As businesses become dependent on electronic devices for daily operations, their need for uninterruptible power sources grows. Unexpected outages and power surges within a primary electricity source can have significant impacts on a company’s productivity. The two most common backup power supply systems for commercial properties include line-interactive and online UPS systems.
Understanding line-interactive vs. online UPSs can help you make the most informed decisions regarding your business’s ideal UPS. Nite and Day Power shares the following guide outlining what you should know about these backup power supply options.
What Is an Online UPS?
An uninterrupted power supply system provides backup power to a property when its primary source of electricity fails. For commercial properties, having a reliable UPS in place means fewer productivity disruptions, data loss, and equipment damage due to power outages. 
Online UPS is a power protection system that provides an uninterrupted electrical supply to connected devices. The system contains an inverter that continuously gets energy from a battery, which powers connected equipment.
Online UPSs serve as double conversion power supplies because they convert the electricity their batteries receive to DC, then back to AC. If the battery has to take over for your property’s main electrical supply, you can expect zero power interruption.
Offline uninterruptible power supply systems are also available. Unlike the online variety, these systems get their load directly from raw mains instead of an inverter output. The inverter, charger, and battery stay offline, but the battery and charger remain connected to the mains to ensure the battery always has a full charge.
Top Benefits of Online UPS
With line-interactive vs. online UPS, online systems have several advantages, including the following:
- Zero transfer time: The switch from a main power supply to an online UPS is seamless, causing no downtime for connected electronic devices.
- Constant power supply: With an uninterrupted power supply, you can be sure that your business equipment receives a reliable power output even when the quality of the input power declines.
- Scalability: You can increase the UPS load capacity for this kind of system to accommodate changes in your company’s power requirements.
- Enhanced protection: An online UPS system can handle various types of electrical disturbances, such as voltage spikes and frequency variations.
What Is Line Interactive UPS?
When assessing line-interactive vs. online UPSs, remember that both options offer power protection. However, the line-interactive variety contains automatic voltage regulators. Voltage regulation is necessary to correct fluctuations in voltage without relying on battery backup unless the main electricity source fails.
Let’s say a line-interactive UPS draws a normal current from a wall outlet. In that case, the current will flow right through the system. If the current is abnormal but within a specific range, the voltage regulator will adjust the current accordingly. Yet, an out-of-range current will cause the UPS to switch to its battery power.
Advantages of Line Interactive UPSs
Some of the benefits of choosing a line-interactive UPS include:
- Moderate power protection: Line-interactive UPSs work best in environments that experience minor voltage fluctuations
- Efficient power management: These UPSs typically have a longer battery life due to their advanced AVRs, which optimize electrical efficiency by automatically adjusting voltage levels.
- Cost-effectiveness: These systems are typically more affordable than online UPS models, so they’re suitable for home use and small to medium-sized businesses.
How To Choose Between Line Interactive and Online UPS
You may wonder about picking the best option for your business when exploring line-interactive vs. online UPSs. If you want top-tier protection to ensure electricity always flows through mission-critical equipment, an online UPS may be the best option, but they usually cost more. Line-interactive UPSs offer quality and reliable protection without compromising budgets.
Keep Power Flowing to Your Property With Help From Nite and Day Power
When debating line-interactive vs. online UPSs, you should consider factors such as power protection, scalability, efficiency, and cost. Line-interactive UPSs are cost-effective systems offering moderate electrical protection. The online version, while costly, offers seamless transfer times for equipment with varying power demands.
If you need help determining the right UPS system for your business in the San Francisco Bay area, turn to Nite and Day Power. We offer everything from UPS installations to maintenance. Contact us today at (800) 540-7693 to explore your options.
