FAQ
What range of Load Value does this UPS selector cover?
This UPS selector covers mini and micro UPS from 600 VA up to and including 120 kVA for home, office and critical IT applications. For product outside these parameters please use the project enquiry form .
How is the Load Value calculated?
This is the VA (Voltage x Current) or Watts for the power of load the UPS will need to support.
What is the Input Value?
This is the input voltage value of the UPS.
What is the Output value?
This is the output voltage value of the UPS.
What is the Back Up Time?
This is the time you need your UPS to support your load while you either i) switch to an alternative source of electrical power ii) safely close down your system, in the case of a mains failure.
What do you mean by Spare Capacity?
If, in the future, you are thinking of increasing the power of your load (e.g. adding new computer equipment to your electrical network), please enter your best estimate of how much additional power you may need your UPS to support.
What is a Tower Model?
UPS designed to sit on the floor or a desk.
What is a Rack 19" model?
UPS for rack installation.
What is a Cabinet UPS?
Enclosed UPS designed to stand on the floor.
What do you mean by Type of UPS?
The type of UPS most suitable for your application and installation.
What does VFD offline Voltage and Frequency Dependent mean?
In VFD mode, electrical equipment (the load) is normally supplied directly from the mains. In the event the mains power supply is lost, the load is automatically, and without interruption, switched from the mains supply to a built-in battery.
What does VI "line interactive" Voltage Independent mean?
The load is supplied by the mains power supply and protected against under and over voltages by an AVR AVR - (Automatic Voltage Regulator) voltage stabilizer. If the mains power is lost, the load is instantaneously supported by the batteries.
What does VFI "online double conversion" Voltage and Frequency Independent mean?
This is the only UPS working-mode that assures total load protection against all possible mains quality problems. The power is converted twice before feeding the load. This provides high quality voltage, stable frequency and protection against power grid disturbances. If the mains power is lost, the load is powered by the battery.
Is it necessary to protect a printer with a UPS?
No, unless it's an industrial-style printer.
Is it necessary to protect a fax machine with a UPS?
Yes and no. It’s not necessary to protect the fax machine itself, but the modem line needs to be protected against excess voltage, which could damage the device.
Are there any norms or standards concerning the choice of a UPS?
There are numerous national (NF) and international (IEC) standards for UPS, but those standards covering safety (NF …), electromagnetic compatibility (IEC …) and quality (ISO) are all given priority. SOCOMEC SICON UPS satisfy all these standards and are also ISO 9001 certified.
Do I need a communication software?
The UPS supplies power back-up in cases of electrical network failure. However, this back-up may not be enough to cover longer cut-offs and you may not be there yourself to correctly close-down your files and your IT system. LOCAL VIEW communication software is designed to automatically carry out all the necessary operations to closedown your system before the end of battery back up. LOCAL VIEW also offers remote communication with your UPS systems:
- Status monitoring
- Control programming
- Statistics print-out for the quality of supplied power
- Remote warning via fax, Email, MS-Exchange or pager.
Do I need a UPS in addition to a gen-set?
Yes, for 3 reasons:
- A gen-set supplies current with a high risk of frequency variation. A UPS is able to provide perfect current quality is therefore indissociable from a gen-set.
- Supplied equipment may not be able to withstand motor start-up time (about 8-10 seconds).
- The gen-set might not in fact start-up at all. The UPS will, however, ensure supply back up.
What does a UPS do?
The distribution of electrical power is often subject to short and long term interference. Using an instantaneous back-up power supply means you can protect your IT system against such interference which can come from the industrial and atmospheric environment, as well as from your own environment. The following table lists the most common sorts of power supply problems, and the consequences for badly protected users:
| CAUSES | CONSEQUENCES |
|---|---|
| Voltage reduction | |
| Due to high voltage consumption required when starting up heavy equipment (motors, escalators, compressors, etc). | Keyboard lock, system breakdown leading to data distortion or loss, reduction in equipment performance and lifespan. |
| Excess voltage | |
| Lightning hitting power cables or the sudden shutdown of high-consumption equipment can cause temporary voltage increase. | Breakdowns, electronic component wear-and-tear, destruction of hard disks. |
| Cut-offs and micro cut-offs | |
| There can be many factors: lightning, live-line working, or heavy demand on the electrical network, etc. | Data-loss, badly shut-off applications, equipment damage and problems when re-activating applications. |
| Stray | |
| There can be many factors: atmospheric conditions, load permutations, generators, radio-emitters, household and industrial equipment. | Program and database errors. |
| Shock waves | |
| These are generally caused by lightning or when the mains supply is re-established after having been absent during a storm or following a motoring accident. | |
What are criteria for choosing a UPS?
The answer to this question depends on the type of equipment you wish to protect.
| YOUR EQUIPMENT | CRITERIA |
|---|---|
| INDIVIDUAL STATION |
Back-up
The UPS should have enough back up to correctly shutdown the PC. Implementation We favour easy implementation (Plug & Play Windows) and ease of integration of the UPS in the office. |
| LOCAL SERVER |
Quality of power supply
Certain IT equipment (top-of-the-range workstations, for example) requires good quality current when the UPS is running on battery. We favour a UPS which produces a sine wave out-put signal. Voltage control The UPS must be able to control voltage should the variations be too high. Communication software Should the IT system be running on a network, it will be necessary to use software which enables the UPS to be controlled via the network. |
| CRITICAL APPLICATION SERVER |
Perfect quality
The availability of a critical server is fundamental to your company. As for a local server, great care must be taken over the quality of the current supplied by the UPS. Extending back-up time You could need longer back-up time, therefore it's important to easily add supplementary batteries to your UPS. No interruptions The UPS should supply high quality power without any interruption. To guarantee this you should choose a UPS which permanently controls voltage and frequency. Changing over to battery operation should be completely seamless, i.e. without any cut-off. |
What are the differences between On-line, Off-line or Line-interactive technologies?
| OFF-LINE | LINE INTERACTIVE | ON-LINE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applications |
Low power
Service industry with infrequent interference |
Recommended for <2kVA power ranges
Service industry with infrequent interference |
Medium and high power UPS
Service industry and industrial |
| Battery transfer time during mains cut-off | YES | YES | NO |
| Frequency control | NO | NO | YES |
| Voltage control | YES | YES | NO |
| Voltage peak absorption | NO | SOME | ALL |
| Normal operational supply | Mains | Mains | UPS |
| Power supply during mains cut-off | Battery with <10ms changeover | Battery with <4ms changeover | Battery without any interruption |
Is there a maximum ambient temperature for the correct operation of a UPS?
The ideal ambient operating temperature for a UPS is 20°C. Nevertheless, the UPS and its components can operate satisfactorily within a range of 0°-35°C, excluding the battery. Using sealed lead-acid batteries requires a maximum local temperature of 25°C in order to maintain optimum reliability.