If you are unsure about single and 3 phase Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and want to find out which is apt and suits your power supply needs, you must first understand what both systems are and how they work.
What is a Single Phase UPS system?
A single-phase uninterruptible power supply consists of a single sine wave input and usually is a single phase of a bigger 3 phase supply.
A simple example of this is a local three-pin socket (UK), which uses 230/240 VAC (Single phase) to provide power.
Most hardware requires minimum power to operate from a single-phase supply, and such a setup usually includes:
- Rack Mounted Servers
- Telecommunications
- Network switches
- Computer systems
Primarily, all types of single-phase uninterruptible power supply systems up to 3kVA, can be installed to a standard UL plug or socket. However, for any sizes above 3kVA, the single-phase UPS must first be connected to a single-phase distribution board.
What is a Three (3) Phase UPS power supply?
The installation of a 3 phase uninterruptible power supply system utilizes the complete 3 phases of power that are generated from the grid. A 3 phase UPS electrical supply consists of three different(individual) sine waves and can be installed as:
- 3 wire configuration
- 3 wire and neutral configuration
Typically, a three-phase source comes from a local transformer, where the standard three-phase voltage is 400/415 VAC (UK 3 phase). However, you will also find 3 phase UPS systems are that have been specifically designed and engineered for larger network installations such as:
- Data Centres
- Clinical and Health Care Facilities
- Scalable Industrial Power Applications
All 3 phase solutions necessitate the requirement for installing a UPS to a 3 phase distribution board, which is generally achieved through a bypass switch facility.
Some features Of 3 Phase Protected Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems are:
- Audible alarms that provide notifications for adjusting the utility and UPS power conditions.
- Fully-rated power kVA equals to kW, which reduces the overall cost by removing the need for a vast UPS intended for Power Factor Corrected (PFC) loads.
- Generator compatibility ascertains clean, uninterrupted power for the protected equipment in case the generator power is already used and exhausted.
- User-replaceable power modules facilitate easy upgrades and replacements for the power modules.
- Battery modules are connected in parallel, and this delivers higher availability through redundant batteries.
What Are The Benefits Of A 3 Phase Protection UPS System?
3 Phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) protection systems are designed to provide high levels of availability in a cost-effective manner.
Some of the benefits of getting a UPS with a 3 phase power protection are:
- Scalable power capacity functions that lower UPS over-sizing costs and further allow quicker power upgrades within the same footprint for future expansions.
- Programmable frequency ascertains compatibility with different types of input frequencies.
- Swappable power modules allow speedy addition of power capacity or replacement of current or existing power modules.
- Installed modules get recognized by the UPS system automatically.
- Power modules that are connected parallelly enhance availability by enabling immediate and seamless recovery from isolated module malfunctions or breakdowns.
- Automatic internal bypass feature ensures steady supply utility power to the connected loads in case there is any UPS power overload or defect.
3 Phase Protection UPS Systems Are Available For A Host Of Industries
Power outage or power loss can sometimes lead to hours spent on identifying the root cause or issue for power failure. During such a power outage, important customer information or work data may get affected, leading to severe implications in terms of businesses performance, and goodwill.
To secure your business functions and essential data servers, explore backup power supplies that can provide a seamless and steady network. In case you have doubts or trouble deciding the right UPS system for your business, you can always get in touch with power solution specialists.