Added Valueof Professional UPS Suppliers and Consultants

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UPSonNet NewsLetter
April 2011

UPSonNet

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Editorial Topic by Meir Portnoy: The Added Value of Professional UPS Suppliers and
Power Consultants.

Everything I ever wanted to know about UPS systems and didn't know where to find is today on
the Internet. Almost every UPS I want to buy is offered on online trading websites, whereas
service is provided by the manufacturer. Why should I look for consultants or professional
suppliers and pay more?

A friend of mine working from home recently asked me which UPS to buy for his two PC's. I
suggested a few major brands, advising to make use of the selection wizards presented on the
manufacturer's websites.

Based on the labels on his computers my friend concluded that he needs about 1kVA/700Watt
UPS, and consulted APC, Eaton and Tripplite selection wizards by entering: UPS 1kVA, 700 watt,
120V, and 20% additional future needs.

Seeing that price results span from $ 233 to $1409 he asked my advice, showing me the following
wizards' recommendations:

APC : Best Price: SMT 1500 (Smart UPS 1500VA/980Watt ) 13 min. backup, US $ 569
Best Value: SMT 2200 (Smart UPS 2200VA/1980Watt) 34 min. backup, $ 829

Tripp-Lite: OMNI VS1500 (1500VA/ 940W) 6min. backup, $ 233
      OMNI VS 1500XL (1500VA/940W) 6 min. backup, $ 261
      OMNVSI 1500XLTAA (1500VA/940W) 6 min. backup, $ 293

Eaton: Best Price : 5125-1500 ( 1044VA/1050W) 8min. backup, $ 634
Best Valued: Evolution (2000VA/1600W) 11min. backup, $ 841
Best Performance: 9130L Tower (1500VA/1350W) 9 min. backup $ 1409

This example demonstrates the complexity of selecting a UPS for even a simple task.

Specifications reveal that all presented systems are Line Interactive, except Eaton's 9130L ,
which is an Online Double Conversion type. Tripplite's systems (and perhaps also APC's SMT
1500) have non sinusoidal Inverters. High output power factor (ratio of Watt to VA) of Eaton's
9130 and APC's SMT 2200 indicates that these systems are probably of newest design.

The first decision of deducing UPS size from computer labels, results generally in a figure about
50% higher than needed. Selecting which UPS topology to prefer, whether Online or Line
Interactive, depends on the type of business, required reliability and possible computer harm or
downtime versus UPS cost. UPS inverter waveform is dictated by the current and future type of
computer's power supply. New computers with Active Power Correction (APFC) circuits require
a UPS with sinusoidal waveform. Newly designed UPS systems have generally higher Output
power factors, and are more efficient both on full load and at partial loads.

So, what is the added value of a professional supplier?

Considering only Line Interactive systems, it can be worth $ 608, which is the difference between
the most and least expensive system, if one wants to be on the safe side and pay 4 times the
lowest price which may suit his needs. Or it can be worth much more, if a customer decides to
save money on UPS, and bears a huge damage caused by improper decision.

Additional items should be taken in account when double conversion single phase systems or
other applications are considered. Such items include UPS input and Output Power Factor ratings,
UPS ability to protect blade servers which require leading input power factor, UPS efficiency,
input power harmonics, back up time at full and reduced loads, battery lifetime, charging time,
number of batteries, UPS size, or UPS height in case of Rack mountable system.

For higher Power and particularly three phase application, ability of the UPS system to work in
parallel with other systems for scaling or redundancy, either in Modular architecture or stand
alone units as well as the impact on UPS Reliability and Availability, should be considered. These
considerations should also concern number of systems which the selected UPS allows to connect
in parallel as well as number of units that can be used for redundancy, whenever higher than N+1
redundancy is required.

In addition, in certain cases ability to work in Efficiency boosting Eco mode regime or its variant
solution, such as provided by Emerson- Chloride's Trinergy UPS or Eaton's Energy Saver UPS
should also be considered.

Going beyond the 100kVA and into the Megawatt power regions alternate approaches, should also
be explored. Such approaches, when Generator backup is available, should include Rotary UPS or
flywheel battery replacement solutions. In addition utilization of cloud computing services,
discussed in our March 2011 newsletter may have a considerable impact on the selected solution.

It seems evident that no one can become a UPS Maven by spending a few hours on the Internet.
The amount of knowledge and experience requires expert's opinion even for selection of a simple
UPS solution. Such opinion should be provided either by power consultants or UPS suppliers.
Fortunately, UPS technology, although mature, is still vital by constantly adapting to IT market
developments and needs. Engineers interested to provide value to their customers, should
therefore constantly update their knowledge in order to be aware and keep up with changing
market requirements.

We are trying to do our best to contribute by offering updated and unique information on market
needs, developments and insights, by means of latest UPS News which provide concise
information every UPS professional must know to be updated, Professional UPS selection
Guides, Professional UPS Suppliers Guides, Articles and Newsletters related to latest technologies,
markets and trends.

UPS manufacturers should find the means to update published literature and wizard,
recommending UPS systems that meet latest market needs and legislations, particularly
emphasizing systems with such features as high output power factor, high efficiency, sinusoidal
waveform, scalability and compactness.

I welcome remarks. Please send to: meirp@upsonnet.com

UPSonNet Website News

To enable new subscriber's access to previous newsletters, we have already started and will
continue in future, to post on UPSonNet website previous month Newsletter before a new monthly
Newsletter is distributed. To access please visit UPSonNet home page and click on items listed
under Newsletter 2011 heading.

UPS Industry News

Will Facebook's latest decision to follow Google and prefer a low battery voltage backup, bring to
an end the long debate concerning AC or DC battery backup, at least when huge data centers are
concerned?

In November 2009 News we have brought to the attention of our visitors that Facebook is
following in the footsteps of Google by introducing battery in its server, and shifting the UPS and
battery backup functions from the data center into the server cabinet, adding a 12 volt battery to
each server power supply. Googles solution is presented on UPSonNet article titled:
Learning from Google's Server UPS Design.

Based on News Brief posted on 7April in UPS-News, titled Facebook unveils its Data Center and
UPS design, indicates a different path. The article which follows the News Brief link reveals that
Facebook contemplated installing on-board batteries on its servers, but settled on in-row UPS
units. Each UPS system houses 20 batteries, with five strings of 48 volt DC batteries. Facebook’s
power supplies include two connections, one for AC utility power and another for the DC-based
UPS system.

We welcome remarks on any Newsletter issue. Please e-mail to: denis@upsonnet.com
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