What Is A UPS and Why Does My Business Need One?
Televisions, computers, office buildings, MRI machines and elevators all have one important thing in common: they all run on electricity. Without the power of electricity running through the circuitry, these places and pieces of equipment might as well be useless.
Have you been at work and suddenly the power goes out? One of two things happened: 1. All productivity came to a screeching halt and didn’t resume for hours, or, 2. The lights flickered and came back on almost immediately and work continued.
If you have experienced the first, then your business/organization needs an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), immediately. Every minute your business is down, money is lost, information cannot transfer or in extreme cases, a life could be in danger. However, in the second scenario, a device called a UPS kicked into action once it detected an electrical failure and restored the power until a more consistent source of power can take over, like an electrical generator or the utility power.
What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?
Simply put, an uninterruptible power supply is a device that provides battery backup when electrical power fails or drops to an unacceptable voltage level. A UPS contains a battery that activates when the device senses a loss of power from the primary source. This allows people to properly shutdown before all data is lost or equipment is damaged. UPSs also serve a critical role protecting systems and equipment from voltage ‘spikes,’ called transients. Truthfully, a UPS with built in power conditioning is one of the most important pieces of equipment you may have never heard of.
Many people don’t realize how much the data-driven world has changed overall power needs. The Internet and big data keeps driving up the demand for cleaner, more reliable power. Energy surges, spikes or dips cause fluctuations and irregularities that can adversely affect your equipment and your data, so UPS systems provide a clean, consistent and uninterrupted power flow that protects against those issues.
The experts at IPS can help determine what kind of UPS – be it a regular UPS or a UPS with power conditioning – would be best for your business.
Why does my business need a UPS?
UPSs keep the lights on and the systems going. In hospitals, for example, the loss of electricity is a potential safety hazard for patients. Hospitals are technology-rich environments and many people are dependent on critical medical equipment working, regardless of any situation.
Data centers control major functions such as telecommunications, data storage, security controls and environmental controls (air conditioning, heating or fire suppression). If one were to shut down due to a lightning strike, a business could be paralyzed for days, maybe more.
How would your business function if that were to happen?
Causes for power loss
It is important to be aware that the most common reasons for the power outages are lighting strikes, extreme weather conditions and accidents. Many businesses are susceptible to these common reasons for power loss and should prepare themselves accordingly. Extreme weather conditions have been the topic in the news for the past while, ranging from wildfires and flooding in the West, snow in the Northeast and icy conditions in the Southeast. UPS protection and preparation are key to avoiding the issues these factors can cause.
Now that you know what uninterruptible power supplies do and why they are used, where can you get one to meet your needs?
Intelligent Power Solutions is your resource and the authority for all UPS-related questions and issues. They provide equipment and a wide range of services to meet your UPS needs. Click on the link to get your free power consultation!
