Recently, I have worked with several customers on IT power backup projects. They needed backup power units (UPS) for key hardware. Volta is also rolling out many monitored and remote-managed UPS units at customer sites. 

If you are asking what is a UPS, it is a power backup system that keeps gear on when power fails. These UPS power systems are useful for UPS for business needs as well. 

There are three key questions to ask when you choose UPS options for your site. 

Summary 

Choosing the right UPS means knowing: 

  • What kind of power backup you need 
  • How much load and run time you need 
  • Whether the plugs and outlets match your site 

Short outages may need only a few minutes of backup. Long outages may need more batteries and a safe shutdown plan. Volta can help plan, set up, install, manage, and watch UPS equipment that fits your needs. 

What Am I Trying to Protect Against? 

A UPS has two main jobs. 

Protection Against Short Power Problems

A UPS can help with: 

  • Short power loss 
  • Brownouts 
  • Power spikes that can hurt gear 

A UPS can keep servers and network gear from going dead. Most UPS units can handle a short loss of power. Small UPS units often give a few minutes of battery time. That is common for workstations or network closets. 

Protection During Long Outages

Some sites need more than short backup. They need the UPS to keep gear on for a long time during a long power loss. 

A UPS with more battery packs, or with extra packs, can keep gear on during longer outages. 

Most UPS makers also offer auto-shutdown tools. These start a safe shutdown if the UPS has been on battery for a set time. 

Do I Need to Focus on Load or Run Time? 

This question helps you pick between the many UPS options and sizes. 

Load Capacity

The UPS you choose must have enough load capacity for all the gear you plug into it. 

A UPS maker or partner like Volta can help you estimate load if you give them a list of hardware. 

Run Time

You should also know how long you need backup power. 

A short outage may need only a few minutes. Other sites may need hours of run time. 

If the internal batteries do not fit your run time needs, make sure the model can use extra battery packs. 

Extra Battery Packs

Extra battery packs only add run time. They do not raise load capacity. 

If the UPS is overloaded, you must either: 

  • Pick a UPS with more load capacity 
  • Use more than one UPS to share the load 
What Are My Input and Output Power Needs? 

This is often the most important question when you pick the right UPS model. It is also one of the hardest things to change. 

If you do not select a UPS with the right input and output power needs, you can end up with a UPS that does not work and cannot be used. 

Keep it simple: match your plugs and outlets. 

Input Power Needs

Input means matching the UPS plug to the outlet at your site. 

Changing an old outlet often needs an electrician, so avoid that if you can. 

Output Power Needs

Output means matching the UPS outlets with the plugs on the gear it will power. 

Check to see: 

  • Do all supported devices use the same plug? 
  • If not, how many outlet types do you need? 

There are many UPS models with different plugs and outlets, so be exact. 

Volta UPS Help and Services

Volta offers a pre-site visit for future customers. This helps make sure the UPS units we suggest are the best fit for your IT site. 

If you can answer these three questions, you are on your way to choosing the right UPS for your power backup needs. 

Volta can help plan, set up, manage, or watch UPS equipment. We also offer UPS as a service, which lets a customer pay a monthly fee that includes the hardware. 

Please reach out with any questions.