System integrators today are faced with the challenge of installing reliable AV systems for which power loss is simply not an option.
Protecting sophisticated audio and video technologies will not only help to avoid the nuisance of a power loss, but will also protect against permanent damage or rendering a whole system inoperable. Backing up critical life safety equipment will ensure that communications remain intact in the event of an emergency.
Every installation is unique, and the power backup requirements of each may also be. With a wide variety of UPS systems in the market, it can be a daunting task to navigate the options to determine which backup would suit the installation best.
UPS systems can provide benefits in a wide range of applications. So what features and specifications are most important to consider when identifying the best UPS backup power system for each installation? There are five key functional areas to identify and evaluate to determine the best fit:
- Identify equipment to back up
- Identify maximum load
- Calculate required run time
- Choose a topology
- Determine waveform type
An in-depth look at each stage of this process is provided in Middle Atlantic’s new white paper, Five Steps to Selecting a UPS. Written to help integrators understand why not all UPS options are the same, the paper includes a number of helpful insights:
- How to know what kind of gear should always be backed up by a UPS
- Identifying the current draw of connected equipment to properly size the UPS
- Tips to avoid “over-engineering” the UPS system
- How to extend run time without the cost of unnecessary functionality
- Understanding the difference between Pure sine wave and Simulated (or modified) sine wave
- Examples using simple math to calculate necessary runtime
Five Steps to Selecting a UPS is a free download available here.
