Efficiency in UPSes - Part 2

Continuing from last post on Efficiency...

Besides Power Factory Efficiency, the other type of Efficiency is Topology Efficiency.

This type of Efficiency is more related to energy savings, but honestly more gimmicky as manufacturers tout their green credentials.

Simply put, Topology Efficiency is the amount of energy used to operate the UPS.  Lets recall Topology... Its is the method of providing backup power.  Online Topology, is simply that its allways online.. allways giving you clean power.  Line Interactive Topology uses a 'switch' to turn on the UPS power if something in the line goes bad.  Obviously, Online - since its always on - will use more energy than a line interactive that just turns on when needed.

So line interactive UPSes are more efficient than online types can ever be.   Within the Line Interactive model mix, there are a few super efficient models.  The APC 5th generation units, (like the 200v) dont switch over to the energy intensive UPS power, unless its really necessary.  Some sort of magic corrects alot of the minor power problems without energizing those line interactive transformers.  Older units, didnt really care, and just switched over - saying to hell with a few watts.

And thats the problem... this super efficient line interactive UPS like the 5th gen APC save so little power, thats its kind of stupid.  The idea that saving of 5 kWh ($1) a month when your server room is set at 60 degrees and you are running 10,000 watts of servers is pointless.  Its like ordering a Diet Coke with a Bacon Double Big Mac, Fries, Milkshake and a bucket of lard.

Bottomline, the Topology of the UPS dictates its efficiency by determining how often the unit runs.

KnowUPS - Power Conditioning

Frequently, I get requests for the best UPS for power quality and conditioning.

To answer that, I can offer 2 different approaches.

TOPOLOGY
Topology is, loosely, the type of UPS mechanism.  I have written in depth about this.  Online and Line Interactive are the common ones.  Simply, Online type is where output power is always being made by the UPS and Line Interactive type online "makes" the power if something goes wrong.  So, if you want UPS to manufacturer the power output all the time,  Online is the best topology.  But that doesn't necessarily mean its the "best power."


OFFICIAL POWER QUALITY
Technically, power quality is the quality of the voltage; specifically, transient content and voltage magnitudes.   UPSes address both problems and offer redress.  No matter whether its an Online or Line Interactive type UPS,  they output a voltage plus or minus their operational tolerance.
A quick check of some common units, shows some differences in Output Voltage

• APC Line Interactive 5kva (585AB) = +/- 5%
• APC Online 5kva (593g4) = +/- 3%
• Tripplite Online 5kva (to595) = +/- 2%
• Eaton Line Interactive (p5593) = +/- 8%
• Eaton Online 5kva (p9593v) = +/- 2%

So if the goal is 208volt (or other selected voltage output), the best power quality unit is a Online UPS, but with low ranges such as the Eaton or Tripplite.

But, as I have said many times, most IT equipment runs off its own power supply, and the small differences of power quality in the specs isnt worth worry about.

Worry about the quality (or absence) of your Transient Voltage Surge Suppressor....  thats where real power quality should be addressed

Rumble in the Rack III: APC 3kva XL versus Tripplite 3kva XL

APC SmartUPS 3000va XL 3U  [313b]

vs.

Tripplite SmartPro 3000va XL 2U [tl312w]

APC Products outsell Tripplite at my store 20 to 1.  But its a shame, because on so many fronts, Tripplite is a better buy.  Take our best 3kva seller from APC versus the unloved Tripplite version

Both units

• Extended Run capatable at 48vdc
• 3000va - 120v
• Line Interactive Topology - Pure Sinewave

APC 3000va's Advantages

• More runtime  (3U frame v. 2U frame though)
• Black in color

Tripplite's Advantage

• $170 cheaper
• Native USB support
• Twistlock output receptacle for easy PDU connection
• Native 20amp T type receptacles
• Lighter... Can ship via Fedex  (APC must be freighted)

WINNER!  Tripplite

Dell UPS.. the Smarter UPS: 3 types of UPSes in 3 words

We have reviewed the several types of  UPS topology previously.  Standby, Line Interactive and Online Double Conversion are the most common.

All of these Topologies are just processes for which the UPS delivers backup energy and power conditioning.  However, many people get confused with these terms.

Dell has a nice succinct summary....

• Standby - SWITCHES.  If there is a problem, it switches over to clean battery power
• Line Interactive - MODERATES.  If there is a problem it first moderates the power by bucking or boosting the power to meet the equipment's needs.  This is why this this often called Smart
• Online - ISOLATES.  If there is a problem, it doesn't care because power problems are fully isolated from the power system

Dell's High Efficiency Online UPS is a hybrid of them all.   It has online isolating features when you need them and line interactive features when you dont.  If the balancing rock is the moderating line interactive and the lone tree in field is the isolating online.. then maybe this image is the combination:.finite and lonely but bearing the entire human species through the oceans of space and time.

"On a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam" - Carl Sagan

A Number 4 with a Coke and SNMP Card... Bundle Combos are back

While not as tasty as a Deluxe Spicy Chik-fil-A Sandwich... we offer UPS bundles of our popular extended run items.

These include the main UPS unit and Extended Run Cabinet both with fresh from the farm batteries, with some including a network management card and rail kit at usually 10-20% off store prices.  Plus shipping is cheaper!

The bundles include APC, Powerware, Liebert, HP, Tripplite in both Online or Line Interactive Topology for 120 or high voltage.

• HP 3000va 120v [hp312e]
• Liebert 3000va 120v [lp312e]
• Tripplite 3000va 120v Online [to313e]
• APC 3000va 120v [313be]
• Powerware 3000va 208v [p5392ie]

New Product - A 3phase Unit that fits in your hand.

As an early proponent of APC's Symmetra PX's class of 3phase UPS units, its rare for us to recommend any other style, let alone brand.   But when we find a 3phase unit that meets such an obvious need AND offers so many great specs and features ... its deserves our attention.

The Gamatronic PowerPlus SA3, is a 10kva 120/208 3phase Unit that is just a bit bigger than a CPU tower.  While it doesnt fit in the palm of your hand, its much smaller than the 42U cabinets, that the APC Symmetra PX and VT units.

The Gamatronics unit offers many of the same power conditioning and online topology found in the other makers, but at a great price point and small footprint.

We got our first SA3 from a distributor liquidating some old stock.  It was never used, but couldnt be sold as new anymore.

So take a peek at the GAS10....

.

New Product - the Ferro-resonant UPS.... FerrUPS

Ferro-resonant UPSes are a 3rd type (or topology) of UPS.  Unlike the line interactive or double conversion, ferro-resonant units use a transformer to hold energy long enough for the UPS to transfer to the batteries.

The most common is the FerrUPS.  Branded under Best Power, Powerware and still made by Eaton.  These type of units are very robust and highly sought.  Many times we have have tried to get customers to leave their FerrUPS to no avail.  So we have now started selling a few models.

FerrUPS are best used in industrial applications where the load may spike under certain condition.  Since it continuously 'saturates' the internal transformer these spikes are absorbed without incident.

Look for our Ferrups 10kva later this month.  Unlike some of the other UPSes, these units need quite a bit of work to be refurbished.  DONT BUY A USED ONE!!!   Buy from a trusted supplier like GreenlightUPS