Products Archives » Uninterruptible Power Supplies

27th March 201927th March 2019

VFI-B Series UPS LED Indicators

Here at Power Inspired we look at the nature of the product queries we receive and improve and update our product information as appropriate. One such regular question we have is the status of the UPS LED indicators on the VFI-B series and asking if this is normal. This article looks at the UPS LED indicators only (not the LCD).

Referring to the diagram above we have 4 LEDs. When you power on the unit these LEDs will come on in sequence. Starting from the bottom we have the inverter LED (green), the battery LED (amber), the bypass LED (amber) and the warning LED (red). The diagram shows the most common LED arrangements and I’ll go through these in turn.

1. Normal

In this mode the UPS is switched on and is delivering power from its inverter. This is the default status when powering the unit on, unless other settings have been enabled.

2. ECO mode

This high efficiency mode effectively changes the UPS topology from an online UPS to an offline UPS. The inverter is switched off, but the UPS is still looking out for any power disturbances. In the event the mains should go out of tolerance the unit will switch back to inverter operation. This is also a normal mode which can be enabled or disabled in the unit settings.

3. Battery Mode.

The unit is operating from battery power. This is usually because the unit is receiving no power but may also be because the input voltage is too high, too low or out of frequency range (eg if powered from a low grade generator). The red warning light will flash every 4 seconds simultaneously with the buzzer sounding. If the frequency increases to every second, the battery LED will also flash and this indicates Low Battery. The unit will shortly turn off.

4. Bypass

This mode is one where mistakes can be made which is why it is disabled by default. Here, in bypass mode, the unit UPS function is switched off but the charger and LCD are still active. There is power at the output, which is why some mistakes are made as the assumption is the UPS is “on”. When the UPS is in bypass mode, should the mains power be cut, the unit will simply switch off. Bypass mode is useful as it allows the UPS to be switched off (for maintenance etc) without losing power to the load. If enabled the UPS will revert to bypass if it detects a fault such as an overload. As such bypass mode is enabled when continuity of power is paramount, however secondary checks should be made to ensure the UPS is “online”.

5. Warning LED

If this LED is permanently illuminated and accompanied by the buzzer sounding the UPS has a fault. A fault code is likely to be displayed on the LCD. If it is flashing other LEDs may be illuminated depending upon the UPS mode. For example, the UPS may detect the battery is not connected and flash every four seconds. Flashing twice per second indicates the UPS is overloaded and at risk of shutting off, or the fans may be blocked.

14th January 201915th January 2019

Powervar Security II UPM vs TX Series

powervar-security-ii-upm-power-inspired-tx-series

A factual comparison of the key technical differences between the Powervar Security II UPM and the Power Inspired TX Series UPS System.

Feature	Security II UPM	TX Series	Comment
N-E Bonded	Yes	No	➀ To Bond or Not to Bond
Isolation Transformer	On output	On input	➁ Transformer on input or output?
Technology	Line Interactive (VI)	Online Double Conversion (VFI)	➂ Quick explanation
Hot Swap Batteries	Yes	No	➃ Hot Swap Batteries
Extended Run	No	Yes	➄ Extended Run

➀ To Bond or Not to Bond

Isolation transformers will negate the effectiveness of Residual Current Devices (RCDs). Where an RCD has been specified either for additional safety or due to poor earthing then this point needs to be considered.

The advantage of making a Neutral to Earth bond is that it removes any voltage between the Neutral and Earth conductors. This is what the Security II UPM does. However, as a result of this the output live conductor is now referenced to earth directly. This means that in a fault condition it is possible to receive an electric shock between the output phase conductor and earth. Any protective RCD put in place to protect against this will not trip.

Where no bond is made, the output voltage is now floating with respect to earth. This means that any phase to earth fault would not cause an electric shock as the fault would simply reference the phase to earth. Again, no RCD would trip but this is irrelevant as no hazard exists.

See this article on isolation transformers for further info.

➁ Transformer on Input or Output?

An issue with transformers is called “Regulation”. What this means is that the output voltage with no load will be higher than when the transformer is under full load. In line interactive topology such as the Security II UPM, the transformer on the input or the output does not make for much difference except when the unit is running from inverter. The problem is that the output voltage can be quite high under no-load conditions to being quite low under full load conditions. If the load is fluctuating this can cause the output voltage to be varying quite substantially.

This is also problematic where certain loads may have high start up currents, such as those with motors or pumps. The initial current surge causes the output voltage to fall resulting in under-voltage protections operating on the load.

In online units, such as the TX series, the load is powered from the inverter and hence is extremely stable. A transformer on the output would negate this benefit. The transformer on the input will still be subject to regulation issues however the UPS inverter will correct for any voltage variations. This means the output with online technology is fixed and unwavering – even with high start up current loads.

➂ UPS Technology

A line interactive UPS allows the input power to pass through to the output. If the voltage rises too much that the output voltage would become out of tolerance, then the UPS enters a “buck” mode to reduce the voltage by a fixed percentage.

The reverse is also true. If the input voltage is to become too low to remain in tolerance, then the UPS enters a “boost” mode to raise the voltage by a fixed percentage.

Such technology is referred to as “Voltage Independent” or VI. However in normal operation the output voltage is in fact passed straight through so the voltage regulation is somewhat minimal. Any distortions on the input power will also be passed through to the load.

The Powervar Security II UPM is a line interactive UPS.

Online double conversion units supply power to the load from the inverter at all times. This means the output voltage is fixed and of high purity. In fact, the TX series, being an online unit is capable of having an adjustable output voltage, or even frequency.

This feature of online UPS means this technology is referred to as “Voltage Frequency Independent” or VFI. In that the output voltage and frequency are in fact, independent of the input. However, note that it is common practice for online units to be in synch with the input frequency in case a revert to bypass is necessary. So technically, the frequency isn’t always independent.

➃ Hot Swappable Batteries

Hot swappable is a term coined to describe that the batteries in the UPS can be replaced with the unit still powered up and connected. The important point is that this should be safe and be able to be performed without the use of a tool. It is advantageous in that it allows the replacement of batteries by unskilled persons and without powering down the load. If the UPS requires a service however, then this benefit is largely removed.

➄ Extended Run

Extended run units allow for the connection of additional battery packs in order to extend runtime if required. Such units should have a higher capacity battery charger in order to recharge this larger battery bank. The TX series is an extended run unit with an adjustable battery charge current of up to 4Amps.

18th December 201818th December 2018

Treat Your HiFi This Christmas

What does your HiFi want to eat this Christmas?

Go on! Spoil your HiFi this Christmas by powering it from the AG1500S AC Power ReGenerator.

At Christmas we spoil ourselves with the best food and drink available. Well, electricity is your HiFi’s food – so while you’re tucking into your top nosh ensure your system receives nothing but the best as well. The AG1500S provides a nigh on perfect 230V voltage source. And unlike your food, this output won’t go cold, curdle or spoil. You’ll get 230V fixed ^♪ – any time day or night without change.

The harmonic distortion of the output waveform is almost as pure a sinewave as you can get with a typical distortion of under 1% – that is 8 times better than what the standards call “pure”. Top Quality food indeed!

Rated “Excellent – Extremely Capable” by HiFi World Magazine and also of high value. Well this Christmas the AG1500S is unbelievable value with a 10% discount valid this festive season!^♫

Get 10% Off
Use discount code “SPROUTS”
when ordering through our online webstore.

Buy Online Now

Important Info

^♪ If your system has a slightly different palette, you can change the menu on the AG1500S to European (220V) or UK (240V).

^♫Code expires on January 2nd 2019. Last Orders for Christmas Delivery is noon on December 21st. Orders received after this date will be shipped in January 2019.

11th December 201811th December 2018

This Is The Age Of The Lithium UPS

Introducing the new range of KR-RM-LI series UPS, true online double conversion UPS Systems with internal Lithium Ion batteries. Welcome to the new age for UPS.

UPS have traditionally used valve regulated sealed lead acid batteries for energy storage. They are relatively cheap, easy to install and maintain and have a reasonably good energy density. They’ve been the technology of choice for decades now.

However, they do have drawbacks. Probably the biggest of which is heat. The expected life from a lead acid battery diminishes once the temperature exceeds 25°C and this deterioration becomes much more rapid above 30°C.

Secondly, like all rechargeable batteries, they have only so many charge/discharge cycles in them. Typically this is 200-300. This is usually more than enough for average use. However if the batteries are called into use daily, then you will find that the batteries are shot in under a year.

Thirdly, they only have a fixed life in any case. This is referred to as the “design life”, and is normally quoted as 5-year or 10-year. However this is assuming the batteries are subject to perfect environment, hardly cycled and continuously float charged. Usually you can expect battery life to be 2-3 years in good conditions and less if the environment becomes warm.

Lastly, although the energy density is reasonable, they are in fact quite heavy. A typical UPS battery block of 12V 9Ah weighs 2.5kg. For a typical 3KVA UPS with a 72V string, this is 18kg of weight just for the battery.

Introducing the New Age of Lithium UPS

Lithium Ion batteries are now ubiquitous in our world. They power everything from smart phones to laptop computers and now even cars. Although there has been a few scares with safety, given the sheer number of batteries out there, the problems have been in fact an extremely small percentage. Notwithstanding that, the safety protocols that are required to be in place now mitigate many of these issues.

Each battery pack is made up of an number of individual cells. Each cell is produced to high quality standards, and electronic circuits monitor the pack to ensure balance in both charge and recharge in each cell. Signs of thermal runaway cause the pack to be disconnected from source power before any external damage can be caused.

So why use Lithium in UPS

Lithium offers some very compelling advantages over lead acid.

Temperature. Lithium is not affected by temperature in the same way as lead acid. In fact, our UPS can operate in environments up to 60°C without damage to the lithium battery. This is a clear advantage for Lithium UPS where warm environments may be experienced.

Power Density. Did you know Lithium is the lightest metal? It is item number 3 in the Periodic Table of Elements after Hydrogen and Helium. As a result we can cram in more battery capacity into our KR-RM-LI Lithium UPS than we could possible hope to achieve with lead acid. Each of our models, 1,2 and 3KVA contain 10Ah batteries of 24V, 48V and 72V and provide 11 minutes of runtime at full load. All in a 2U chassis, and not only that – our 3KVA model weighs only 16Kg. To put into perspective the equivalent 3KVA lead acid provides 3minutes of runtime and weighs 32kg! If you wanted to match the Lithium UPS you would need to add a battery pack making a 4U solution weighing 75kg!

Battery Life. The Lithium battery is good for well over 1000 cycles, meaning that you can charge and discharge it every day for about 3 years before you started to see a degradation in performance. It’s service life is 8years with a typical 10 year life.

Conclusion

Lithium UPS, with the higher power density, gives more runtime in a smaller footprint than the lead acid. This may be a good reason to elect for Lithium, however, if you have the room you could opt for additional battery packs with lead acid. However, when you consider you can get three times the runtime for a third of the weight and rackspace than with lead acid, then the Lithium case again starts to become compelling.

The Lithium UPS is of course more expensive than lead acid, but that is just the up-front cost. Taking a whole-life-cost approach you will find, as some of our customers will testify, the Lithium UPS makes financial sense when protecting an investment which has to last 5 years or more. Being fully guaranteed -including the battery – means there is no need to be concerned with scheduling in a battery replacement midway – or even several times – throughout the equipment life span.

If warm temperatures are expected, perhaps due to restricted ventilation- not just hot summer days- then Lithium really is your only option unless you’re happy to swap out the buckled lead acid blocks. If you’re bundling UPS with equipment to go on a customer site, then Lithium will ensure that you won’t have battery problems down the line.

Finally, there’s a lot of misconceptions about being able to ship Lithium units by air. There are certain guidelines you need to have, and all our units are correctly labelled to allow to be sent by air, so there is no need to discount Lithium for transportation reasons.

24th October 201824th October 2018

Automatic Transfer Switch – The Power Inspired ATS-16A

This month’s product feature is our Automatic Transfer Switch – the ATS-16A.

What is an Automatic Transfer Switch?

An Automatic Transfer Switch, or ATS is a device that has two AC power inputs and one power output. One input is set to primary and the other secondary and the load is powered through the primary power source. Should the primary source fail, the unit automagically transfers power to the secondary source.

What is an ATS used for?

In many cases it is used to add resilience to an electrical network, or as a way of safely bypassing a UPS for maintenance work.

Can an ATS be used with generators?

Yes, in many cases this is the prime use of an ATS and coupled with a UPS can provide a fully power protected standby power system for critical loads.

What is the rating of the Power Inspired ATS?

Our ATS is designed for single phase rack mount systems and is rated at 16A. This makes it ideal to work in conjunction with any 3KVA UPS System.

What arrangements are possible for load resilience?

We will assume that Source A is set to primary and Source B is secondary, although in practice you can set either one. If source A is the output from your UPS and source B is raw mains, this allows you to easily bypass the UPS for maintenance, or provide a secondary backup should the UPS on source A fail.

If A is a generator and B is raw mains, then whenever the generator is powered up the output will be powered from that. This can also be used if the generator is an alternate source, for example a renewable energy supply. A UPS is advised on the output to protect the load and to cover for any breaks in supply.

An extremely resilient supply however can be obtained by using two ATS. In the example above the UPS can be safely taken out of circuit without any loss of power. Source A can be generator and source B, raw mains. The UPS can be bypassed simply by turning it off or switching input on the right hand ATS.

Other Features

The ATS-16A is a rack mountable unit occupying only 1U of height. The front panel has a membrane keypad for selecting the primary input source as well as displaying the current state of each input and the output. The unit can be connected to an attached computer via USB and RS232 to give real time status of source as well as voltages, frequencies and the power consumption. An Intelligent Slot is available to communicate this information via SNMP if required. The front panel switches also allow for the disconnection of loads connected to the PDU on the rear panel.

The rear panel has both source inputs on 16A IEC leads. The output also couples as a Power Distribution Unit, or PDU. A single 16A outlet is available and is unswitched. Two further banks of 4 IEC10A connectors are available for supplementary loads. These can be switched from the front panel if required.

Furthermore a dry contact port is provided for communicating status to a remote alarm panel or Building Management System (BMS).

The Power Inspired Automatic Transfer Switch ATS-16A is currently on sale on our webstore: ATS-16A Store Page.

30th July 201816th August 2018

Lithium-Ion UPS vs VRLA UPS

Our Lithium Ion UPS range is an impressive series of UPSs with internal Lithium Ion batteries, that make the units efficient, lightweight and more environment friendly. They also reduce the whole life costs of the UPSs. We have conducted some tests to show you how the Lithium-Ion UPS compares to the VRLA UPS in terms of runtime.

Each unit is connected to 1800W load. The Lithium UPS battery capacity is 48V 9.9Ah = 475VAh. The VRLA UPS battery capacity is 72V 9Ah = 648VAh. Although the Lithium UPS has only 75% of VRLA UPSs battery capacity, the runtime results are outstanding! See the video below:

We provide 5-year warranty on the Lithium-Ion UPS systems including the batteries.
Lithium-Ion UPS only from Power Inspired. Learn more at www.lithium-ups.com and register your interest.

21st May 201822nd May 2018

New AC Power ReGenerator – AG1500S

The AG1500S ReGenerator- What’s in a letter?

Due to be released in June the new AG1500S AC ReGenerator has built upon the success of the previous AG1500 model with some major upgrades. So what difference does that extra letter make?

Selectable Voltage

Previous ReGenerator units have had a fixed output voltage and frequency. For those travelling to places which operated on a 60Hz frequency this required a factory adjustment. The unit was suitable for either 50 or 60Hz but not both.

The new AG1500S auto detects the frequency and adjusts itself automagically, allowing for the unit to be operated in any area.

As well as the frequency improvement, the output voltage can now be adjusted. The AG1500S can be set to output 208V, 220V, 230V or 240V, via the LCD panel, depending upon your requirements. Note as with the previous model the output voltage is fixed and unwavering.

Sine Wave

The earlier models were sine wave too of course with a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of under 3% and typically 2%. THD is simply a measure of how far away the output is from a pure sine wave, the lower the number the better. Anything lower than 8% can be called sine-wave.

The AG1500S has a THD of 2% and typically is 1%. This may seem a small change but it registers a substantial improvement in power quality. So much so, that our beta testers have said they thought the AG1500 was good, but the AG1500S is so much better.

Smart Fan Speed

Fan speed is problematic of course as it generates noise. The standard way for fan speed control is to have the fan speed controlled by the amount of load the unit is delivering. However this leads to unnecessary increase in fan noise especially in audio environments where the load is not constant but rather has sharp peaks of demand. This is why we introduced a control mechanism in the original AG units, allowing you to set the fan speed depending upon your own set up and requirements. However, this can lead to the unit overheating and tripping out if set too low.

We’ve devised a novel way of controlling the fan speed with the speed adjusted automagically to the unit needs. If it’s getting hot the fans will speed up and slow down again when it cools. This way your ReGen won’t unexpectedly cut out and scream at you. Another feature we put in is that on power up the fans will ramp up to full speed for a few seconds and then revert to the appropriate setting. This way you can be confident that the fan circuitry is in good order – and if it isn’t the fans are defaulted to run at full speed so the unit can be used until a service can be arranged.

Super Cool

What’s more the unit efficiency has been improved to a remarkable 93% peak – which means the unit doesn’t generate as much heat in any case. In our lab tests, even running at a constant full load the fan noise was minimal. This high efficiency means the unit costs less to run as well as not pumping as much hot air into what may be an already warm environment.

Sockets

A big change from the AG1500 is the changeover to IEC socket outlets. Some liked the national socket outlet on the AG1500 but others found that this required the use of extension blocks as one socket wasn’t enough. So we’ve now got six of the IEC 10A socket outlets and one of the high current 16A outlets. The unit comes with a rewireable 16A plug allowing you to rewire your main cable. This of course means that there are no fuses in the output stages which we know is of importance to some users.

There’s also now a much smaller battery connection port to allow the connection of a separate battery pack. For those of you with existing ReGen battery packs please note the battery voltage is different and so they can not be interchanged (plus you would need to get a different cable adaptor).

Summary

We’re delighted with the performance of the AG1500S ReGenerator in our lab bench tests. The unit functionality, performance and robustness have all been put to the test and has come out with flying colours. We’ve had the unit out on test with a number of eager audiophiles who have reported extremely positive results using the AG1500S:

“Overall it is a very well conceived unit and one that I certainly would recommend“,
“This unit has made a significant difference, please put me on the list for a new one when released“,
“So far I am confident the new unit is an improvement, it sounds cleaner at both ends of the spectrum, more dynamic and with a wider and deeper soundstage. The HF are smoother and more extended, the bass extends lower too and is tighter. Compared to my TX it is relatively close“

We’ve currently got the demo unit out on review with a well known HiFi mag, so we’ll keep you updated with the results of that when it’s in.

Incidentally, the last comment above refers to our TX unit. Now this is not a ReGen but one of our isolated UPS Systems. The reviewer of the AG1500S said the TX was an improvement over the AG1500, but the AG1500S was close. Now the TX series is not quiet and not suitable for anything other than professional AV applications with a separate equipment room, so if you’re in this market the TX series may be an alternative for you.

The new AG1500S will have a retail price of £599 including VAT, delivered. I’ll let you into a secret though, since we’re 10 years old this year we’ve a promotion running – get 10% off the AG1500S by using the discount code “10years” when asked in the order process. The code is valid until the end of August. Click for the AG1500S Webstore Page or to download the brochure.

29th November 2017

iPower DC UPS – Does it have a transfer time?

DC UPS and Transfer Times

Following on from Klara V’s article on UPS Transfer Times I thought I’d expand on this with regard to DC UPS Systems. A DC UPS system works very much in the way that an online UPS works up to a point. That is, it takes incoming AC and converts this into DC power. Whereas the online UPS converts this into a high DC level to power the bus from which the inverter works, the iPower DC UPS converts this into a lower 12V. It does this both when powered from AC or its internal DC battery.

This 12V is a regulated output to within 5%. However there still needs to be a transition, as the unit will need to move from a primary AC power source to the energy stored in the battery – a DC power source. Hence the internal circuit needs to switch from AC to DC conversion to DC to DC conversion. Since this transition is unplanned, eg an unexpected power cut, there will be some transition time from when the unit detects the mains failure and starts up the DC to DC converter.

During this time the output voltage falls dependent upon the amount of power being taken by the load. The output of the iPower only has so much capacitance it can contain in a small enclosure. It is this capacitance, and the length of time taken for the DC to DC converter to start up which results in a period of unregulated voltage. Note the output voltage does not disappear, so there is not a break in power as such. There may just be a slight dip in the output voltage.

Example

Take the following image. This is measuring the output voltage when powering a 12V 1A router. The vertical grid (voltage) is 2V per square and the horizontal grid (time) is 5milliseconds per square. In the trace, the input voltage disconnects at two squares (10msec) in.

The output voltage which is perfectly on 12V starts to fall. After 10milliseconds, the DC converter starts to power up arresting the fall in voltage. A further 10milliseconds later, the voltage has fully recovered. There is a slight overshoot due to the control circuit which is still within the regulation of the iPower. Note the fall in the output voltage is limited to around 1.6V and lasts for only 20 thousands of a second.

Unlike offline or line interactive AC UPS where there is a definite loss of power for a period, the iPower DC UPS does not lose power totally. Instead there is a period of unregulated voltage, where the output voltage will fall. The amount it falls depends on the load connected. The higher the load, the more the drop. For a typical router this is around 1.5V.

Does this matter?

For the vast majority of 12Vdc powered equipment this variation in voltage is not a problem. Most equipment will have some in built regulation or capacitance which can ride through this very short term power drop. In fact, out of the many thousands of iPowers sold we have only had an issue with one such router – the Huawei HG633 as used by TalkTalk. This router, being the free ISP provided model seems to be made a cheap as possible – see this review on the HG633 router. Especially since other Huawei routers work absolutely fine with the iPower DC UPS. That being said, our engineering team have already made some improvements to the iPower to make the transition time even faster. Our prototype of the next generation iPower DC UPS works with the HG633 as well. Available in 2018.

14th July 201714th July 2017

Clearance Stock Grading Explained

As part of the new web site launch, we’ve added a CLEARANCE section in our online store.

The Clearance Deals includes products that usually are no longer manufactured, fully tested customer return, cosmetically damaged unit or just if we want to make room for new products. These items will stay in Clearance Deals until completely sold out

Once these deals are sold, they’re all gone. We’ll add more items that fall into this category as needed, so keep checking back!

We’ve graded all of the items in the clearance to give you an idea of the condition these are in. Most only sustain damage to the box or packaging, with no difference to the working capabilities on the unit to a fully price system. Others may have minor cosmetic damage that do not meet our high standards.

Clearance Grades

Grade 1 – Generally clearance, over stock or with damaged packaging. The product has been tested and is fully functioning ‘As New’. May be missing manual (available online) and come in alternative packaging.

Grade 2 – The goods may have minor scratches and or cosmetic damage. This damage will not affect the functionality of the product. Fully tested and in full working order. May be missing manual (available online) and come in alternative packaging.

Grade 3 – The goods may have deep scratches and or dents. All units are fully tested and in full working order. The damage will not affect the functionality of the product. May be missing manual (available online) and come in alternative packaging.

We’ll always try to be as honest as possible when grading each item but feel free to ask any questions you may have.

To request more information on these offers, head over to our online store and take a look a what to see if you can find a great deal today.

7th July 20177th July 2017

Taking care of your UPS – Battery Service

Built in batteries in Uninterruptible Power Supplies are important part of the units – they keep the UPS functioning and provide runtime for your critical load. The majority of Uninterruptible Power Supplies use maintenance free, non-spillable sealed lead acid batteries. But even the highest quality battery comes to the end of it’s life one day. This can have a negative effect on the runtime of your UPS and even cause the UPS to misbehave.

For peace of mind that your critical load is protected and your UPS is in good condition, it is recommended to service the batteries after 3 to 5 years of use. Please note that this time scale is estimated. Numerous factors have an effect on batteries’ lifetime: for example how many times the batteries have been depleted, the ambient temperature of site where your unit is installed, etc.

Here at Power Inspired we understand the importance of well functioning batteries and offer Dual Battery Service for VIX and VIS products.

When you order a service, we will assign an RMA number for you and advise on our warehouse delivery address. It is your responsibility to securely wrap the unit and get it delivered to our warehouse. Please ensure you use reputable courier to avoid damage in transit.

Once the unit arrives, our qualified technicians will undertake functional checks, they will perform minor repairs if required. They will clean the unit, replace the batteries and test the unit for electrical safety. We care about our environment and will take care of safe and environmental disposal of used batteries.

Once our technical team finish the process, we will return the unit back to you. It is that easy! Taking care of your equipment is important – order UPS service from our webstore for peace of mind.