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Choosing a UPS System 101: The Fundamentals

2 min read | Updated Sep 2022
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An Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) cleans power available to the connected equipment. It is used to protect electrical loads from blackouts, power spikes, and voltage dips. The Smart UPS - Lithium Ion batteries of the UPS let you ride through short power outages. The variety of sizes and technology available for UPS solutions can make it difficult to choose the right model for your application.

The UPS also referred to as a surge protector, is made to guard against damage, shortened life spans for electrical devices, and decreased performance brought on by surges and erroneous voltages.

The battery backup offers you enough time to shut down servers, video gaming consoles, and other sensitive equipment without losing any data or progress. Additionally, different UPS systems offer varying degrees of protection against other potential power issues.

Knowing what you'll do with the battery power in case of a power outage is crucial. What if you only wanted to worry about correctly unplugging all of your networked devices? Do you want to continue using your DVR and TV even while the power is out?

Therefore, the runtime must be determined right away for this. The runtime of a UPS system describes how long the connected devices will have access to power during a power outage. The minimum runtime is the amount of time needed to properly shut down your equipment.

In the event of a power loss, it is crucial to remember that the number of watts supported affects battery life. Furthermore, it's critical to calculate the duration of the device's shutdown to construct an adequate range of runtimes. You are more likely to locate a UPS system that meets your demands if you have more options.

Quick summary

A UPS protects equipment from blackouts, surges, and voltage dips by cleaning incoming power. Battery backup (including lithium-ion options) gives you runtime — enough time to safely shut down devices or keep them running through a short outage.

Choosing the right UPS comes down to two factors: the wattage your equipment draws, and how much runtime you need, which depends on what you actually want covered — just a safe shutdown, or keeping things like a DVR/TV powered during the outage.

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