What Exactly Is a UPS Power Supply?

A UPS or ‘Uninterruptible Power Supply” is meant to be a secondary source of power for something. They are typically used for computers, servers, routers, and other hardware that requires power and that is memory-based. They are meant to provide power on-demand as the original power source is lost. This can keep hardware from experiencing failure due to sudden power loss and even minimise the potential for data loss. After all, computers are full of a lot of components that are susceptible to being damaged from a sudden change in power delivery.

These units have become increasingly popular for a lot of homeowners because of the benefits they come with. However, they are even more common in business environments due to the variety of components that they can save in the event of power loss. A UPS system can be one of the best investments you make in the longevity of your computer and other hardware components because it can provide you with surge protection and it can keep you from experiencing data loss because of a hardware failure.

What Is a UPS Battery?

A UPS power supply typically has the same orientation no matter if it’s a consumer-based or professional setup. They are typically placed between the main socket on the wall and the hardware that it’s powering. They can have a variety of hardware plugged into it because they usually have multiple sockets. While it does vary based on the intended usage of the UPS system, they are typically on the smaller side of things. After all, they are meant to provide sufficient time to shut off these devices safely. They aren’t usually meant to run these devices on as an independent secondary source.

VRLA or Lead-Acid Batteries

These are usually lower maintenance and they are usually looked at as very basic yet reliable UPS power supplies. These typically have a 5-year lifespan and they have a built-in ventilation system to control and manage the gas build-up during the charge and drain cycles. This is an important part of the function that is switched on by the strategically placed internal sensors within the unit. Because of this, this type of battery does best when it’s kept in a very dry place that has good temperature control such as an office.

Li-Ion UPS Batteries

These batteries are much more compact and have a lot less weight to them. They are typically capable of providing a range of built-in power management features that you wouldn’t get with other options and provide you with apc ups battery replacement uk. They usually have features like voltage balancing and even advanced charging. A lot of the brands you’ll find offering this type will advertise a longer expected lifespan over lead-acid alternatives. Therefore, they could prove to be a much more value-packed option in the long run. However, they are usually much more expensive upfront because they cost more to produce.

VLA Batteries

This is the other option that you can consider when you are looking to buy UPS batteries. These are typically the types that aren’t as widely available as they tend to be manufactured for specific use-cases. Usually, they are meant for specific environments that call for them. They are potentially hazardous unless they are kept completely away in a battery storage saferoom. Also, they typically require a lot more maintenance than some of the other options.

What Does a UPS System Do?

As mentioned previously, the intended use-case of a UPS system is to provide a temporary and secondary source of power to various hardware to keep that hardware from getting damaged and experiencing data loss.