This article describes proper coordination of protection devices in UPS distribution systems to effectively handle voltage surges, sags and power outages.

It's easy to assume a UPS will cure all power quality problems, because it supplies good power. Unfortunately, this assumption isn't accurate. Expecting a UPS to cure all PQ problems is a strategy doomed to failure. More...

Responding to market needs, server technology has rapidly advanced, delivering high-density, highly reliable computing without the massive harmonics issues inherent with older power supplies. One unintended consequence of this advance is a shift in load power factor characteristics in data centers. Prior to the server technology advancements, data center power factors ranged from 0.6 to 0.9 lagging. More...

This article explains how UPS systems are dependent on proper grounding systems to work effectively.

Rotary or static? That's the dilemma many specifiers and end-users of UPS systems continue to face. In some instances, space and weight constraints tilt the choice in favor of static UPS systems. But other highly critical applications make the rotary UPS a very attractive option-regardless of its space requirements. To make a knowledgeable choice, you should be aware of some key rotary characteristics. More...

This article provides step by step directions for testing UPS systems to ensure that the system functions properly.

This article covers proper testing practices to ensure functionality of UPS systems including protection settings and calibration, functional load testing, filter integrity, and harmonic analysis.

Where does a UPS fit into your overall power quality plan? The street that runs between power quality and a UPS runs both ways. A properly implemented UPS is the only way to provide a smooth ride over several types of power quality potholes. With the right information, you will avoid some of the fender-benders that can result from using a UPS incorrectly to resolve power quality problems. More...

This article offers helpful information for consumers deciding between rotary UPS systems and static UPS system with lengthy description of the benefits of each type of system.

This article simplifies the complex terms of the power supply industry and covers topics like double inversion, single inversion, various inversion and step wave inverters.

To protect critical loads against outages of longer duration, a battery-based UPS is often backed up with a standby engine gen-set, which may be sized to handle just the UPS or to provide power to additional loads. More...

This article offers advice on selecting the right industrial UPS for a specific application including battery based models VS flywheel based systems, cost modeling, predictability and operating costs.

Does your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system allow you to transfer load to a bypass source so you can perform maintenance on system components, totally isolate a UPS from external power sources for maintenance, replace a failed inverter without interruption of power to the load, and functionally test the static transfer switch? If you answered no to any of the above, you'd better keep reading. More...

Facility designers have been aware of problems associated with operating UPS equipment and gen-sets for years. These subsystem failures can put entire facility power systems at risk, and can create challenges for designers trying to get reliable power at critical sites. More...

This article answers a variety of power quality questions relating to power factor and electrical noise issues.

When Holmes Distributors, Inc., Portland, Maine, lost electricity at about 11 o’clock one morning, Executive Vice President Gary DeVost thought everything would be back to normal within four to five hours. This usually happens when severe weather cuts off power to the electrical distributorship. But this time it was different. More...

This article discusses the difference between distributed UPS and centralized UPS systems and the advantages of each.

Applying an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) without considering system issues like output waveform, input voltage regulation, generator sizing, transition with residual voltage, backup generators serving a lightly loaded UPS, and maintenance, can result in poor performance and reduced power quality at your facility. More...

Computers in industrial plants and other types of technical operations have moved to the production floor. And with millions of dollars at stake in guaranteeing near-absolute power reliability for production lines, UPS manufacturers have been tasked with creating hardy systems that can withstand the extreme environments of manufacturing facilities. More...

When the discussion of uninterruptible power systems (UPS) arises, most people think of the little box they purchased to provide backup power to their home or office computers. They do not think of industrial-grade power protection. However, its incorporation into factory automation systems is a necessary security element. More...