10 Features of a Great Smart UPS
The purpose of any UPS (uninterruptible power supply) is to protect your sensitiv
e electronics from power fluctuations and voltage spikes, which can damage them permanently or even catch fire in the case of extreme conditions. But how do you tell if a UPS will be able to handle your needs? Here are 10 features that should be standard in every smart UPS, and why they’re necessary. You’ll also find some products with these features highlighted at the end of this article.
1) First off, how much power do you need?
Before you get into specs, you need to decide how much power you’ll need from your smart battery backup. This is determined by how many devices you want to protect from outages and brownouts, as well as how long (in minutes) you want your devices to be protected for. If your smart ups has an LCD screen, it will display all of these stats on one screen, but if not it’s up to you to calculate that info before making your purchase. It would also be wise to consider size when looking at batteries; if you have a ton of kitchen appliances like refrigerators and microwaves running simultaneously, it’s probably best to go with larger capacity batteries. The more power-hungry appliances you plan on using, however, the less time your overall battery life will last while keeping everything running smoothly. A large TV might go through most or all of its reserve energy within just a few hours—if there's no rest period between big draws during a brownout or outage—so keep that in mind when thinking about what type of capacity you need for your home base! Your smart Battery Backup Unit should have some sort of indicator telling you exactly how much reserve time is left at any given moment.
2) How much data do you have to back up?
Is your current setup enough to back up your data? If not, find out exactly how much you have to back up. Find out how much capacity your new smart ups needs to have and make sure it’s large enough for whatever you have going on. A great way to make sure you’re getting what you need is by thinking through what has happened in recent data loss situations. What was lost? How long did it take to get things back? Could it have been prevented with better equipment? By remembering these scenarios, you can save yourself time and stress in the future with a smart backup solutions that does all its job automatically. In our experience at CyberPower, many people underestimate how much storage they actually require - usually because they think only about their computers (and maybe phones) but fail to consider external hard drives or USB sticks that may be holding copies of their files. This is particularly important when you consider mobile devices: tablets often include very little storage space while phones offer considerably less than even that. To truly ensure security when it comes to protecting your info from theft or damage caused by unexpected events such as fires or floods, you need more than just one copy!
3) How fast will your system run on battery power?
Some power failures are short, lasting only a few seconds or minutes. But other blackouts can last hours. So how fast will your system run on battery power? The answer to that question is important when you’re trying to decide which type of smart ups to buy: An online or double-conversion ups (also called an offline unit) is generally going to run slower than an online ups. Here's why: A double conversion ups converts incoming AC power into DC and then back into AC for use by your devices; it does all that work in reverse when it starts recharging its batteries after utility power returns. So even if your outage was only a couple minutes long, there would be no juice left in those rechargeable batteries once everything was up and running again. In contrast, an online ups uses DC throughout; it gets its electricity from incoming AC lines and immediately puts any excess back into those batteries so they stay charged while protecting against future outages.
4) Will you be on-site when the power goes out?
Backup power is essential for protecting your business. But if you’re not there when disaster strikes, it may end up doing more harm than good. So make sure your backup power solution can be activated remotely. Having remote management can also protect against theft and vandalism. It’s best to have an expert figure out what kind of power requirements you need. That way, they can design a system that maximizes battery life while minimizing cost. And since every situation is different, it’s hard to recommend one UPS product over another. But here are some features to look for in any UPS unit.
5) Does your machine support remote management and updates?
Remote management is an important feature for companies with multiple locations, ensuring that you can keep your equipment up to date without having to travel to each individual machine. It’s also useful if you have a device in an area where traveling isn’t easy—mountains, for example. If it doesn’t have remote updates, then make sure it at least has remote alerts. This way you know when something needs attention so you can address it quickly before it causes any major problems. Make sure all these features are available on every single model that your company purchases. If one piece of equipment doesn’t support them, find one that does and start a business-wide upgrade. As Murphy's Law states: anything that can go wrong will go wrong (at best), or will go wrong at exactly the worst possible time (at worst). A great smart backup ups system keeps power outages from becoming disasters by providing those safeguards against worst-case scenarios.
6) Do you have any specialized needs for surge protection?
If you’re running specialized equipment, it’s important to consider those needs when shopping for a backup ups. If your computer, for example, is connected to an off-site server or you work with satellite transmissions, look for a device that offers higher joule ratings and make sure it includes solid surge protection at both incoming and outgoing levels. Also, if you need more power than standard models can provide, think about getting one that has built-in generators or dual inputs so you can add additional capacity. It may cost a little more up front but could save you a lot of time in recovery later on—and maybe even prevent some damage altogether. At least once a year check all connections to be sure they are properly protected by following manufacturer recommendations. Also check battery connections and report any faults immediately.
7) Is the device rack mountable?
Yes. Smaller devices that don’t need as much storage space can be mounted directly on top of servers or onto racks. If you need more storage, though, you’ll have to buy more equipment—which will become part of your power backu up system. Make sure you know what all goes into making up your backu up system before purchasing anything new. Also, remember: if you do mount one device on top of another, it should be labeled to indicate it needs air flow and ventilation. Do not mount two pieces of equipment side by side without proper spacing between them; doing so could severely damage both pieces.
8) How many outlets does it offer, and are they accessible from the front panel?
If you’re working on a tight budget and don’t have any expansion room, look for smart units that offer at least two outlets. Also, make sure they’re accessible from the front panel; you shouldn’t have to slide anything out in order to get to them. If you need more than just your computer and monitor covered, take note of how many outlets it offers. You might find it gets quite expensive if all you need is four or five more USB ports. Look into whether or not additional outlets can be purchased separately and installed in place without requiring a complete replacement (this could save you lots of money). Make sure there's enough space in back, however, so that extensions will fit properly. Do I really need an LCD? An LCD can be very helpful if you're ever unsure about what modes your equipment is running under. Some devices also allow users to adjust settings without even touching their computers. However, we should note that touch-screens are becoming increasingly common—and very affordable—so you might want to consider going with one of those models instead. Touch screens require no set up time whatsoever (no fumbling around with cables), and simply require connecting it via power cable—it practically installs itself! Can I use other software?
9) Does it offer more than battery backup? (e.g., line interactive, uninterruptible power supply features.)
If you’re looking for backup power solutions, there are two types of backup ups to choose from: an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and an uninterruptible power source (UPS). The primary difference between them is that a true UPS offers more than just battery backup. A good UPS will allow for line-interactive power sources or voltage support to help regulate voltage in case of emergencies. This way, your electronics remain stable during electric surges. Even if you aren’t worried about sudden outages affecting your electronics while they’re operating, it’s smart to keep around a well-equipped UPS as a kind of peace of mind—you never know when you might need extra energy. For example, let's say your computer takes longer than usual to boot up one day. You won't be able to use your computer until it's finished starting up and Windows loads--but if you have a spare UPS lying around with some juice left in it, you can plug your computer into it so that everything loads quickly.
10) Overall, is this product easy to use, both in setting up and in operation?
A great smart ups should be simple to set up and start using immediately. Don’t forget that most smart ups work without much intervention from you, so they shouldn’t require extra equipment or labor to get running. It also helps if they can take full advantage of any existing network systems or use backup software programs. Finally, look for UPS systems that include many helpful security features and options to make sure your backu ups is safe both when using it and keeping it plugged in around children or pets. The overall feature set will vary widely between smart ups models, but there are some common things to look out for. For example, battery health monitoring lets you know how long your unit will last on a charge before needing to be recharged itself; few people want their devices going dark as soon as they need them! You'll also want to see how long it takes to fully recharge an empty battery—most batteries take 12 hours or more—and whether or not charging power completely goes through your home's breaker box.
