Where should your uninterruptible power supply be located?

Your uninterruptible power supply (UPS) must be positioned somewhere safe, secure and accessible. In this article, we explore the fundamentals of UPS room layout and the things you need to consider when deciding where to locate your essential power protection systems.

Why should you install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

Proper installation and setup of an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) are crucial to ensure reliable power protection for your equipment. Whether you are installing a UPS for a home office, business network, or industrial site, following best practices helps prevent failures and optimises performance. In this section, we’ll cover:

How do you Power an uninterruptible power supply?

Planning how to power the loads from the uninterruptible power supply is an important exercise. Smaller single-phase UPS use rear panel IEC type connectors to which PDUs, or a UPS maintenance bypass switch can be connected. If a UPS maintenance bypass switch is installed the PDU and load connection may be via a sub-distribution board.

How do I size a room for an uninterruptible power supply?

The most important factor in sizing a room for an Uninterruptible Power Supply is space around the equipment. You need to provide room for air to circulate and ventilation, as well as for manoeuvring around for generator maintenance and servicing.

What is the critical power path within a ups installation?

The critical power path within a UPS installation runs from the loads connected to the power distribution units (PDUs) to the UPS that power the PDUs and to the UPS electrical supplies and potentially the building incomer. Planning how to power the loads from the uninterruptible power supply is an important exercise.

How do I power on my ups?

With your devices connected, you can now power on the UPS. Most units have a power button that you need to press and hold for a few seconds. Once the UPS is on, it will provide power to your connected devices and start monitoring the power supply. Many UPS units come with software that allows you to monitor and manage the UPS from your computer.