Today, electricity has become a necessity in life. It is no exaggeration to say that if there is a power outage worldwide, it may paralyze our lives. In order to keep equipment running without interruption even after a power outage, scientists have invented power systems.
UPS and inverters are two of the solutions. Despite the similarity of the role of ups and inverters, people are still confused about the difference between a UPS and an inverter. This article will focus on the differences between ups and inverters so that you can use them better once you understand their functions.
Different between UPS and inverter
| Feature | UPS | Inverter |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | UPS stands for Uninterruptible Power Supply | An inverter is a power electronic device that converts ac to dc |
| Function | Immediate power support for gadgets in case of power failure | Converts AC power to DC power and stores it in the battery. |
| Switch over | 3 to 8 milliseconds | 500 milliseconds |
| Backup | Electricity | Electronic power |
| Back up Time | Power Back up for Short Duration | Power Back up for Long Duration |
| Types | (a) Offline、 (b) Online、 (c) Line interrupting or Standby UPS. | (a)Stand Alone (b) Grid Tie Inverter |
| Connection | Directly connected to the appliances. | Connects to solar panels, batteries, and appliances. |
| Cost | More Expensive | Less Expensive |
| Main Part | Rectifier/charger, Inverter ,controller | Inverter and Battery |
| Supplying Power | Short Duration | Long Duration |
| Energy Consumption | More due to constant battery Charging | Less |
| Battery Maintenance | Do not require any maintenance. | Requires regular maintenance |
UPS:
- UPS means Uninterruptible Power Supply.
- If computers, huge equipment, or medical instruments are not turned off, we may lose data. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides devices with continuous power. This means that the transition from mains power to battery power is quite quick.
- A UPS is a complex system with numerous components. The batteries, charge controller, any transfer switches required to switch between the primary and backup batteries, and inverter circuits are all included in the UPS. Because the UPS stores DC power, it is also an inverter. To match the appliances linked to the main power line, we must convert them to AC power.
- UPS = Inverter + Battery Charger
- A UPS is simply an inverter with a built-in battery charger.
- The UPS only provides backup for 10 to 20 minutes. Its primary goal is to create a tiny backup so you may save applications and data.
- The UPS also guards against surges, voltage fluctuations, Undervoltage, overvoltage, spikes, and noise on the line.
Inverter:
- The inverter transforms the DC electricity from the battery to AC and gives power.
- In typical circumstances, power is sent straight to the load. It also charges the battery while drawing power from the AC source.
- The inverter receives power from the battery and converts it to DC power to power the electrical devices during a power outage.
- The inverter serves as a backup power source for all household gadgets, lights, and fans.
- Inverter stores electrical energy in flat or tubular batteries. As a result, it requires ongoing maintenance and must be replenished with distilled water regularly.
- Inverter life span is typically 15-20 years
The main difference between UPS and inverter
1. Different directions of focus
You can use a UPS to protect your gadgets from power outages if you don’t lose power frequently. Switching to a UPS is practically fast, and UPS backup typically lasts about 30 minutes.
The inverter takes a little longer to turn on than the UPS, and power outages frequently cause electronic equipment to reboot. Because TVs don’t care about switching delays, UPS favors PCs while inverters are recommended for households.
2. Backup time
A UPS can provide around 15 minutes of equipment backup. The inverter, on the other hand, depending on its capacity, can supply several hours of backup. You can utilize inverters to power your complete home based on capacity. If your neighborhood experiences a lengthier power loss, you can use it to keep at least a few lights and fans on.
3. Maintenance and longevity
The UPS does not require any maintenance. Regular maintenance is needed for the inverter. This is because ambient air circulation, dust, and other factors might shorten the lifespan inverter. The UPS’s downside is that the batteries are constantly charged and discharged even when there is no power outage. As a result, the battery lasts 4-5 times as long as the inverter battery.
4. Price
In comparison to inverters, UPS is more expensive.
UPSs only give backup power for a limited time, whereas inverters provide electricity for a long time.
Inverters have voltage variations, whereas UPS has no voltage fluctuations because their input depends on the output power.
UPSs are utilized at home, in offices, and in industries, whereas inverters are used in offices.
Should I choose a UPS or an inverter?
What is the difference between a UPS and an inverter? Perhaps you already know the answer after reading the preceding comparison of UPS and inverter differences. Cost, power requirements, and protection must all be considered while developing products. To put it another way, it all boils down to your backup needs and, more crucially, the lengthy power supply delay.
Which should I choose for my home/business: UPS or inverter?
This section is for you if you have not yet deployed any of these. To maintain data security and revenues, major company and organizational applications that demand high dependability of the power system should choose the device with the least latency – the UPS. An inverter may be a more cost-effective option for household use. When used for typical household appliances, the inverter’s operation is unaffected by extended switching periods and viable.
If I already have an inverter in my house, do I need a UPS?
Some folks may be concerned about the inverter’s ability to cope with a PC failure and want to install a UPS. It’s OK if you don’t want to utilize the main inverter’s PC instead of connecting to a UPS.
However, some UPS units will not work with inverters (for example, a traditional UPS with an obsolete square/delta wave output converter), and sine waves can be dangerous. It is, however, quite doable if the inverter combined with the UPS is a pure sine wave inverter and the UPS is capable of processing sine waves. It is recommended that you contact your inverter supplier and get assistance from their professionals for a better experience.
Conclusion
We rely extensively on electric items in our daily lives, such as air conditioners, computers, refrigerators, etc. When the power supply bureau or generator room goes down, inverters and UPS are employed to keep the lights on. Visit Luxpowertek.com to see a wide range of inverters and pick the right one for you! This article compares UPS and inverters regarding switching times and backup time needs, which you should consider when selecting a backup power solution for your house or workplace.