The difference between uninterruptible power supply and inverter

Nowadays, electricity has become an important energy source that we cannot do without in our daily life and work. All daily work requires electricity. Devices such as laptops, washing machines, rice cookers, mobile phones, and coolers that we commonly use can operate normally due to the continuous supply of electrical energy. The best way to understand the difference between UPS and inverters is to first understand their working principles.

A.What is uninterruptible power supply (UPS):

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a device that provides energy to a load during a power outage, such as an inverter. A low capacity single-phase online uninterruptible power supply (UPS) with a capacity of up to 1.5KVA has a built-in battery of about 5Ah to 10Ah, which can provide 15-30 minutes of backup power during power outages. Large capacity systems have batteries external to the uninterruptible power supply (UPS), but their functionality depends on the type of UPS. There are three main types of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), depending on their working principle:

1. Online uninterruptible power supply (UPS):

Online UPS is a type of UPS that supplies power to AC loads during normal operation and uses inverters to provide AC power during power outages. In an online UPS, the output power always remains on, meaning the UPS continuously charges the battery and draws current from it to power the load.

Therefore, there is no switching, so there is no time delay in switching between its sources. In the event of a power failure, even for a nanosecond, there will be no interruption. If a power failure occurs, the UPS will stop charging the battery, but will continue to drive the load from the inverter battery.

2. Offline uninterruptible power supply (UPS)/backup uninterruptible power supply (UPS):

Offline uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or backup uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is a type of UPS power supply that directly supplies power to AC loads through AC mains power during normal operation, and uses an inverter to supply power to AC loads from DC batteries.

Due to the presence of two independent power sources, it is necessary to switch the output power between the two power sources. As mentioned earlier, the switching time of an offline uninterruptible power supply (UPS) ranges from 6 milliseconds to 10 milliseconds, which is sufficient to run computers and other sensitive devices at home, but not suitable for banks or hospitals.

When the mains power is turned off, the battery stops charging, and the relay or static switch quickly transmits the output line to the inverter side.

3. Online interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS):

The online interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) draws its functionality from both online and offline uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). For online interactive uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), the inverter is part of the output. Although communication input is common, the inverter will work in reverse to charge the battery and switch to battery power supply when the input fails.

The switching time is lower than that of an offline uninterruptible power supply (UPS), usually around 5ms. Internal components provide filtering and voltage regulation. Before switching to the backup battery, the online interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system can provide various input voltage changes. In areas where power outages are not common, this technology is particularly successful, but power fluctuations are normal.

B.What is an inverter:

Inverter is a power electronic device. The main purpose of these devices is to convert direct current into alternating current. In an inverter, AC power is obtained from the AC power source and converted into DC power by a rectifier.

C.The main difference between uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and inverter:

1. Application and backup time:

If there is a power outage, the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) side can provide continuous power to ensure the operation of the equipment, allowing us enough time to save our work and perform soft shutdown on the equipment. To protect computers or other important equipment from any major hardware failures. When encountering a power outage, the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) converts the internal battery power into AC power to supply the equipment with real-time switching time, which can achieve uninterrupted power supply without shutting down the computer. Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) can be configured with batteries of different capacities according to the actual needs of users, in order to have enough time to complete our work, usually providing power supply time of about 5 minutes to several hours.

The inverter works in reverse during the conduction period of the mains, converting AC power into DC current, which helps to charge the battery. The main job is to provide the conversion of AC and DC electrical energy. When the power supply is interrupted and there is no continuous input of electricity, the inverter cannot continue to work.

2. Application:

After understanding all the differences between uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and inverters, it is necessary to consider the requirements of the environment and equipment before making a choice. For example, offices with a large number of computers and communication devices typically require offline or online interactive UPS power supplies.

On the other hand, banks or hospitals may require online UPS power supply. Families that only use ventilation and lighting can use inverters, which can provide extended backup power for several hours. You can determine the optimal configuration by conducting a professional evaluation of the house.

3. Working mode:

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS): The working mode of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is to not only provide continuous power to the load equipment when there is power supply, but also convert the AC power to DC power to charge the battery. When stopped, the UPS converts the stored DC power in the battery to AC power to provide continuous power output to the load equipment for use.

Inverter: An inverter is a device that converts alternating current into direct current or vice versa.

4. Cost:

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices are more expensive, and it is meaningless to determine their power without power for several hours of operation.

Conclusion:

Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides backup power for electrical appliances without delay or fluctuation. Moreover, the inverter serves as the medium between the main power source and the battery. Batteries help store energy and convert stored AC power to DC power during power outages, providing power to inverters.