherwise be lost, for example. Or they might be powering equipment that manages and maintains the extreme sterile conditions in a “clean room.”

Nite & Day Power will help you select, install, and maintain the right online UPS power supply for you.

Contact us to find out more or get started today.