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Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) keeps equipment running on battery when the mains fails and protects it from surges and dips. The range is mostly Eaton, including 3S tower units, 3P Ellipse units, 5SC, 5PX, 9PX and 9SX rack and rack/tower models, extended battery modules and a relay card. Other makers include Hikvision with backup UPSs, Uniti Power with online UPSs and Comnet with outdoor DC battery kits, plus AMG Systems, APC, Riello UPS and Verint.

Choosing Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

Size a UPS by the load it must carry and how long it must run, then pick the topology and the form that fits where it goes.

Capacity in VA and watts

A UPS is rated in VA and in watts, and the connected load must stay under the VA and the watt figure. The Eaton 3P700I gives 700 VA and 420 W and the 3P1300UI 1300 VA and 840W, while unity power factor models such as the 5PX3000IRT3UG2 give 3000VA and 3000W. Hikvision backup units include the DS-UPS600-R/UK at 600VA/360W and the DS-UPS3000-R/UK at 3000VA/1800W.

Line-interactive or online

Line-interactive units such as the Eaton 5S1500i, 5PX1500IRTNG2BS and ELP1200IEC run the load on mains power and switch over to battery when it fails; the ELP1200IEC adds automatic voltage regulation. Online double-conversion units such as the 9SX5KIRT3UG2 and 9PX6KiBP31 constantly regulate voltage and frequency, with an internal bypass for service continuity if the UPS faults.

Tower, rack or hardwired

The 3S850B and 5S1500i are tower units. Rack models such as the 5SC1000IR take 2U, and rack/tower models such as the 5PX2200IRT3UG2 convert between the two. Units such as the 9PX3000IRTBPH and 9SX5KIRT3UG2 are hardwired into the installation.

Runtime and management

Extended battery modules add runtime: the 9SXEBM48T and 9SXEBM36T suit 9SX units and the 9PXEBM72RT3U the 9PX. The RELAY-MS card gives a dry-contact interface for automatic shutdown on Eaton UPSs with a Mini-Slot.

ModelCapacityTypeForm
Eaton 3P700I700 VA, 420 WEllipse, 4 outletsTower
Eaton 3S850B850 VA, 510W4 UK plus 4 surge-only UK outletsTower
Eaton 5S1500i1500VA, 900WLine-interactiveTower
Eaton 5SC1500IR1500VA, 1050WAVR, sinewave outputRack, 2U
Eaton 5PX3000IRT3UG23000VA, 3000WAVR, sinewave outputRack/tower, 3U
Eaton 9SX5KIRT3UG25000VA, 5000WDouble conversion, hardwired inputRack/tower, 3U
Hikvision DS-UPS2000-R/UK2000VA, 1200WBackup UPS, AVR, LCD—

Brands we stock in Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

AMG Systems, APC, Comnet, Eaton, Hikvision, Riello UPS, Uniti Power and Verint.

Eaton makes most of the range, including its own extended battery modules and a relay card.

Related categories

Distribute UPS power around a cabinet with rack-mount PDUs or the wider power distribution units (PDUs) range, mount it in server racks and cabinets, and see transformers and voltage regulation for supply conditioning.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use a UPS at home?

Yes, a small UPS can keep a home router, computer or alarm running through short power cuts and protect them from sudden shutdowns. Size it by the power your devices draw, in watts, and the runtime you need. A line-interactive tower with standard outlets suits a typical home. The range here includes compact tower units and rack or tower models.

How do you size a UPS?

Add up the power your equipment draws in watts, then choose a UPS whose watt rating exceeds that total with some headroom, because the VA figure alone can mislead. Then check the runtime at that load. Where it is too short, choose a model that accepts extended battery modules. The range here includes UPS units and separate extended battery modules.

What is an uninterruptible power supply?

An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, is a battery-backed unit that keeps equipment running through a power cut long enough to ride it out or shut down safely. It also protects servers, network equipment and security systems from brief dips and surges in the mains. Ratings are given in VA and watts, with runtime depending on the load.

How does an uninterruptible power supply work?

A UPS keeps its battery charged by the mains and moves the load onto battery when the supply fails or drifts out of range. A line-interactive UPS also corrects small voltage changes, while a double-conversion online UPS powers the load through its inverter continuously for the cleanest output. The range here includes line-interactive and double-conversion models.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
  • UK-only supply

Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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