Choosing a UPS System 101: The Fundamentals

New to the world of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems? Consider this UPS buying guide your introduction to the basic concepts behind UPS Systems and which type will work best for your requirements.

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What is a UPS System?
A UPS, at its most basic, is a battery backup power system that supplies power long enough for equipment to properly shut down when utility power fails. It helps prevent loss of data and minimizes the stress a hard shutdown causes on your electronic equipment.

The UPS is also a surge protector that protects connected devices from power problems, like surges or abnormal voltages, which can damage, reduce lifespan, or affect performance of electronic equipment and devices.

Why do I need a UPS System?
In case of a blackout, the UPS switches immediately over to battery power to provide a continuous power source for the length of the battery. Battery life can vary by system and depends on how much power you use. The battery backup gives you time to power down sensitive equipment, servers, or even video game consoles without loss of data or progress. Different UPS systems also provide certain levels of protection for other power problems that arise.

What types of UPS Systems are there?
UPS systems have three different topologies, or categories, based on what type of power protection you need. The three topologies are Standby, Line-Interactive, and Double-Conversion.

What types of power problems do I have?
Many people are aware of only one type of power problem: a blackout. This is when the power goes out and stays out for a few seconds up to a few days. But, many more common power problems exist.

What are common power problems?
Below are definitions of common power problems. If you would like to learn more about power problems, please read our blog: Preventing Common Power Problems.
For now, let&#;s define possible power problems you might experience:

• Surge &#; A brief, but intense, spike in electricity commonly caused by lightning. Surges can damage and destroy electronics, and the intense &#;spike in electricity&#; or spike in voltage and current harms circuit boards and components.
• Blackout &#; A power outage lasting anywhere from seconds to days. These are most commonly caused by severe weather, utility power shortages, accidents, and power grid failures.
• Brownout &#; An intentional or unintentional drop in voltage for an extended period of time. In emergency conditions, power companies may lower the voltage of your electricity to reduce strained resources and avoid a total blackout.
• Voltage Sags &#; A sag is also a type of under voltage, but, unlike a brownout, it&#;s sudden and brief.
• Over Voltage &#; Occurs when incoming voltage is higher than normal and lasts longer than a surge but not high enough to be classified as a surge or spike.
• Frequency Noise &#; Also known as line noise, frequency noise can disrupt or degrade the performance of a circuit by injecting abnormalities into the system.
• Frequency Variation &#; Not a common problem when power supplies are stable, but it can occur when using generators and power frequency fluctuates more than desired.
• Harmonic Distortion &#; A departure from the ideal electrical signal on a given power source.

What type of UPS Do I Need?
Make a list of your most common power problems from the definitions above, and use the chart below to pick which topology solves your problems.

How Big Does My UPS Need to Be?
In order to make your UPS run properly, your UPS has to be large enough to support all of the equipment plugged into it. You will need to find the UPS capacity. Capacity is how much power a UPS system can provide (measured in Watts). The higher the capacity, the more electronic equipment, and devices it can support. To find the UPS capacity, you will need to calculate the load. The Load is the combined amount of power each of the devices use.

To identify the load, make an equipment list, including the total watts each piece of equipment requires to run properly. Include all of the devices the UPS will need to support. If a piece of equipment has a redundant power supply, only count the wattage of ONE power supply.

If you are unsure how many watts your equipment requires, consult the manufacturer or power supply specifications in the user manual.

Here is an example of an equipment list to verify the load:

Once you have calculated your load, count the number of power cords you want to connect to the UPS. Your UPS system will need to have enough outlets to cover the number of power cords.

How much time do I want electricity once the power goes out?
You have already decided your UPS&#; topology and what size it needs to be. Now, you need to think about what you would like to do with the battery power when a power problem occurs. Would you like to focus on shutting down all of your connected devices safely? Do you want to keep your DVR and TV running during the power problem? Do you want to finish the section of the video game you are on or just save where you are at?

You must now determine runtime. Runtime is the number of minutes a UPS system can support the attached devices with electricity during a blackout. The minimum runtime is the time you need to complete proper equipment shutdown.

When shopping for runtime, you will be looking at the length of time the batteries in the UPS can support equipment through power outages when utility power is unavailable. Keep in mind the number of watts supported affects runtime: the smaller the wattage load connected, the longer the batteries will last. The larger the wattage load, the shorter the runtime will be.

To determine runtime, we want to look for a range. Begin with the number of minutes it will take to perform complete device shutdown and then build an acceptable range of runtimes. The broader the range, the more UPS system choices you will have.

Do I need sine wave output from my UPS?
Utility power supplies electricity in the form of sine wave alternating current. When the UPS is in normal mode, it passes the same electrical sine wave to your connected devices. If the UPS switches to operate in battery mode, it either produces sine wave or simulated sine wave electricity to power your electronics.

Here is an illustration of a sine wave and a simulated sine wave.

You will notice the simulated sine wave output has a power gap at each cycle. Sometimes this power gap may cause stress in the power supply in sensitive electronics, harming them.

You will need a UPS with sine wave technology if you want to plug-in the following:

• Apple iMac Computers
• Computers and Equipment that are Energy Star® or 80 PLUS® efficient systems using Active PFC power supplies.

Electronic equipment with Active PFC power supplies may shut down unexpectedly when using a UPS with simulated sine wave output, resulting in data loss or equipment damage. UPS systems that deliver sine wave output prevent unexpected shutdowns and damaging electronic stress.

If you need help determining whether a device uses Active PFC circuits, contact the device manufacturer.

What do I want my UPS to look like?
UPS systems have form factors. The form factor of a UPS indicates the shape and size of its housing. The most common 3 types are:
Desktop or compact
Tower or mini-tower
Rackmount

When choosing the form factor, the main consideration is where you are going to use it. A desktop or compact UPS can hide under a desk, unnoticed. A tower or mini-tower will have a pleasant aesthetic design making it an option to sit on top of a desk or table. A rackmount UPS works well in server rooms.

Where do I pick out my UPS system?
Now that you have made a list of what you need in your UPS system. Visit our Battery Backup Selector to help you narrow down which of CyberPower&#;s UPS systems will fit your needs. If you need some guidance, feel free to contact our UPS systems experts at  or toll-free at 1 (877) 297-.

If you&#;re interested in a more in-depth look at selecting UPS systems, come back soon for our blog: Choosing a UPS System 201: Power Audits

Are you interested in learning more about 12V Mini UPS? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

The pandemic has set remote working/learning into an unstoppable motion, at least for now. Unsurprisingly, an uninterrupted internet connection is powering this move toward the digital. 

A part of this trend is reflected in the skyrocketing growth of the wireless router market, including surging sales of other wifi improvements and IT services in India and abroad.

But like every story has another side, India&#;s digital adoption also has a vice to subdue when it comes to the critical need for uninterrupted power supply; Yes, load sheddings and power outages. 

According to World Bank Enterprise Surveys, businesses in 1/3rd of the developing world face at least 20 hours of power outages in a typical month. 

In South Asia (where India is), the situation is considerably worse&#;enterprises report (PDF) roughly one outage each day, lasting on average 5.3 hours! 

All this data raises one question: Is there any way to bypass India&#;s load shedding and power supply interruptions? 

Fortunately, yes, we do have. And a technology called Wifi router is the answer. This article will look at the factors you need to consider before buying the proper Wifi router UPS.  

What is a Wifi Router UPS and How Does it Work?

Generally, a Wifi router runs on the domestic power supply like any other domestic electrical equipment. So, whenever there is a power cut or a power outage, your internet connection will be interrupted.

This is where a Wifi router UPS comes into play. 

Essentially, a Wifi router UPS is a power backup unit primarily consisting of a battery that will supply power to your Wifi router even when your entire house is out of electricity.

The battery inside a router UPS keeps recharging itself from the incoming AC power whenever it is available. This way, in a power blackout or high voltage situation, your internet connection remains uninterrupted.

Now that we have understood what router UPS are and how they work let&#;s go through the buying guide for a mini-UPS.

Things to Keep in Mind to Avoid Buying the Wrong Wifi Router UPS

It is crucial to consider critical factors before buying any electronic product, especially those with a battery. These factors may include power ratings, battery size and life, efficiency, compatibility, cost and overall quality. So, these factors play an essential role in the case of router UPS too. 

Concerning these factors, lets us understand how to avoid buying the wrong Wifi router UPS:

1. Never forget to check for compatible power ratings

To select the right UPS for your wifi router, you must know your router&#;s power ratings or current (A) and voltage (V) ratings. A wifi router is a DC device and uses an A/C adapter for power. The adapter of every router has a power label that has the voltage and current rating.

A regular wifi router has an output voltage rating of either 9V or 12V.

So, when you buy a mini-UPS for your router, it&#;s imperative to match the power output of the UPS to the power rating of your router. 

For instance, a 12V UPS might probably burn the circuits of a 9V router, and a 9V UPS will not be enough to power a 12V router. Thus, never buy a Wifi router UPS with unmatching power ratings with your router.

2. Don&#;t buy a Wifi router UPS with a lower power backup than required

Now, the main purpose of a mini-UPS is to keep your wifi router powered up in a power outage, isn&#;t it? A UPS with a power backup of about 4 hours won&#;t be useful enough for areas where the usual power cuts are extensive, about 7 to 8 hrs long. So, there&#;s no point in saving money if the UPS you bought doesn&#;t fulfil what it&#;s meant to.

Therefore, when you buy a router UPS, don&#;t forget to check the power backup it offers and whether it matches your requirement.

3. Don&#;t forget to check for the warranty of your Wifi Router UPS

Warranty is one of the most crucial things for buying electronic equipment like a router UPS. Warranty is the direct measure of how confident a manufacturer is regarding the quality and efficiency of its product. 

While the saying, &#;the more, the merrier&#; perfectly applies to the concept of warranty, an ideal router UPS must come with a warranty period of at least one year.

4. Avoid buying from an untrusted manufacturer

When you&#;re buying a piece of electronic or electrical equipment, it is very important to buy it from a trusted manufacturer. People often need aftersales assistance with such equipment; the same is true with the Wifi Router UPS. A trusted and reputable manufacturer will always be on its toes to assist its customers. This is what makes them reliable.

Moreover, buying from a trusted brand mainly guarantees a quality product. It may be that you might not need aftersales assistance altogether. Nonetheless, it is advisable to spend a little extra, if at all, and buy your UPS from a somewhat reputable manufacturer for the best experience.

You can choose to buy from a well-known brand like Oakter. Their Mini-UPS for wifi router is one of the best in the market.

You just saw the most important things that you should keep in mind when you want to buy the Wifi router UPS for.

While several reputable manufacturers in the market, Oakter offers you one of the highest quality mini-UPS out there. It is an all-in-one router UPS that works as a power backup for your router and provides power outage and short circuit protection. 

For more information, please visit Router UPS Power Backup.