How To Size A UPS System

by Sevilay Karaman February 15, 2021

How to Size a UPS System

In today’s world, where just about all businesses are dependent on mission-critical equipment and IT solutions, it’s never been more important to implement an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system that keeps your network and hardware safe in the event of a power failure or surge. However, you need to know how to size a UPS to ensure you choose the most suitable solution for your work environment. It’s important to calculate the total load your UPS system will need to support so that you can select a unit with the correct VA rating. To calculate your load accurately, you’ll need to find out the apparent power and active power ratings of your hardware as well as determine your UPS runtime requirements.

Sizing up a UPS system – what you need to know

Most UPS solutions are designed to give you enough time to correctly shut down your hardware in the event of a power outage. Conventional solutions usually store electricity in a battery, which only kicks into action when there’s a problem with your normal source of power. How much power your UPS will provide depends on its VA rating. However, you need to think about more than just the VA rating when sizing a UPS system. What’s more important is how much equipment you have connected to your UPS, which is referred to as the ‘load’.

A single computer with one monitor typically has a load of less than 300 VA, but you’ll need a UPS solution that provides at least 650 VA to have enough time to correctly shut it down. If you’re operating a data centre filled with hundreds or thousands of servers, you’ll need a large UPS system to keep everything up and running until your normal source of power returns. At UPS Solutions, our systems have a VA rating of 650 to 100,000. And, we can customise many of our solutions to meet your unique requirements. Read about our recent projects for more information.

How to size UPS – the technical details

The easiest way to find out how to size UPS is to give us a call. We can send a qualified specialist to your location to determine your needs. If you want advice over the phone regarding sizing a UPS system, we’ll be able to give you detailed recommendations if you have the following information available:

Apparent power – You can usually find this information on your hardware labels
Active power – Again, you’ll find an item of equipment’s active power rating on its label or in the information documents provided
Overloads – When you calculate UPS size, bear in mind that any voltage and current demands that exceed its specifications could cause your system to fail
UPS runtime – Do you need to keep your equipment running for ten minutes or 24 hours in the event of a power failure?

Different industries have varying requirements regarding UPS systems. To learn more, read our blog or get in touch. Or, read our frequently asked questions.

Find out more about sizing a UPS

Correctly sizing a UPS battery backup is essential. Purchase the wrong system, and your hardware may remain vulnerable to the threat of power outages and surges. Choose a system that only just meets your current requirements, and it might not be robust enough to keep up with your growing business.

At UPS Solutions, we’re the top-rated supplier and installer of UPS systems in Australia. Contact us, and we’ll send a technician to your location.