UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES

Uninterruptible power supplies, or simply "UPS", is sometimes referred to as a battery backup system, which maintains a continuous supply of electric power to a building, or certain electrical devices within a building by supplying power from the UPS system whenever power is not available from the grid or utility company.

Typically, uninterruptible power supplies are located between the source of the normal power supply - such as the electric utility company - and the electric load the UPS system is protecting. When electric power from the grid fails - whether through a lightning strike, failed transformer, or a black-out occurs, the UPS will instantly recognize the loss or interruption of power from the grid, and switch from the grid power to UPS power.

Uninterruptible power supply systems can be designed to protect small or large loads, including systems small enough to protect one or more computers, to critical life support systems that may be found in a home or hospital, to telecommunications equipment where an unexpected power disruption could threaten life or health or serious business disruption or computer data loss.
Small UPS systems can protect loads as small as just one computer to large UPS systems that will power and protect a company's entire data center or a building such as an office building or hospital. These systems can be as large as 3-20 megawatts and typically work in conjunction with a genset or a cogeneration plant.