Have you ever lost power in the middle of working on an important document and then realized you hadn’t saved it? Power outages can occur due to weather, failing equipment, a too high energy demand, and even a planned outage.
For places that rely on power to help people, such as a medical facility, a few minutes of lost power can have real consequences. Even with a reliable generator, it can take time for backup power to come on.
With a UPS battery in place, those minutes can cease to be a worry. Before making your purchase, consider this guide for choosing the right one.
What Is a UPS Battery?
Uninterruptible Power Supply, or UPS, is a battery that can run your electronic devices if they lose power. Time ranges depending on what kind of UPS backup you have and what devices you are running. It will also act as a surge protector for your equipment.
The larger the device and the more power that it draws, the shorter time you will have with an uninterrupted power supply. It can give you time to safely shut down your computer or keep important medical equipment running until backup power starts up.
UPSs are not designed to be a complete backup battery system, but to act as a buffer between full power and whatever you have in place until full power can be restored. They also can help to regulate your devices when power sags, such as when the air conditioner kicks on.
What Will You Need to Know When Ordering?
Whether you are ordering through a company such as NCE Empowering Safety or finding one on your own, you will need to know certain pieces of information.
- What equipment will need backing up?
- What is the electrical draw in watts, amps, or volts of the equipment?
- What voltage input and output level do the building you will be in have?
- How important is the equipment you are backing up?
- How much room do you have for your setup?
Electrical equipment all have varying degrees of an electrical draw and building voltage can vary between 120 to 240. Whether you are using a stand-alone device or one with multiple add ons, it can pull more energy.
If the device you need the UPS for is life-saving or merely for convenience, you may be willing to settle for a smaller device or need a larger one than you thought.
What Is Your Budget?
When purchasing a UPS battery backup or a UPS replacement battery, the cost may be the final deciding factor.
Smaller units designed to last a few minutes for larger devices or longer for smaller ones start around $40.00. Longer output devices used for higher-power home equipment will run into the low hundreds.
It is highly recommended that you consult a professional if you need a medical-grade UPS battery. They cost anywhere between $500-$1000.
From completing an important email to keeping an oxygen monitor running, a UPS battery can help you have peace of mind where your most important electronic devices are concerned. The next time a power outage strikes, you will feel secure in your plan.
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