What is the difference between a UPS and an inverter?

Both uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and power inverters are used to provide power, but their working principles are different. Today let's discuss the difference between UPS and inverter and understand how they work.

What is an inverter?

Inverters are designed to provide uninterrupted power for the operation of household appliances. These home inverters work with various voltages and different loads (air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, induction hobs, etc.). This power backup system includes an additional DC (battery) source to store converted energy. Another point to note is that when the mains power is on, the inverter works in reverse, converting the AC power to DC to charge the battery. Since the battery is connected to the outside of the inverter, usually a higher capacity battery between 100Ah-200Ah is used, providing 2 hours to 5 hours of power backup.

In addition, during the mains power outage, it takes about 5-10 milliseconds for the inverter relay to switch from mains to battery power, and the computer will not be powered off.

Inverter advantages: 1. Cheap price

2. Wide range of uses, can be used in home, office, RV, truck, RV, yacht, water pump, industrial plant, agriculture, solar energy system, etc.

3. Different batteries can be configured according to different backup time requirements.

Disadvantage: The conversion time is 5-10MS longer than UPS

What is UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)?

A UPS is a device that supplies energy to a load in the event of a power failure, just like an inverter. UPS generally has a built-in battery of about 5ah ~ 10ah, which can provide backup power for 15 ~ 30 minutes in case of power failure. Bulk systems have batteries external to the UPS, but functionality depends on the UPS type.

UPS refers to a UPS that supplies power to AC loads during normal operation and provides AC power through an inverter during failure. In an online UPS, the output power is always ON, that is the UPS constantly charges the battery and draws current from the battery to supply power to the load. There is no switching, therefore, no time delay in switching between its sources. In the event of a power outage, not even nanoseconds are interrupted. In the event of a power failure, the UPS stops charging the battery but continues to drive the inverter battery load. Therefore, the delay is zero when UPS power is switched online. It is also known as an online UPS because it remains on even during normal operation. Since it is zero interruption, it is mostly used in the banking sector where tens of thousands of transactions occur per second, and the hospital precision system where people on life support systems need continuous oxygen supply.

Advantages: 0MS conversion time, can be used on high-precision equipment，

shortcoming

- 1) The working temperature is high and a large heat sink is required 2) The components used must have the ability to withstand high temperatures 

3) More expensive than the inverter

Combination of UPS and Inverter

After knowing all the differences between UPS and inverter, you need to consider your needs before making a choice. For example, offices with extensive computer and communication equipment often require backup inverter power. On the other hand, a bank or hospital may need an online UPS. A home that uses only ventilation and lighting can use an inverter, which can provide power backup for a few hours. You can determine the best configuration with a professional appraisal of the house.

We hope that after our explanation, you have understood the difference between UPS and inverter, and you can choose the power system that best suits your needs.