[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, should be installed in every office and server room, but particularly in areas that are mission-critical like server rooms, in order to safeguard the computers and other electronic devices housed there. Nevertheless, which UPS best meets your requirements? It’s possible that it will be different depending on the situation. Consider the following questions to aid in your selection of a rack mount UPS system.
1. In-line interactive vs online
When professionals think about UPS equipment, desktop UPS systems often come to mind. These are suitable for desktop PCs; however, rackmount UPS systems are more suitable for data centres and server racks.
A line-interactive UPS limits voltage fluctuations to a predetermined threshold. When the voltage goes below or climbs over the threshold, an internal transformer takes power from the batteries to either increase or decrease the voltage to return it to the acceptable range. As long as the voltage remains within the acceptable range, however, the batteries do not provide electricity.
A line-interactive UPS offers greater voltage control because it continuously transforms incoming power into battery charge. The battery power is then transferred to an inverter, which is utilised to power your devices. This approach yields electricity with much-improved voltage precision, but at a cost. In general, online UPS systems cost more than line-interactive systems.
2. How many equipment plugs are necessary?
Ensure that the rackmount UPS you choose has enough outlets to fulfil your present and anticipated future demands. Therefore, if you presently need three outlets but want to grow in the future, you should not choose a device with just three outlets. Consider attaching a power distribution unit if the UPS is no longer capable of accommodating extra equipment.
3. How many watts do you require?
Similar to constructing a workstation or server, you must determine the power requirements of your equipment. Checking the specs of each machine that will be connected to the UPS is an easy way to calculate the power consumption of your server equipment. Without evaluating your power consumption, selecting the proper UPS would be difficult.
Typically, rackmount UPS devices are rated in kilo volt-amps, however, wattage requirements should also be provided. Once you have determined your power requirements, buy a rackmount UPS that surpasses them.
4. Does your device need sine wave power?
This term, along with “pure sine wave output power,” suggests that the output power can be accurately represented by a pure sine wave. Power fluctuations may be seen as steps rather than a smooth sine wave when graphing alternating current (AC) energy drawn from a wall socket. For more delicate systems, using non-sine-wave power might cause difficulties including lost data in storage and, in the worst scenario, broken machinery.
Whether sine wave power is necessary depends on the equipment and the situation; nevertheless, datacentres should employ rackmount UPS systems with sine wave output.
5. How much backup runtime do you require?
The length of backup runtime influences how long the batteries can provide power if the UPS is forced to operate exclusively on the batteries due to a power outage. This duration is highly dependent on the power demand and the battery capacity. Choose a UPS that provides sufficient battery life for your backup generators to come online or for you to securely shut down your equipment.
Conclusion
Answering the aforementioned questions will assist you in selecting a rackmount UPS that matches your use case with the least effort. If your equipment requirements vary drastically, your power protection requirements may also shift. However, with the proper UPS equipment, its capabilities may be expanded to accommodate new needs.
