As a microenterprise, small or medium-sized enterprise, or even for a large company, your IT infrastructure should not be taken lightly. Facing technological challenges that affect all areas of activity, all equipment within companies must be selected with the utmost care.
While you may have already thought about some of them, such as servers for storing your data, electronic devices to carry out your profession, or computers for all the employees in your organization, it is possible that you do not have all the equipment you need yet. Among the accessories most often overlooked by companies, one cannot fail to mention uninterruptible power supplies, but which type of uninterruptible power supply to choose more precisely?
What is an uninterruptible power supply?
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, is a device that provides backup power during a power outage. In practice, the different types of uninterruptible power supplies allow you to protect your equipment such as your computers, servers, or other electronic devices that are not specifically related to IT. This helps you avoid failures, power surges, or voltage drops.
Indeed, in the event of a power outage, the uninterruptible power supply can then take over instantly, preventing machines from shutting down and the data loss that could be associated with it.
3 types of uninterruptible power supplies based on your needs
Companies may need to use three types of uninterruptible power supplies depending on their usage. Specifically, whether you have the opportunity to work in the healthcare sector, energy, IT, or even for construction work, there are definitely uninterruptible power supplies made for you!
Off-line uninterruptible power supply
An off-line uninterruptible power supply, or sometimes “stand by“, is a very common type of uninterruptible power supply that protects against very short power outages or surges. Generally, they help protect computers or small IT devices.
Line-interactive uninterruptible power supply
You might need to opt for a line-interactive uninterruptible power supply to regulate voltage or better protect yourself against disruptions in the electrical current. Although it is often said that these uninterruptible power supplies are better suited for SMEs with a few office equipment, it actually depends on many other factors to consider.
On-line uninterruptible power supply
Among the uninterruptible power supplies often regarded as the most expensive, on-line uninterruptible power supplies usually come in first. These uninterruptible power supplies, sometimes referred to as “strong>double conversion“, have the advantage of providing continuous, filtered, and uninterrupted power.
Companies generally use these uninterruptible power supplies for the most critical cases, such as healthcare facilities, industrial buildings, or data centers that host millions of data.
How to choose the right type of uninterruptible power supply?
If you have never had the opportunity to buy an uninterruptible power supply for your company, you are likely hesitating between off-line, line-interactive, or on-line uninterruptible power supplies. To help you clarify this topic, let’s take a closer look at the different criteria to consider:
Identify your electrical needs
One of the first actions you must take before choosing an uninterruptible power supply is to precisely identify your electrical needs in your company. Specifically, this materializes with the power to cover in VA/kVA.
You can obtain this required power based on:
- The types of equipment you have in your company
- The number of equipment in your premises
- The desired duration of your devices’ autonomy
Evaluate the level of criticality
During your analysis, be sure to properly assess the critical level of your devices, and ask yourself precisely what the impact of a power outage could be on your professional activity. If you realize that the impact is minor and that you could ultimately work if a power outage occurred for a few minutes, an off-line uninterruptible power supply should suit you well.
On the other hand, if you work in a much more sensitive area, it is preferable to opt for a line-interactive uninterruptible power supply or an on-line uninterruptible power supply if you feel that you absolutely need to maintain your activity.
Consider the available space
Even if you think you have enough space to place an uninterruptible power supply in your company premises, do not forget to consider the necessary space for this type of installation. Indeed, an uninterruptible power supply cannot always be placed in any environment and must take into account temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
In case of doubt, do not hesitate to ask further questions from uninterruptible power supply vendors. They will not hesitate to direct you towards a specific type of uninterruptible power supply based on your needs and the space available to you.
Manufacturers also provide technical recommendations for the installation of their uninterruptible power supplies, to ensure that they are installed under the best possible conditions.
Plan for future developments
Companies that choose to install uninterruptible power supplies sometimes do so in anticipation, driven by an immediate need, but too rarely prepare for the future. Yet, it’s an essential question to ask yourself if you want to choose the right type of uninterruptible power supply for your organization.
Indeed, if you choose a type of uninterruptible power supply too quickly, such as an off-line uninterruptible power supply, you may regret your choice if you find out that it does not meet your needs in the coming years. Consequently, to avoid having to change your uninterruptible power supply too quickly, you must also take the time necessary to evaluate your company’s situation in the coming years. Today, one of the best options also consists of choosing modular solutions, whether with parallelable uninterruptible power supplies or with expandable batteries.
