Industrial UPS Systems vs. Standard UPS Systems

One of the biggest threats to any manufacturer is the possibility of power supply interruptions. To combat this, Uninterruptible Power Supply or UPS systems serve as defense against that threat by providing backup power.

That being said – a common issue we encounter with clients and customers is a fundamental misunderstanding of the differences between industrial UPS systems and standard systems and frankly – that shouldn’t be a surprise! In light of that, it is an important difference to understand and one we’re here to unpack and discuss today. Both can make a significant impact on productivity and output. Let’s jump right in!

Physical condition and surroundings

The immediate area surrounding the UPS system is an important factor to understanding its function. If you’re in an industry like oil/gas, heavy manufacturing and the like – those will require heavy duty UPS systems that can handle massive load fluctuations. On the other hand, lower power UPS systems regulate requirements of computer devices and less complex systems. They’d be easily overwhelmed by more complex, high demand systems.

System design

One of the key characteristics of Industrial UPS systems are their overall complexity. Not only can they handle major issues, but in most to all circumstances – they’re engineered to cater to a client’s specific needs. Many even come with their own, super specific user manuals written just for that build out.

Conversely, standard UPS system are straight forward in their design and are meant to similarly deal with less complex, straight-forward systems. While they’re not necessarily ‘canned’ solutions, they involve nowhere near the complexity of an industrial UPS system.

Lifespan and longevity

Standard UPS systems are designed to provide backup as opposed to dedicated power. As such, when there’s a down period, Standard UPS systems are less likely to function for a long period of time. Also the kinds of systems they monitor tend to change fairly quickly. Even most office computers are dramatically different today than they were even six years ago. As such, you’ll see system upgrade or totally replaced more frequently.

Industrial UPS systems have longer overall life spans and if necessary – can power an asset for a longer period of time. Because technology tends to turn over at a slower rate with industrial components, we tend to see Industrial UPS systems hang around for longer.

Associated costs

The more specialized the economy and industries become, the more challenging it’s become to meet customer demands. Instead of looking for less cost, companies are looking to be more cost-effective.

Using a standard UPS system makes more sense from both a logistical and cost standpoint with places like data centers. When it comes to setups that have large, sometimes even massive power requirements then industrial UPS systems are what you’re going to want to consider.

If you’re considering a UPS system for your business, give us a call and we’re happy to give you a free consultation. Good luck !