Collection: UPS
An uninterrupted power supply, also uninterruptible power supply or UPS, is a device that provides emergency power to a load when the input power source fails. A UPS differs from a standby generator in that it will provide near-instantaneous power by supplying energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors, or flywheels, while a standby generator takes several seconds to several minutes to start supplying power. The on-battery runtime of a typical UPS is relatively short, but sufficient to allow equipment to perform a graceful shut down in the event of a power outage.
A UPS is typically used to protect hardware such as computers, data centers, telecommunications equipment, or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power outage could cause injuries, fatalities, serious business disruption or data loss. UPS units range in size from units designed to protect a single computer without a video display to large units powering entire data centers. The world's largest UPS, the 42-megawatt monster built by American Power Conversion, can power more than 4,000 average US homes.
The primary role of any UPS is to provide short-term power when the input power source fails. However, UPS units can also be used to provide power when the input power source is not stable, providing protection from brownouts and overvoltages. Additionally, UPS units can be used to regulate voltage when the input voltage is higher than the equipment requires, which can prolong the life of the equipment and prevent data corruption.
