06 February 2023
Martin Ryder, channel sales director, Northern Europe, Vertiv
It’s crucial for enterprises to have a reliable power supply to keep operations running smoothly. With downtime costing businesses greatly in both monetary and reputational terms, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an essential component of any power management strategy, providing backup power in case of outages or other disruptions.
UPSs can provide anywhere from a few minutes of backup power – enough to safely shut down workstations and servers or allow backup generators to kick in – to lengthier periods of backup power provision. Understanding how to choose a UPS that’s the best fit for your organisation requires having a firm handle on how much power your IT and other critical systems draw and your tolerance for downtime for each application.
But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best UPS for your needs. How do you determine the right size, runtime, and features for your enterprise?
- Determine your power needs: This is a critical first step. Start by determining the wattage of your equipment, the number of devices you need to power, and the amount of runtime you require.
- Consider your budget: UPS systems can range in price from a few hundred pounds to several thousand pounds, depending on the size and features. Determine your budget upfront so you can choose a UPS that fits your financial constraints, but keep in mind that innovative models can provide savings on energy and maintenance costs in the long run.
- Look for energy efficiency: UPS systems can be a significant source of energy consumption, especially for larger enterprises. Look for a UPS with a high efficiency rating to minimise your energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint.
- Specify different types of battery chemistry: UPS systems use different types of battery chemistry, such as lead-acid or lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries are the most technologically advanced choice and offer a variety of benefits for UPS systems, but there are cost implications to be had too.
- Evaluate the runtime options: UPS systems come with different runtime options, including short runtime, which is suitable for bridging short power outages, and long runtime, which is suitable for extended outages.
- Consider the installation environment: UPS systems come in different form factors, including rack-mount, tower, and external battery packs. Ensure you assess the space available in your server room and choose a UPS that fits your needs.
- Look for advanced features: In addition to a variety of form factors, UPS systems also offer advanced features such as remote monitoring, automatic shutdown software, and expandable battery packs to provide added protection and convenience for enterprises. Consider which features are important to your enterprise and select a UPS that offers them.
- Consider the topology: When selecting a UPS, consider the different topologies available: online double conversion, line-interactive, and offline (also called standby and battery backup). An online double-conversion UPS will provide the greatest power protection, while a line-interactive UPS offers power conditioning and battery backup. An offline UPS provides protection against most spikes and can ride out many shortages, but it does not maintain perfect power during minor sags and surges.
- Decide between single-phase and three-phase: Single-phase AC power is commonly used for household and light commercial applications, while three-phase power is typically used for larger data centres and other commercial and industrial facilities..
- Choose a reliable vendor with a great track record: Before making a purchase, research the reputation of the vendor. Look to reviews and to colleagues and peers.
Selecting the best UPS for your enterprise requires careful consideration of your power needs, budget, energy efficiency, runtime options, topology, form factor, advanced features and more. By following these tips, you can find a UPS that helps ensure reliable power for your operations.
