What is an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)?

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) offers guaranteed power protection for connected electronics. When power is interrupted, or fluctuates outside safe levels, a UPS will instantly provide clean battery backup power and surge protection for plugged-in, sensitive equipment.

APC, a flagship brand of Schneider Electric, offers UPS options for Computers & Peripherals, Networks & Servers, as well as Data Centres & Facilities.

Why do you need a UPS in your home or business?

Home: The electronic devices you rely on every day for communication, security and entertainment are at risk of damage and failure due to unexpected blackouts, voltage fluctuations or other power disruptions. A UPS provides battery backup power and protection for electronic devices, including:

• Wireless networking equipment (routers, modems)
• Computers
• Televisions
• Security systems
• Gaming consoles
• Mobile device

Business: Downtime caused by power outages is frustrating for anyone, but can be financially crippling for a business or organisation. Every year, billions of dollars are lost due to downtime caused by power disruptions that could have been prevented by a UPS.

Small to medium-sized businesses may be at most financial risk due to a limited ability to generate revenue during downtime.

How much runtime do you need to support your attached equipment?

That depends on what you intend to back up with your UPS. Runtime refers to the amount of time a UPS will be able to power its attached equipment in the event of a power disruption. The more equipment you have plugged-in to your UPS, the less runtime you will have, so it’s important to make sure your UPS is only providing backup power to your most critical equipment.