Both online UPS and power inverters supply electricity, and each other confuses people. However, the expert at Nexus UPS today brings you the ideal way to understand the prime difference between an Inverter and UPS by comprehending how they work.
Inverter
An inverter is designed to provide continuous power to household electrical devices. These home inverters come in a variety of voltages and load capacities. However, when bringing up the difference between an inverter and an UPS, it is crucial to recognize that such power backup systems include a supplemental DC (battery) source to store the converted energy. Another thing to keep in mind is that an inverter works in reverse to convert the AC supply into DC current when the power is turned on, which aids in battery charging.
Because the battery is connected to the inverter externally, higher capacity batteries with capacities ranging from 100Ah to 200Ah are used, providing 2 to 5 hours of power backup. Furthermore, during Mains Power Off, it takes approximately 10-20 ms for inverter relays to switch from mains power to battery power. Even a 10-20 ms delay is not appreciated in the banking industry, where lakhs of transactions occur every second, hospitals, where people on life support systems require constant oxygen supply, and households where computer systems or other advanced appliances are used.
Hence, to avoid such complex, Online UPS comes into picture:
UPS
A UPS, like an inverter, is a device that supplies energy to a load in the event of a power outage. A low-capacity UPS with a capacity of up to 1.5 KVA has an inbuilt battery that provides 15-30 minutes of power backup during a power failure. High-capacity processes have batteries separate from the UPS, but their operation depends on the type of UPS. UPS are classified into three types based on how they operate:
Online UPS
An online UPS supplies power to the AC load in typical operation and uses an inverter to provide power during a power outage. In an online UPS, the output power supply is always on, which means that the UPS constantly charges the battery and draws current from the battery to power the load. As a result, there is no switching and, as a result, no time delay when switching between its sources.
Even if the power goes out for a nanosecond, there is no disruption. In a power outage, the UPS stops charging the battery but continues to drive a load from the inverter battery.
As a result, Online UPS has no time delay when transitioning its power source. It is also an online UPS because it remains operational even when not in use.
Merits
- Zero time delay in switching
- High–performance output as it shields the output load from input voltage distortion and spike
De- Merits
- Requires large heat sinks because of the high operating temperature
- The mechanisms used must have the tolerance to endure high temperature
- It is more expensive than Offline UPS
Offline UPS
In a typical operation, an offline UPS supplies power to the AC load directly from the AC mains and utilizes an inverter to power the AC load from the DC battery. Because there are two separate power supplies, the output power must be transitioned between them. The timely and relevant of an offline UPS range from 6 ms to 10 ms, which is adequate for running computer systems and other delicate appliances at home but insufficient for banks or hospitals, as previously explained.
When the power is turned off, the battery stops charging, and the relay or static switch quickly transfers the output line to the inverter side. Concurrently, the inverter draws current from the battery, which is then delivered to the AC load. Offline UPS is so named because it does not turn on when drawing power from the AC line during regular operation.
Merits
- More reliable and efficient as it mostly remains off
- Due to its off state mostly, it requires smaller heat sinks compared to that of Online-UPS
- Cheaper than online UPS
De- Merits
- A time delay in switching from mains mode to UPS mode
- The performance decreases with the input voltage alteration, which is directly connected to the load.
Line Interactive UPS
Line-interactive UPS borrows features from both online and offline UPS. The inverter is part of the output of a line-interactive UPS. While the AC input is standard, the inverter will charge the battery in reverse and switch to battery power if the input fails.
The switching time is generally less than 5 ms compared to Offline UPS. Internal components provide filtering and voltage regulation. Line-interactive UPS systems provide a wide range of input voltage variations before switching to battery backup. This technology is especially effective in areas where outages are rare but power fluctuations are common.
Merits
- Shorter switching time than an offline UPS
- Internal components provide filtering and voltage regulation
De-Merits
- More expensive than offline but less expensive than online UPS
Choosing Between UPS and Inverter
After learning about the differences between UPS and Inverters, you should choose based on your needs. For example, a department with a lot of computers and communications equipment usually necessitates using an Offline or line-interactive UPS. On the other hand, a bank or a hospital may require an Online UPS. An inverter can provide hours of power backup in a home that only uses ventilation and lighting. With a professional evaluation of your home, you can determine the best configuration possible.
However, because UPS units are more expensive, it doesn’t sound right to size them for long periods with no power supply. An ideal option is to choose an inverter that can also function as a UPS. Nexus UPS provides an eco-friendly UPS and UPS mode, which converts the inverter to an offline UPS when computer systems or sensitive appliances are connected. Compared to UPS, the inverter battery combination lasts longer and requires less maintenance.
We hope you understand the difference between a UPS and an Inverter and have determined which power system is best for your needs. Hope, this article has discussed the differences between UPS and Inverters in terms of switching times and required backup time, which you should keep in mind when choosing a power backup solution for your home or office. Visit www.nexusups.com website for a comprehensive selection of online UPS and select the one that best online UPS price that suits your needs!
