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The Importance of a Comprehensive UPS Service

The convenience of an uninterrupted supply of mains electricity is something that, barring the odd occasion on which a lightning strike might have disabled a sub-station, South Africans had enjoyed for decades. With the establishment of Eskom in 1923, the goal of nationwide electrification seemed achievable. The dream was shattered when, in 2007, rolling blackouts began and almost overnight, a UPS service or a standby generator became necessary to those for whom constant access to electricity is essential.

What, at that time, we were promised would be a temporary measure has proved to be anything but as, 14 years later, South Africans are still struggling to cope with brownouts and load shedding. A short spell without power, before an emergency generator can be started to get things going again is, in most cases, only a minor inconvenience. However, for some users, even a few seconds without electricity could spell disaster, while dips and spikes in the supply voltage could also have unfortunate consequences. With the right choice of UPS service, all of these problems can be easily resolved.

The acronym stands for uninterruptible power supply. This is a device that consists of a storage battery and various components that enable it to be charged whilst mains power is available and to assume the task of supplying power when problems with the mains supply are detected. Precisely how this is achieved varies, and the extent of the protection needed determines which variant of this technology will prove to be the most suitable.

Ideally, a comprehensive UPS service should begin with a site survey. This is required in order to assess the specific requirements, such as the load size and the various contingencies that could pose a potential threat to the smooth running of the client’s operation. Once the relevant information has been gathered, the next step will be to supply and install a suitable system, tailored to the client’s specific requirements. After commissioning and testing, routine maintenance and performance monitoring will often also form part of the service agreement.

Among the sectors in which a UPS service is particularly critical are healthcare and data processing. In the case of a hospital, there will invariably be patients whose lives completely depend upon the continued functioning of life support equipment. Similarly, the clients of banks, insurance companies, and all manner of businesses must depend heavily on the integrity of computers to protect details of their accounts. In each case, only an uninterruptible power supply will be able to provide the guarantee of continuity when Eskom is unable to do so.

Whatever the finer details of a given UPS service, there are essentially three basic types of uninterruptible power supply in common use. To protect a home computer or a couple of PCs in a small business, an offline standby solution is efficient and costs little. In normal operation, mains power passes through the unit and when a failure is detected, a switch transfers the supply task to the battery within 4 to 10 ms, ensuring continued operation without data loss or corruption.

The line-interactive type of UPS service acts similarly, but has the advantage of limiting the effect of mains-based interference, such as spikes, surges, and sags, either boosting power or switching to the backup battery supply as necessary. It is, however, the third option known as online double conversion that offers users the highest level of protection. The technology is designed to handle large fluctuations of the input voltage before needing to switch to battery power, while a combination of various self-diagnostic and failsafe features ensure continuity in the event of system failure or overload. It is the ideal choice for use with a generator to ensure continuity.

Offering a comprehensive UPS service trusted by many of the nation’s leading companies, PacB Group has the experience and skill to provide innovative solutions for power-related problems.