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What is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)?

by Nyal Mellor April 08, 2013

A UPS is a device that provides battery power to connected electronics in the event of a power outage. There are three different types of UPS systems: standby, line interactive and online 'dual conversion'. Pros:

UPS systems are the only solution that can protect your projector or hard drive equipped electronics in the event of a power outage.
Line interactive UPSs provide voltage regulation and online dual conversion UPSs go one step further by providing substantial input to output isolation.

Cons:

Ongoing costs due to battery wear and tear.
Most UPSs are designed for computers, not audiovisual systems, and may actually increase powerline noise. Specifications provided on datasheets are often into loads representing 50% of less of capacity.
Inability to supply peak current requirements for dynamic loads such as amplifiers.