As a microenterprise, small or medium-sized business, or even for a large company, your IT infrastructure should not be taken lightly. In the face of technological challenges that affect all areas of activity, all equipment within companies must be selected with utmost care.
If you have probably already thought about some of them, such as servers to store your data, electronic devices to perform your profession, or even computers for all the collaborators in your organization, it is possible that you do not yet have all the equipment you need. Among the accessories most often forgotten by companies, it is impossible not to mention uninterruptible power supplies, but which type of uninterruptible power supply should you choose more precisely?
What is an uninterruptible power supply?
An uninterruptible power supply, or UPS, is a device that provides backup power in the event of a power outage. Specifically, the different types of uninterruptible power supplies allow you to protect your equipment such as your computers, your servers, or other electronic devices that are not specifically related to IT. This allows you to avoid outages, surges, or drops in voltage.
Indeed, in the event of a power outage, the uninterruptible power supply can then take over instantly, which prevents machines from stopping and the data losses that could be associated with it.
3 types of uninterruptible power supplies based on your needs
Businesses may need to use three types of uninterruptible power supplies depending on their usage. Specifically, whether you have the opportunity to work in healthcare, energy, IT, or even for construction work, there are certainly uninterruptible power supplies made for you!
Off-line uninterruptible power supply
An off-line uninterruptible power supply, sometimes referred to as “stand by,” is a very common uninterruptible power supply that protects against very short power outages or surges. Generally, they are designed to 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 disturbances in the electrical current. Even though it is often said that these uninterruptible power supplies are more suitable for SMEs with some office equipment, this actually depends on many other factors to consider.
On-line uninterruptible power supply
Among the uninterruptible power supplies often considered to be the most expensive, on-line uninterruptible power supplies are often at the forefront. These uninterruptible power supplies, sometimes referred to as “double conversion,” have the advantage of providing continuous, filtered power, and without any interruption.
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 purchase an uninterruptible power supply for your business, you are likely hesitating between off-line, line-interactive, or on-line uninterruptible power supplies. To help you gain clarity on the subject, let’s take a closer look at the various criteria to take into account:
Identify your electrical needs
One of the first actions you need to take before choosing an uninterruptible power supply is to precisely identify your electrical needs in the company. Specifically, this translates to the power to cover in VA/kVA.
You can obtain this necessary power based on:
- The types of equipment you have in your company
- The number of equipment in your premises
- The desired duration of autonomy of your devices
Evaluate the level of criticality
During your analysis, make sure to properly assess the critical level of your equipment, 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 indeed 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 advisable to opt for a line-interactive uninterruptible power supply or an on-line uninterruptible power supply if you believe it is imperative to maintain your activity.
Consider the available space
Even if you believe you have enough space to place an uninterruptible power supply in your company premises, do not forget to consider the space necessary 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.
If in doubt, do not hesitate to ask more questions to 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 you have available.
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, for an immediate need, but too rarely prepare for the future. And yet, this is 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 realize that it did not correspond to your needs in the years to come. Therefore, to avoid having to change your uninterruptible power supply too quickly, you must also take all the necessary time to evaluate the situation of your company over the next few years. Today, one of the best options is also to choose modular solutions, whether with parallelizable uninterruptible power supplies or with expandable batteries.
