What is a UPS ?

[Delusional Phil]

At first I thought it was a way to keep the power stable ... But now I read that you don't need a PSU when you have a UPS , is this true ? If so , what is a USP ? 

[Nineshadow]

UPS = Uninterruptible power supply

 

It's a PSU that provides backup power when the main power fails so you can backup your data before shutting down your computer.Also, it can protect it from voltage changes.

[Senzelian]

UPS, SPU, PSU, USP.. WUUT?  :wacko:  :blink:

[DigitalHermit]

Uninterruptible Power Supply...

 

Think of it as backup power so you can safely shutdown your PC in the case of a power failure...

 

And you need a PSU for that... AVR is optional though...

 

a USP is a brand model of firearm by Hecker&Koch... (kudos to @ShadowCaptain for correcting)

 

and UPS can also be that shipping service...

[ZacDaMan72]

UPS = Uninterruptible power supply

The primary role of any UPS is to provide short-term power when the input power source fails. However, most UPS units are also capable in varying degrees of correcting common utility power problems:

 

• Voltage spike or sustained overvoltage
• Momentary or sustained reduction in input voltage
• Noise, defined as a high frequency transient or oscillation, usually injected into the line by nearby equipment
• Instability of the mains frequency
• Harmonic distortion: defined as a departure from the ideal sinusoidal waveform expected on the line

- Wikipedia

[ShadowCaptain]

a USP is a brand of firearm...

 

Actually a USP is a model, the brand is Heckler and Koch

[DigitalHermit]

Actually a USP is a model, the brand is Heckler and Koch

 

thanks for correcting..

[manikyath]

basicly, a UPS is a battery bank but instead of USB ports, you have wall power sockets.

(very crude way of putting it, but yeah, thats kinda what it does)

 

a UPS provided the following advantages:

- overcurrent protection

- battery backup on power outage

- protection against bad voltages on mains (my router used to do really weird stuff because voltages in my area were high, solved with a UPS)

[alpenwasser]

Not needing a PSU when you have a UPS is news to me. Depending on how fancy your UPS is,

it can do a few things:

- prevent power surges from damaging your equipment

- provide backup power in case of the power grid going down via batteries

- when the batteries run low, send a signal to the machines hooked up to it that they should gracefully power down

- when you have power generators as a more long-term backup, the batteries can provide an emergency buffer until the generators have powered up

(say, in a data center)

There might be more, but those are the most important things which come to mind off the top of my head.

[Delusional Phil]

UPS, SPU, PSU, USP.. WUUT?  :wacko:  :blink:

 

Deal with it  B) sorry ...

 

Uninterruptible Power Supply...

 

Think of it as backup power so you can safely shutdown your PC in the case of a power failure...

 

And you need a PSU for that... AVR is optional though...

 

a USP is a brand of firearm...

 

and UPS can also be that shipping service...

 

So where does the UPS get power from ? The wall or the PSU ?

 

 

The primary role of any UPS is to provide short-term power when the input power source fails. However, most UPS units are also capable in varying degrees of correcting common utility power problems:

 

• Voltage spike or sustained overvoltage
• Momentary or sustained reduction in input voltage
• Noise, defined as a high frequency transient or oscillation, usually injected into the line by nearby equipment
• Instability of the mains frequency
• Harmonic distortion: defined as a departure from the ideal sinusoidal waveform expected on the line

- Wikipedia

 

Ah ... So it's like a backup generator that immediately kicks in when the power is cut ... 

 

 

Not needing a PSU when you have a UPS is news to me. Depending on how fancy your UPS is,

it can do a few things:

- prevent power surges from damaging your equipment

- provide backup power in case of the power grid going down via batteries

- when the batteries run low, send a signal to the machines hooked up to it that they should gracefully power down

- when you have power generators as a more long-term backup, the batteries can provide an emergency buffer until the generators have powered up

(say, in a data center)

There might be more, but those are the most important things which come to mind off the top of my head.

 

So if the power is cut , you use your UPS , but what if the power is cut briefly ? I can power everything back once power is resotred without the power surge , right ?

 

basicly, a UPS is a battery bank but instead of USB ports, you have wall power sockets.

(very crude way of putting it, but yeah, thats kinda what it does)

 

a UPS provided the following advantages:

- overcurrent protection

- battery backup on power outage

- protection against bad voltages on mains (my router used to do really weird stuff because voltages in my area were high, solved with a UPS)

 

How many power divider can a UPS hold ? ( I don;t know what those are called ... )

[ShadowCaptain]

thanks for correcting..

 

Somebody has to

 

 

Ah ... So it's like a backup generator that immediately kicks in when the power is cut ... 

 

 

yeah in laymans terms sure, its a big battery that powers the computer if power is lost, cheap ones generally only last a few minutes giving you time to save your documents and safely shut down

 

more expensive ones give more time and more wattage

[Litargirio]

[rafazafar]

http://www.acronymfinder.com/Unusual-Pile-of-Sticks-(geocaching)-(UPS).html

 

is this what you meant?

[ZacDaMan72]

Deal with it  B) sorry ...

 

 

So where does the UPS get power from ? The wall or the PSU ?

 

Ah ... So it's like a backup generator that immediately kicks in when the power is cut ... 

Yeah kinda, it's more of a battery.

[DigitalHermit]

Deal with it  B) sorry ...

 

 

So where does the UPS get power from ? The wall or the PSU ?

 

Ah ... So it's like a backup generator that immediately kicks in when the power is cut ... 

 

The UPS has a battery inside... It charges up when there is power going through the AC input...

 

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question28.htm

[Delusional Phil]

http://www.acronymfinder.com/Unusual-Pile-of-Sticks-(geocaching)-(UPS).html

 

is this what you meant?

No likes for you ... 

 

 

Yeah kinda, it's more of a battery.

The UPS has a battery inside... It charges up when there is power going through the AC input...

 

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question28.htm

I edited my huge reply up above , could you answer the question above as well ?

[rafazafar]

No likes for you ... 

 

 

I edited my huge reply up above , could you answer the question above as well ?

Dont forget about AVRs also. Those that do correct voltage spike and droops without having a battery. Technically has one but not for powering up.

[ZacDaMan72]

Deal with it  B) sorry ...

 

 

1. So where does the UPS get power from ? The wall or the PSU ?

 

Ah ... So it's like a backup generator that immediately kicks in when the power is cut ... 

 

 

 

2. So if the power is cut , you use your UPS , but what if the power is cut briefly ? I can power everything back once power is resotred without the power surge , right ?

 

3. How many power divider can a UPS hold ? ( I don;t know what those are called ... )

1. The UPS gets power from the wall, you plug your PSU to the UPS.

 

2. I don't get that, can you please rephrase that?

 

3. It depends

[DigitalHermit]

No likes for you ... 

 

 

I edited my huge reply up above , could you answer the question above as well ?

 

The UPS pulls power from the wall to charge up the battery...

 

setup goes like: Wall -> UPS -> PC and other devices

 

in the case that the power is cut from the wall, the UPS's backup power kicks in and keeps the PC running for a few more minutes...

the capacity of the UPS is dependent on its rating... you should always put a huge margin between the UPS capacity and the load that you're connecting to it to give the devices more time to be safely shut down...

[Delusional Phil]

1. The UPS gets power from the wall, you plug your PSU to the UPS.

 

2. I don't get that, can you please rephrase that?

 

3. It depends

 

What I'm trying to say is : If the power is out for about 3 minutes , then it turns back on again , it should be able to continue running right without surges right ? 

 

The UPS pulls power from the wall to charge up the battery...

 

setup goes like: Wall -> UPS -> PC and other devices

 

in the case that the power is cut from the wall, the UPS's backup power kicks in and keeps the PC running for a few more minutes...

the capacity of the UPS is dependent on its rating... you should always put a huge margin between the UPS capacity and the load that you're connecting to it to give the devices more time to be safely shut down...

So the Capacity of the batteries is measured in Watts right ? 

[DigitalHermit]

What I'm trying to say is : If the power is out for about 3 minutes , then it turns back on again , it should be able to continue running right without surges right ? 

 

So the Capacity of the batteries is measured in Watts right ? 

 

Yes.

 

UPS capacity is in Watts but battery capacity is in mAh... you can estimate the amout of time between power failure and shutdown by dividing the battery capacity by max wattage of the load...

most UPSs promise at least 5 minutes of extra power at maximum rated capacity... just avoid the off-brand ones at all costs...

[ZacDaMan72]

What I'm trying to say is : If the power is out for about 3 minutes , then it turns back on again , it should be able to continue running right without surges right ? 

 

So the Capacity of the batteries is measured in Watts right ? 

Yes.

 

Usually VA but it is easily converted into Watts.

[Delusional Phil]

Yes.

 

UPS capacity is in Watts but battery capacity is in mAh... you can estimate the amout of time between power failure and shutdown by dividing the battery capacity by max wattage of the load...

most UPSs promise at least 5 minutes of extra power at maximum rated capacity... just avoid the off-brand ones at all costs...

 

What brand is most trusted for UPSs ?

 

Yes.

 

Usually VA but it is easily converted into Watts.

Ah ... Okay then , thank you . I'll ask how to convert that in the future ...

[DigitalHermit]

What brand is most trusted for UPSs ?

 

Ah ... Okay then , thank you . I'll ask how to convert that in the future ...

 

Our university uses APC... and so far it hasn't failed us...

 

as for the estimate...

 

multiply the battery capacity by the voltage (120V or 240V, depending on region) to get the amount of usable power you have in Watt-hours,,,

 

divide that value by the load wattage to get the amount of time...

 

or at least that's how I calculate the amount of spare time in my power banks...

[W-L]

What brand is most trusted for UPSs ?

Ah ... Okay then , thank you . I'll ask how to convert that in the future ...

 

Highly recommend APC brand UPS's they've work great for me over the years. For the wattages of your UPS just make sure it is larger than the maximum draw from your system when fully loaded it will ensure that the UPS has enough power to run your system when battery backup kicks in and not trip the over current protection.