Why Standby Power is Important?

The Standby Power systems which UPS Systems plc supply are used to support mainstream IT and communications infrastructures from the home office to the International Data Centre.

When mains power goes off, the Standby Power system will operate either from stored power usually within lead-acid batteries installed within an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or by generated power from a diesel generator or a combination of both as an integrated hybrid system. 

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Power Quality Issues

A loss of power, even momentarily, can cause IT systems and sensitive equipment to crash. A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) maintains power by switching instantaneously to batteries in the event of a power failure, or even just a dip in power (a brownout). They also condition the power supply to reduce unwanted spikes and harmonics. They are designed to correct a variety of power problems, such as:

  1. Power failure-The total loss of power. Causes electrical equipment to stop working.
  2. Sags – Transient under voltage, can be caused by switching of heavy loads such as air conditioning or industrial machinery. Can cause IT hardware to lock-up, fail or reboot.
  3. Surges – Relatively short duration (from milliseconds to seconds) of high voltage. Power surges could be caused by the shut-down of a generator or other industrial motor on the local supply circuit. Will cause systems to crash, can cause components to wear and degrade over extended periods.
  4. Brownouts -Under voltage for an extended period of time (milliseconds to seconds, minutes, hours or days). Will cause overheating in motors. Prolonged and frequent brownouts cause equipment to malfunction or not work at all.
  5. Spikes -Very brief, but high energy bursts (lasting only a few milliseconds). Spikes are typically caused by lightning or malfunctions in the power supply. Will damage sensitive solid-state components and destroy data in digital equipment.
  6. Line noise-Distortions superimposed on the power waveform. Causes electromagnetic interference.
  7. Frequency variation– Deviation from the nominal frequency. Causes motors to increase or decrease speed.
  8. Switching transient– Instantaneous under voltage. May cause erratic behaviour in some equipment: memory loss, data error, data loss and component stress.
  9. Harmonic distortion– Multiples of power frequency superimposed on the power waveform. Causes excess heating in wiring and fuses.

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What are the standby power options?

Diesel Generators

Diesel Generators can also be powered by natural gas or petrol, (or aviation fuel, if it’s a gas turbine). Stored power can also come from NiCad batteries and flywheel systems.

In many cases, before conventional generators reach operating power, there’s a time delay between mains failure and full power. As modern electronic equipment is susceptible to even momentary breaks in power a conventional generator, on its own, is often insufficient to support a computer-based system. For more information click here.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) Systems

Because of this a ‘typical’ Standby Power system for a computer room incorporates both a battery-powered UPS (to bridge the time gap whilst the generator starts) and a diesel generator to provide the extended runtime that may be required.

Of course, ‘typical’ Standby Power installations rarely exist, and we are often called upon to configure solutions where noise, or weight, or footprint, or heat output, or exhaust fumes (amongst other factors) would cause a problem.

How does a UPS work? 

For more information about which UPS System might be right for you, check out our UPS Buyers Guide  or  contact us via telephone or via our online contact  form or let us call you back. 

UPS Systems plc offers a wide range of uninterruptible power supplies including those from Riello UPSAPC UPS and Eaton UPS as well as the UPS battery packs designed to go with them. We also offer various diesel generators including 60kva generator80kva generator and 100kva generator from a wide range of manufacturers including AKSA generator and Pramac generator.

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