What is an uninterruptible power supply. What is an uninterruptible power supply for the home and why is it needed in the household? Connecting an uninterruptible power supply for a computer

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Requirements for the quality of electricity are legally prescribed by state standards and rather strict regulations. Electricity supplying organizations make a lot of efforts to comply with them, but they are not always implemented.

In our apartments, and in production, periodically there are:

complete power outages for an indefinite time;

aperiodic short-time (10 ÷ 100 ms) high-voltage (up to 6 kV) voltage pulses;

surges and voltage drops with different duration;

high-frequency noise pads;

frequency drifts.

All these malfunctions negatively affect the work of residential and office electricity consumers. Particularly affected by the quality of power supply are microprocessor and computer devices, which not only fail, but can also completely lose their performance.

Purpose and types of uninterruptible power supplies

To reduce the risks of faults in the power supply network, redundant devices are used, which are commonly called uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or UPS (derived from the abbreviation of the English phrase "Uninterruptible Power Supply").

They are manufactured in different designs to meet specific customer needs. For example, powerful UPSs with helium batteries are able to keep an entire cottage on power for several hours.

Their batteries receive charge from a power line, wind generator, or other carriers of electricity through an inverter rectifier device. They also feed the electrical consumers of the cottage.

When the external source is disconnected, the batteries are discharged to the load connected to their network. The larger the battery capacity and the lower their discharge current, the longer they work.

Medium power uninterruptible power supplies can back up indoor climate control systems and similar equipment.

At the same time, the simplest UPS models can only complete the computer emergency shutdown program. Moreover, the duration of the entire process of their work will not exceed 9-15 minutes.

Computer uninterruptible power supplies are:

built into the device case;

external.

The first designs are common in laptops, netbooks, tablets and the like. mobile devicespowered by a built-in battery, which is equipped with a power and load switching circuit.

Laptop battery with built-in controller is an uninterruptible power supply. Its circuit automatically protects operating equipment from power failures.

UPS external structures, intended for the normal completion of programs of a stationary computer, are manufactured in a separate unit.

They are plugged into an electrical outlet via the AC adapter. Only those devices that are responsible for the operation of programs are powered from them:

system unit with a connected keyboard;

monitor displaying ongoing processes.

The rest of the peripheral devices: scanners, printers, speakers and other equipment are not powered by UPS. Otherwise, in the event of an emergency termination of programs, they will take on a part of the energy accumulated in the batteries.

Options for building UPS operating circuits

Computer and industrial UPS are manufactured in three main options:

power supply redundancy;

interactive scheme;

double conversion of electricity.

In the first method backup scheme, denoted by the English terms "Standby" or "Off-Line", the voltage is supplied from the network to the computer through the UPS, in which electromagnetic interference is eliminated by built-in filters. It is also installed here, the capacity of which is maintained by the charge current regulated by the controller.

When the external power supply disappears or goes beyond the established standards, the controller directs the battery energy to power the consumers. A simple inverter is connected to convert DC to AC.

UPS Standby Benefits

Uninterruptible power supplies of the Off-Line scheme have high efficiency, when the voltage is applied to them, they work quietly, generate little heat and are relatively cheap.

disadvantages

UPS Standby stand out:

long transition to battery power 4 ÷ 13 ms;

a distorted form of the output signal produced by the inverter in the form of a square wave, and not a harmonic sinusoid;

lack of voltage and frequency adjustment.

Such devices are most common on personal computers.

UPS interactive circuit

They are designated by the English term "Line-Interactive". They are performed according to the previous, but more complicated scheme by switching on a voltage stabilizer using a step-controlled autotransformer.

This provides a correction for the value of the output voltage, but they are not able to control the signal frequency.

Noise filtering in normal mode and switching to inverter power supply in case of emergencies occurs according to the UPS Standby algorithms.

The addition of a voltage stabilizer of various models with control methods made it possible to create inverters with a waveform of not only a square wave, but also a sinusoid. However, a small number of control stages based on relay switching does not allow full stabilization functions.

This is especially typical for cheap models, which, when switching to battery power, not only overestimate the frequency above the nominal, but also distort the shape of the sinusoid. Interference is introduced by the built-in transformer, in the core of which hysteresis processes occur.

In expensive models, inverters operate on semiconductor switches. UPS Line-Interactive have a faster transition to battery power than Off-Line UPS. It is provided by the operation of synchronization algorithms between the input voltage and the output signals. But at the same time, there is some underestimation of the efficiency.

Line-Interactive UPS cannot be used to power induction motors, which are massively installed throughout household appliances, including heating systems. They are used to operate devices with where the power is filtered and rectified at the same time: computers and consumer electronics.

Double conversion UPS

This UPS scheme is named after the English phrase "On-line" and operates on equipment that requires high quality power supply. It performs a double conversion of electricity, when the sinusoidal harmonics of the alternating current are constantly converted by the rectifier into a constant value, which is passed through the inverter to create a repeated sinusoid at the output.

Here the battery is permanently connected to the circuit, which eliminates the need for its commutation. This method practically eliminates the period of preparation of the uninterruptible power supply for switching.

The operation of the UPS On-line according to the battery condition can be divided into three stages:

charging stage;

waiting state;

discharge on the computer.

Charge period

The sine wave input and output circuits are interrupted by an internal UPS switch.

The battery connected to the rectifier receives charge energy until its capacity is restored to optimal values.

Ready period

After the end of the battery charge, the automatic power supply unit closes the internal switch.

The battery maintains a standby state.

Discharge period

The battery is automatically transferred to the power supply of the computer station.

Uninterruptible power supplies using the double conversion method have a lower efficiency when powered from the line than other models due to the energy consumption for generating heat and noise. But in complex designs, techniques are used to increase efficiency.

UPS On-line is able to correct not only the voltage value, but also its oscillation frequency. This distinguishes them favorably from previous models and allows them to be used to power various complex devices with asynchronous motors. However, the cost of such devices is much higher than previous models.

UPS composition

Depending on the type of working scheme, the uninterruptible power supply kit includes:

accumulators for accumulating electricity;

Ensuring maintenance of the battery performance;

inverter for sine wave formation,

process control scheme;

software.

For remote access to the device, a local network can be used, and the reliability of the circuit can be increased due to its redundancy.

In separate uninterruptible power supplies, the "Bypass" mode is used, when the load is powered by the filtered mains voltage without the operation of the main circuit of the device.

Part of the UPS has a “Booster” step voltage regulator, controlled by automatic equipment.

Depending on the need to carry out complex technical solutions, uninterruptible power supplies can be equipped with additional special functions.

To maintain the operability of devices in case of network failures, an uninterruptible power supply unit is used. Depending on the type of consumers served and the parameters of electricity, you need to choose different models. These devices are in demand, therefore, it is not difficult to acquire the copy that is necessary according to the characteristics.

But before buying, you need to independently understand its features, and not entrust this issue to managers interested in sales.

In this material, we will consider the design and features of the UPS, and also talk about the rules for its use.

For household needs, devices for uninterruptible power supply are used, connected to a single-phase 220 V network, which can supply consumers that require the same voltage for some time in the absence of electricity.

There are also UPSs that are connected to the input to a three-phase network, and give either 380 V or 220 V to the output. However, they are expensive, they are used if necessary to receive autonomous power from 10 kVA, which is not required for domestic needs.

Household UPS AC according to the scheme of operation are divided into the following types:

backup (offline);
interactive (line-interactive);
double conversion (online).

They differ in the quality of the output voltage and the price. The cheapest are backup, and the most expensive are double conversion.

A rectifier is used to convert AC to DC in the charger. And the reverse transformation takes place using an inverter.

In uninterruptible power supplies, to switch the circuit from the network to the battery, as a rule, ordinary electromechanical relays are installed. If this part is of high quality, then its resource is enough for the entire operation time of the UPS. But most often, if a block breaks down, the problem lies precisely in this structural element.

The interactive circuit differs from the backup one by the presence of a voltage stabilizer. It is designed as a typical autotransformer with directly connected windings.

Voltage stabilization is also present in many household devices, so if the deviations are insignificant, then there is no point in purchasing a more expensive line-interactive model.

The presence of a transformer often forces the manufacturer to use forced cooling, so such UPSs are equipped with coolers. They emit noise comparable in intensity to the operation of a computer system unit.

To measure the load of devices, you can either use an ammeter or calculate it using the readings of the meter installed in the apartment.

In the presence of a stabilizer, the voltage of the intra-house network will be brought to the standard indicators. This will also affect devices that are not connected to the UPS.

With a reduced voltage, the current flowing through the internal network increases. For example, suppose the total power of the consumers connected to the UPS is 1.5 kW and the supplied voltage is 190 V.

I 1 \u003d 1500/190 \u003d 7.9 A - current in the circuit to the UPS without a stabilizer;
I 2 \u003d 1500/220 \u003d 6.8 A - current in the circuit to the UPS with a stabilizer.

Thus, an intra-building network without a stabilizer will experience an increased load, which could not be taken into account when choosing a wiring cross-section.

Therefore, with a constant undervoltage, it is better to install a stabilizer. In this case, the load on the UPS autotransformer will be less, which will extend its service life. In addition, taking into account the voltage equalization, you can purchase cheaper uninterruptible power supplies.

Uninterruptible power supply of DC consumers

For some devices, you need to provide uninterruptible power supply with direct current of 12, 24 or 48 V. UPS of this type is also on sale. They are labeled with the abbreviation “DC”. Blocks with a voltage supply of 60, 110 or 220 V also exist, but they are used in industry or energy.

The difference between DC uninterruptible devices in the internal device from classical models is the absence of an inverter. The batteries are connected directly to the output via a contactor with a current-limiting measuring shunt to prevent an impermissibly deep discharge of the batteries.

Sometimes a stabilizing converter may be at the output if the devices powered by the UPS are sensitive to small voltage fluctuations.

These redundant power supplies are used to protect the following household DC equipment:

and protection;
all kinds of sensors (leaks, smoke, fire, movement, etc.);
lighting systems;
telecommunication devices;
communication systems;
control system components.

Many DC UPSs have the option of connecting external batteries. In this case, the autonomous operation of the devices they serve can be very long.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Briefly about the main characteristics of household UPS:

The variety of UPS types and their characteristics is a consequence of the different conditions of their use: the power and type of connected devices, parameters and typical problems of a particular power grid. An uninterruptible power supply is usually not the most expensive element in the system, but the stability of its operation depends on it. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the operating conditions and carefully approach the choice of the model.

Still have questions on the topic of the article? Or can you supplement this material with interesting information about UPS? Please write your comments, ask questions, share your experience in the block below.

The power supply should be characterized not only by indicators of the magnitude of the voltage, but also by the high reliability of its supply. This is the main property of its quality. Power outages both at home and at work lead to losses. If in everyday life this may be unsaved information on a computer, then in industry this often leads to material losses and to a decrease in product quality or to marriage. It is known that all electrical systems are divided into categories in terms of the reliability of their power supply, and the third category of consumers cannot boast of an uninterrupted supply. In order to protect the network from power outages, special uninterruptible power supplies have been developed.

What is an uninterruptible power supply and their types

An uninterruptible power supply is a device designed to provide voltage to consumers in the event of a short outage of the main power supply network. An additional task is also to protect against interference in AC circuits, and to maintain the characteristics of the supply voltage within the required limits. For ordinary apartments and houses, a short-term lack of voltage in the network of the womb is only a loss of data that was unsaved. Suppose that when writing a thesis for a whole day, all work can be destroyed by a loss or decrease in voltage in the network for just a minute. In cases when the heating is disconnected from the power supply, this can lead to freezing and failure of the entire system. This applies to hot water heating and, in particular, the operation of pumps that circulate water. An uninterruptible power supply protects electricity consumers from shutdown by installing rechargeable batteries, which guarantee at least a short period of time that the mains voltage is maintained within the required limits. At the same time, they are often equipped with a signaling light and sound mechanism so that the consumer takes timely measures to prevent an emergency. For a person working on a computer, this is a banal saving of data to a hard disk or USB flash drive.

However, an uninterruptible power supply will also help eliminate other power problems, these are:

Reducing the frequency of the supply voltage. The frequency of the mains voltage in all CIS countries must be 50 Hz. Not many people know that when this parameter is changed, electrical appliances will not work stably or even fail altogether.
Decrease in supply voltage or its complete absence. This is the most common type of power supply deterioration. And since Soviet times, the total power of all electrical appliances has been constantly increasing in each house, which undoubtedly affects the load of the entire power supply network.

Uninterruptible power systems are divided into:

centralized, installed to ensure the reliability of power supply for the whole house or floor;
distributed, ensuring the operation of a particular house or electrical device.

By design and by the principle of operation, UPSs are divided into:

Off-line UPS or standby. The principle of operation of such a device is aimed at instant switching to a backup autonomous power source in the event of an emergency. They are usually equipped with a built-in rechargeable battery and an inverter. It is the inverter that converts the constant voltage supplied by the battery into the alternating one needed for the operation of electrical appliances.
Line-interactive type. They also have a stabilizer at their disposal, which works during the entire operation and turns on the built-in batteries only in the event of a complete absence of voltage or its decrease to those values \u200b\u200bwhen stabilization is no longer possible. The stabilizer, in turn, can be assembled on an autotransformer or on semiconductor devices. Stabilization on semiconductor devices is characterized by quiet operation and large control limits. To switch the windings of the autotransformer, relays are used, which, when triggered, emit a sound and therefore are audible to human hearing.

12 Volt uninterruptible power supply

However, an uninterruptible power supply may also be necessary to provide voltage only for certain systems:

Access control and management systems. That is, electric drives of doors, gates, etc., which can restrict or allow access of people to the protected area;
Video surveillance systems;
Fire extinguishing systems;
Various security systems.

All these types have one feature in common: they are designed to be powered from a constant voltage of 12 volts. An uninterruptible power supply 12V of this nature can provide a voltage required systems and devices, even with prolonged de-energization of the entire facility. The recharging of the built-in batteries is carried out continuously with a normal supply of voltage. Depending on the design, the 12V uninterruptible power supply can turn on the batteries with different intervals of mains voltage failure. The time of such a switch must be consistent with the operation of the supplied systems and it is clearly indicated in the UPS passport. Often, video cameras, electromechanical locking mechanisms can easily tolerate the disappearance of the supply voltage for 1 ms.

Turning on to an autonomous power mode can be triggered not only by a disconnection or decrease in the mains voltage, but also by its increase. This feature will save electrical appliances from burnout and failure. One of the demanded additional functions of UPS systems is the notification of personnel by an alarm signal and interaction with other security systems. One of the exceptional features of all 12 Volt stand-alone power supplies is their compact size, which makes it possible to mount them on a wall. The housing is equipped for this with special fasteners or holes.

When servicing such devices, you only need to monitor the suitability of batteries and their ability to hold capacity. Some models are equipped with a battery testing mechanism, while others require battery replacement every three years. 12V uninterruptible power supply is a special type of this equipment that must withstand a long-term loss of supply electricity.

Industrial uninterruptible power supply

In production and in industry, not a single-phase, but a three-phase network is used for power supply, which has higher power and better efficiency. Three-phase circuits are used to power most of the electric motors found in many industrial systems. Therefore, in some cases, a three-phase UPS is used, of course, for a voltage of 380 volts to reduce rejects in the event of a voltage loss or change. The power of such devices is much higher than that of single-phase systems, therefore, the dimensions, respectively, also start from 10 kVA.

Three-phase industrial uninterruptible power supplies can also be made with three-phase input or single-phase output voltage. At the same time, the dimensions of such a device and the power are much smaller, and there is no phase imbalance effect at the output.

Industrial uninterruptible power supplies should also be chosen in accordance with the ambient temperature of the room, because in hot workshops it can reach more than 50 degrees.

Choosing an uninterruptible power supply

As well as before buying any electrical equipment, and when choosing a UPS, you should approach this issue carefully. In this case, the following parameters can be distinguished by the aspen selection criteria:

Connected equipment power;
Input and output voltage, and possible fluctuations in the value and quality of the supplied electricity;
Duration of work offline;
The interval for turning on the autonomous power supply in case of voltage quality deterioration or its complete disappearance;
Functional and additional built-in devices;
The size of the device and its dimensions;
Service life of rechargeable batteries;
The ability to turn it on without supplying input voltage;
Manufacturer and country of origin.

The main qualities of a good UPS

An uninterruptible power supply for the home must have the following qualities:

Low noise level both in stand-alone and in normal state;
Reliability;
Easy to operate;
As much as possible offline mode.
Compactness.

Common UPS models

The uninterruptible power supply market is well developed and this device cannot be called in short supply. Among the popular models, I would like to highlight a few that have shown themselves to be quite reliable in everyday life and there are no special complaints about their work:

Power supplies of the STARK brand. Not very powerful devices operate comfortably up to 3 kVA. Made on the basis of a microprocessor that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. Switching from the autonomous operating mode takes 2–5 sec. It is quite enough for one piece of equipment.

Luxeon. Their power reaches ten kVA, so it can provide an entire apartment or a country house with electricity during a decrease in the magnitude or quality of voltage.

SVEN is developed by the UPS of the RESERVE HOME series. This device has optimal characteristics for organizing an uninterrupted supply of electricity to an apartment or house. He found application both for keeping heating systems in constant readiness, and for organizing security and video surveillance. A high-quality battery for an uninterruptible power supply of the device, thanks to which it can provide backup power to consumers for a long period of time.

IPB video

UPS stands for "uninterruptible power supply". English abbreviation - UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) , therefore, the names OUPS, UPS, upsnik are also common.

The main function of an uninterruptible power supply is to ensure the supply of electricity to the equipment connected to it during outages in the main network. But, depending on the type of equipment, the parameters of such an autonomous power supply may be required radically different. Accordingly, the UPS market offers different types of devices that differ in a mass of parameters:

operating principle: offline, line-interactive, online;
type of automatic voltage regulation;
the quality of filtering network noise;
capacity (the number of amp-hours, or in other words - how long it will last for battery life);
time of switching to batteries in case of power outage;
the ability to connect additional external batteries;
various additional functions (filter sockets, sockets for telephone and network cables, LCD display, synchronization with a PC), etc.

How to choose a UPS with such a variety of models ? How to understand how they differ?In this article, we will look at the main types of uninterruptible power supplies, their differences, and what additional functions the manufacturers equip the UPS with. The next one is how to choose a UPS depending on the features of your equipment, how to calculate its required power, etc.

Three main types of UPS

Off-line (Back-UPS, standby, uninterruptible power supply)

Backup UPS example: model .

The principle of operation of this type of UPS is very simple:

As long as the utility has power within the specified limits, the UPS supplies power to the connected devices directly from the utility while recharging the battery. The power passing through the UPS is not regulated at the same time, the filtering of impulses and interference occurs at the simplest level, using passive filters. The waveform corresponds to the mains signal, i.e. a sine wave.

As soon as the mains power fails, the UPS transfers to battery power. The inverter, which converts DC current from the battery into AC output, in this type of UPS is one of the simplest, so the waveform does not correspond to the correct sinusoid. The maximum that manufacturers are doing is to bring it a little closer to a sinusoid, making it stepwise.

The UPS also switches to off-line autonomous power supply if the voltage level in the network drops below or rises above the threshold values, they may be different depending on the brand of the UPS.

The switching time to batteries in various models ranges from 5 to 20 ms. This is relatively high, and for some equipment such a long delay can adversely affect performance. ... Long-term operation of the relay is due to the fact that the device needs to match the phases of the mains and battery voltages at the moment of turning on the autonomous power supply, and since they are not synchronized, it takes some time.

Scheme of operation of a backup uninterruptible power supply.

Pros of Standby UPS:

inexpensive price,
high efficiency,
silent work.

Disadvantages:

long switch-over to battery operation (5 to 20 ms);
the output waveform is not a sinusoid;
filtering noise, noise and impulsesrather rough on the line;
there is no regulation of voltage and frequency when operating from the network.

Line Interactive UPS

Line Interactive UPS Example: Model

Buyers choose this type of uninterruptible power supplies most often, as it optimally combines functionality and price.

The principle diagram of the operation of line-interactive UPS includes AVR - a module for automatic regulation of the incoming mains voltage. That is, unlike a standby UPS, it not only passes power through itself, but also stabilizes it, though not smoothly, but step by step.

When operating on mains power at normal voltage levels, the line-interactive uninterruptible power supply passes the incoming signal through passive interference and noise filters while charging the battery.

When the mains voltage rises or falls, the line-interactive UPS performs stepwise correction. When the voltage reaches a certain threshold, the AVR will lower or lower it by a fixed amount (or percentage). There can be several such thresholds-steps in the AVR operation scheme, and a different number of correction steps can be designed to work with a lowered and increased level (for example, 2 - for increasing, and 1 - for lowering).

If the mains voltage drops or rises to values \u200b\u200bthat lie outside the available input range of the UPS, the device switches to battery operation, as in the case of a complete power outage. These minimums and maximums may vary depending on the load on the UPS. For example, if the UPS is loaded at 70%, and the voltmeter shows 160V in the network, the UPS switches to the batteries. And at 30% load and 150V, it still adjusts with an AVR transformer.

Some of the line-interactive models do not differ in any way in the form of the output signal from the standby UPS: they have a step sine wave. Some manufacturers, especially with the growing demand for UPS for boilers, equip their UPS with inverters that produce the correct sine wave.

The transfer times to battery operation are shorter in pure sinusoidal line-interactive UPSs than their standby counterparts. The reason is that in UPSs of this type, the voltage waveforms coincide (both from the network and from the battery it is a sinusoid), which speeds up the phase synchronization and, accordingly, the start of the autonomous power supply.

Pros of line-interactive UPS:

reasonable price,
silent work,
automatic adjustment of the input voltage,
in some models - a pure sine wave at the output,
switching time is less than in standby ones (on average 4-8 ms, in some models 2-4 ms).

Disadvantages:

there is no frequency adjustment,
insufficient filtering of interferences, noises and network pulses,
voltage regulation is not smooth, but stepwise,
The efficiency is lower than in an off-line uninterruptible power supply.

Double conversion UPS (on-line)

Example of a double conversion UPS: model .

This is the most expensive but also the best type of UPS. It is optimally suited for expensive, capricious equipment for which not only DC voltage is important, but also frequency, as well as effective noise filtering, a signal in the form of a pure sine wave and no delays when switching to battery operation.

In fact, such an uninterruptible power supply works constantly, stabilizing, filtering the input signal, equalizing the frequency and shape of the output signal.

In mains mode, the incoming AC voltage is stabilized and converted into DC by the rectifier and distributed between the battery (for recharging, if necessary) and the inverter. The inverter converts direct current to alternating current, giving out a signal in the form of a pure sine wave, correct frequency, correct voltage. Interference and noise are completely absent - they simply do not remain after double conversion.

Such a constant "inclusion" of the uninterruptible power supply into the network gives one of its significant advantages: instantaneous switchover to battery operation... Actually, it is even difficult to call it "switching", since the power goes through the rectifier, battery (during charging) and inverter constantly. At the moment when the mains voltage drops below the threshold values \u200b\u200bor a complete power outage, the inverter simply begins to take some of the energy from the battery, and not from the rectifier. It happens instantly.

Double conversion UPSs usually have another mode of operation: bypass. This is a backup line that runs directly from the input to the output of the UPS, bypassing the rectifier, battery and inverter. It allows at critical moments for the UPS: overload (for example, starting currents), failure of the inverter, and others - to send electricity to the connected devices directly, avoiding the failure of the device elements.

Continuous operation of the UPS has a certain disadvantage: increased heat dissipation, which requires efficient cooling. Therefore, UPS online is most often equipped with fans, which makes their operation in residential premises not as comfortable as other types of silent UPS.

Pros of Online UPS:

constant voltage stabilization,
constant frequency stabilization,
pure sine wave at the output,
effective filtering of noise, impulses and interference,
instant switch to batteries.

Disadvantages:

high price,
increased noise level,
the lowest efficiency among all types of UPS.

When choosing an uninterruptible power supply, you need to take into account that there are exceptions. Some line-interactive UPSs can be more expensive than online models from another manufacturer, the transfer time to battery operation in a standby UPS may not be longer, or even less than in some kind of line-interactive UPS, etc. in any case it is necessary to read the characteristics of a particular model

Additional UPS functionality

In addition to determining the type of uninterruptible power supply that you need, when choosing a UPS, you should also pay attention to what functionality is included in it. UPS can have various additional functions and design features:

Synchronization with PC... This function is present in not the cheapest models, but it is very convenient. Through special software The UPS transmits data in real mode to the computer about the state of the power line, the level of battery charge. In addition to the purely informational component, there are also such opportunities as, for example, an autonomous shutdown of a computer while saving data in all applications in case of a power outage.

Cold start... An uninterruptible power supply equipped with this function can be turned on in the absence of power in the network. For example, the light went out, you saved the documents, turned off the computer and UPS, but after a while there was an urgent need to copy the document to a USB flash drive. A UPS with cold start support can be turned on even if there is still no utility power and the job can be done.

Previously, the connectors for connecting devices in an uninterruptible power supply looked like this:

This IEC 320 connector is perfect for connecting a variety of computer equipment. However, equipment with a regular power cord, the same WiFi router, cannot be connected to it. For these purposes, you can use a surge protector with a similar connector, which is connected to the UPS, and already include various equipment in it. But this is not always convenient.

Therefore, now many models began to simply be supplemented with Schuko-type sockets (in our country they are often called European sockets) so that the equipment can be turned on directly:

Interference filtering sockets.The UPS may be equipped with a receptacle or multiple outlet for sensitive equipment that does not provide power support during a power outage, but protects the connected equipment from mains noise.

Sockets for telephone line, twisted pair... High-voltage pulses can be transmitted not only directly over an electric power cable, but also in the event of various accidents and breakdowns - both over a telephone cable and over twisted pair. To protect telephone, network and computer equipment, some manufacturers provide special connectors (input / output), where you can connect a telephone or Internet line.

Continued in the next article.

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When purchasing a computer, many often forget that in addition to a system unit, a monitor and a mouse with a keyboard, it is very important to purchase such a component as a UPS (that is, an uninterruptible power supply). This additional device allows you to provide temporary autonomous power for the computer, due to the presence of a battery in the UPS.

Why do you need a UPS at all, you may ask? The answer is really simple. There is an opinion that a UPS is needed only in case of frequent power outages. However, it is desirable to have an "uninterruptible power supply" even just for reinsurance, in cases when a short circuit in the network suddenly occurs, or the light will be turned off from a voltage surge.

Thanks to the UPS, during a sudden power outage, you can turn off your computer without losing data and various failures that are often encountered during an abrupt power outage. Due to the battery built into the UPS, your computer can work autonomously for a while, it all depends on the battery capacity and the power of the UPS itself.

How does the device work? The UPS should be connected to the network, and then the system unit and the monitor should be connected to the UPS. If there is a great need, then you can also connect a printer, speakers and other equipment, but it's better not, because this is an extra load on the UPS, all this will greatly shorten its battery life. After turning off the light, you will be given 5-10 minutes so that you can have time to save everything, close required documents and applications and turn off the computer.

One of the most important points when choosing this device - this is the correct choice of the principle of its operation. It is at this point that we will dwell in more detail.

Redundant UPS. The principle of operation of such UPSs is based on recharging the battery while the voltage is stable, while the equipment operates on the mains power supply. During periods when utility power is not available, power to the computer switches to a charged UPS battery. The UPS has an average battery life of approximately 10 minutes. This is a fairly simple classical principle of operation of an uninterruptible power supply, as a result of which it has not too high a price. All this determines the popularity of purchasing just such UPS for home use. At the same time, there is also a minus of the backup UPS operation: during power surges, the UPS will not help, since it does not have the functions of a voltage stabilizer.

There are UPSs with a line-interactive operating principle. Such UPSs have a much more complex system, but such UPSs include in their functions the need to stabilize the voltage in the event of surges. In such a UPS, there are transformers that, if necessary, equalize the voltage without transferring the operating mode to autonomous mode, that is, the computer is powered from the mains.

Thus, it is necessary to choose an uninterruptible power supply for permanent use depending on the needs, taking into account also the range of prices for them. All the best and smooth operation of your computer.