How to choose a UPS: manufacturer reviews and advice on choosing

The stability of computers and many other devices - both household and those used in production - depends on whether the power supply to which the devices are connected is uninterrupted. In the event that electricity is malfunctioned, there may be a situation in which the UPS can not do without. What is the purpose of these devices? Based on which criteria should you choose uninterruptible power supplies for PCs and other types of equipment?

Is it worth buying a UPS?

Before considering how to choose an UPS, it is useful to determine whether it makes sense in principle to purchase an uninterruptible power supply. So, if we are talking about the need to only stabilize the voltage in the network, then for this, other, more affordable devices can be used - for example, special network filters.

But if there is a need to ensure the functioning of the device in the event of interruptions with electricity supply, then no UPS can not do without. Of course, if the device has a reliable built-in battery - the need for an uninterruptible power supply and in this case may be absent.

Procurement of UPS is a significant expense item for large enterprises. At the same time, managers can face a wide variety of questions: how to choose the optimal uninterruptible power supply, which battery to choose for a UPS for a computer, an industrial device, an element of the heating infrastructure.

UPS Classification

In accordance with a common approach among specialists, UPSs are classified into the following main types:

- back-up;

- linear-interactive;

- UPS class online.

Let's consider their features in more detail.

Standby UPS

Backup UPS is designed for use mainly in cases where a device that is powered by a power outlet should be maintained in a functional state with regular power outages. This UPS is sufficient, in particular, to ensure the operation of the computer - for example, if necessary, while there is no electricity, save the file or complete the game. Many experts advise users who are thinking how to choose a UPS, pay attention to the feature of many models of devices of the appropriate type: they lack stabilizing elements. This means that when the computer goes to backup power, there is a small break in the supply of electricity.

Linear Interactive UPS

Line-interactive UPS are characterized by high resistance to voltage drops. To which, in turn, the backup devices are sensitive. Line-interactive devices have a number of features, they should also be taken into account when considering the question of how to choose an UPS. Thus, these devices can form network interference, which fall into the public network. In addition, the corresponding type of device is characterized by a rather high noisiness, which makes it difficult to place them in living quarters. But, one way or another, their main advantage is resistance to voltage drops, makes the corresponding UPSs in demand.

Online UPS

UPS type online have, according to experts, the highest resistance to voltage surges. In addition, they do not create network jamming. Thus, they do not have the drawbacks characterizing other types of UPS, considered above. However, the corresponding devices are significantly more expensive. In addition, it should be borne in mind that in some cases they are inferior to standby and linear-interactive energy efficiency.

There are other criteria for classifying the devices under consideration. In many cases, the question of how to choose a UPS should be considered in the context of, first of all, the equipment for which the corresponding device is purchased. Thus, the characteristics of a UPS adapted for a PC may differ significantly from those that have a device designed, for example, to connect to a gas boiler. The point is that this device is designed to ensure the functioning of the relevant equipment as a complex infrastructure component of the heat supply system.

Therefore, it is not easy to choose the UPS of gas boilers proceeding from this feature: in particular, it will be necessary to study in detail the power indicators of the devices, their compatibility with specific types of technological infrastructure.

UPS power as a criterion for device selection

Thus, power is one of the key criteria for choosing an uninterruptible power supply. It is measured in volt-amperes or VA. If necessary, they can be converted into watts. For this, the index in the volt-amperes must be multiplied by 0.6.

The required power of the UPS depends on the device to which it is intended to be connected. For example, if there is a question on how to choose a UPS for a computer, then it is worthwhile to focus on an uninterruptible power supply with a power of at least 500 volts-amperes. The device designed to operate the gas boiler must have a non-comparable high power. In turn, if you need a UPS for a refrigerator - how to choose it, of course, consultants can always tell when acquiring the appropriate type of equipment, but the buyer should have guidelines on the parameters of the device in question - then its power will be closer to that which characterizes the UPS for PC.

The next most important criterion for choosing a device is the duration of its autonomous operation in the absence of electricity.

Duration of autonomous work

The considered parameter is most often expressed in minutes, sometimes in hours. If there is a question - how to choose a UPS for the house, then you can pay attention to those solutions that provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity for about 5-7 minutes. As a rule, this time is enough to make the necessary operations with the computer. However, if we consider the refrigerator, it will obviously require substantially longer autonomous operation of the device. In principle, turning off the refrigerator for 5-7 minutes is not critical, and in this case even the UPS does not have to connect to it. But if such outages are regular or substantially longer, then an uninterruptible power supply will be needed, and it should work significantly longer than the specified time-for example, about 20 minutes.

The next most important criterion for choosing a UPS is the number of devices that can be connected to the corresponding device.

Choose UPS: the number of devices to connect

Uninterruptible power supplies are most often equipped with a number of outlets from 1 to 8. What kind of UPS to choose, considering devices with different number of outlets?

The answer here is not always obvious. The fact that experts advise to pay attention not only to this indicator, but also on the quality characteristics of the sockets. So, among them there may be those that have increased protection against interference in the electrical network, and can be ordinary. If the UPS is selected for a computer, you can buy a device that has about 4-6 outlets, and you do not need to have a device that is protected from overfalls. UPS for more powerful devices can already require special outlets.

Features of the electrical network as a criterion for choosing a UPS

The next most important criterion for choosing a UPS is the features of the electrical network functioning in a building or room where uninterruptible power supplies are installed. So, if the network works without failures, then, probably, the user will not have to buy expensive devices that have the appropriate security.

UPS selection: nuances

Consider a number of nuances that characterize the choice of an uninterruptible power supply.

It is desirable that the UPS provides switching the device to battery power in no more than 10 milliseconds. Only in this case the computer will continue to function fully - for example, in the mode of starting the game or editing the document. But it is worth noting that most modern models of backup uninterruptible power supplies meet this criterion.

True, if the power failure is too frequent, the battery installed in the UPS may be overloaded. In this case, the user may soon need to solve another problem - how to choose a battery for the UPS, the cost of which is not always available. In this case, it may be advisable to consider buying a line-interactive UPS. These devices are usually equipped with a voltage regulator, which operates in an automatic mode. A suitable type of uninterruptible power supply can, by transferring the device to which it is turned off, by the battery, adjusting the output voltage if the voltage in the network increases or decreases.

In turn, if it is necessary to ensure the highest possible system stability to the appearance of problems in the network, it is better to focus on more expensive, but at the same time, technological UPS type online.

UPS selection by power: nuances

Select the power of the UPS, optimal to ensure the operation of the device - a task whose solution is also characterized by a number of nuances.

So, experts advise to purchase uninterruptible power supplies having a capacity approximately 30% higher than the device to which the UPS is supposed to connect. In the case of computers, this is due to the fact that the PC sometimes goes to a power significantly higher than that which corresponds to the average load on the device - for example, due to the active use of the processor.

It may well be that the user may need to install a more powerful hardware component in the system unit of the computer - for example, a cooling system or a video card. This hardware upgrade can significantly increase the overall capacity of the system connected to an uninterruptible power supply.

Another criterion that should be considered when deciding how to choose a UPS for a computer in terms of power is the number of additional devices that are supposed to be used simultaneously with the PC in the offline mode. For example, it could be a printer: it is quite possible that when the computer is de-energized, the user will need not only to save, but also to print the document. If the printer will work simultaneously with the PC, especially if it is a question of printing a large number of pages in a row, then the total capacity of the system can jump by an order of magnitude. Here, the mentioned reserve of an uninterruptible power supply is useful.

UPS selection for battery life: nuances

As a rule, to save documents and even complete key operations with programs, the user will need about 5 minutes. Therefore, if objectively there is no task in carrying out work with files that requires a lot of time, then there is no need to buy uninterruptible power supplies that provide autonomy for the above 20 minutes or more. In this case, it is possible to choose a good UPS, albeit not designed for long autonomous work, at a very democratic price, from a branded manufacturer.

UPS Selection: Software

Another notable criterion, according to which an uninterruptible power supply can be selected, is the availability of this device with functional software. The fact is that situations in which users most often need to operate the UPS are quite typical. In the event that the device to which the uninterruptible power supply is connected - the PC, then its operation, as a rule, is accompanied by the need to quickly save the files. Many manufacturers of appropriate devices implement similar algorithms for data protection at the level of firmware.

Advantages of such solutions can be that the files will be saved, in accordance with the program, even if the user for some reason will not be at the computer. In many cases, the UPS is also equipped with not only sockets, but also connectors for connecting peripheral devices - for example, those that are powered by a USB cable. Some uninterruptible power supplies are adapted to protect network equipment and other devices that operate using technology interfaces.

UPS Selection: Controls

Another important criterion, which can be guided, considering the question of which UPS to choose is the convenience of managing the device. The user should not, in principle, encounter any special difficulties in bringing the device to operational readiness, and if necessary - in disconnecting it, replacing the battery, carrying out the simplest diagnosis. Many devices of the appropriate type are equipped with fairly informative built-in displays, on which the various parameters of the device can be reflected. For example - the level of voltage in the network, the power consumed by the system.

In addition, manufacturers of uninterruptible power supplies can also deliver to the market and specialized software that will allow the user to receive the same data, as well as many others - directly to the PC screen. And this will be another aspect of the convenience of managing the device, which you can pay attention to when choosing the optimal model of an uninterruptible power supply.

UPS selection: battery replacement

Important, as many experts believe, the criterion for choosing a UPS is the availability of the ability to change the batteries in it. It happens that the user has to quickly replace the battery. For example, if the network is very often experiencing voltage surges, while the device may not be designed for operation under such conditions. Therefore, it is desirable that the owner of the equipment to which the uninterruptible power supply is connected, was able to relatively easily purchase an average of the assortment of a computer store and install new batteries in the UPS.

UPS Selection: Manufacturers

So, how to choose the right UPS, we now know. But many users make decisions about buying the appropriate devices, focusing on the manufacturer. The most popular brands that produce uninterruptible power supplies include:

- APC;

- HELIOR;

- Huawei;

- CyberPower;

- Powercom;

- BASTION.

Each of these manufacturers produces competitive and demanded equipment - reviews of experts and users can confirm this. Based on the opinions present on the thematic portals, it is difficult to objectively identify the best and worst UPS models. Anyway, focusing on these brands, in most cases, the user will be able to find a device suitable for both functionality and cost.