8 Ways Inverters Differ from UPS Systems

1. Your #1 difference is the time it takes for each to supply power.

Perhaps the key difference is the time it takes for each device to supply battery power. We refer to the power from the batteries to the actual device. This happens during power disturbances.

Offline uninterruptible power supply systems will take anything from 3 to 8 milliseconds to reach your electronic devices. Your inverter’s changeover time is between 25 & 500 milliseconds to kick in.

The main reason users choose a UPS over an inverter is to protect sensitive electronic equipment. Sensitive equipment often cannot tolerate a time delay. UPS systems give you continuous power without interruptions. They also give you superior power quality during power outages.

2. True online double-conversion UPS systems regulate and monitor power fluctuations.

Your UPS system will monitor power anomalies such as surges, spikes, and noise. The main reason sensitive electronic devices use UPS as a backup power source is they provide protection. We do not use UPS systems for long-term power supply.

Your invertor cannot monitor power abnormalities. Its job is simply to store and supply common power during power failures.

3. Choose inverters for general power for electrical appliances.

A simple inverter is perfect for a connected load that is unaffected by delays in the power supply from the power grid.

4. By rule of thumb, UPS systems cost more than inverters.

UPS devices comprise more delicate circuitry, thus they cost more than inverters. Inverters comprise more common components and cannot protect sensitive connected devices. If you are concerned about voltage fluctuations, a UPS is a better choice, whereas if you want to power devices via a battery instead of the grip, you can choose an inverter and battery combo.

5. Inverters are incapable of preventing data losses.

UPS devices are far more sophisticated than inverters. When the power goes down, you have enough time to save data. Inverters’ slow transfer time cannot prevent losses in data. Sometimes, there may even be a manual transfer switch, meaning your connected devices will lose power.

6. Inverters and UPS devices both use AC power from backup batteries.

Where most users confuse the two devices is that inverters and UPS devices produce AC power from DC power. UPS devices have more functions than inverters. One of the internal components of a UPS device is an inverter.

7. UPS devices have extra features.

Your UPS device has extra features to that of inverters. These include energy storage and instant response times. They are ideal for critical applications, such as medical equipment.

8. Inverters cannot store electricity.

The AC voltage supply is interrupted if you remove the inverter from the battery. Inverters can only convert power. They cannot store power.

UPS devices provide electric power with no interruptions. However, uninterruptible power is only possible with a fully charged battery. A larger battery capacity will give you more backup time. Often, inverter backup systems include larger batteries than those used in UPS.