If there’s one thing that we learned in the business world, it’s the fact that it can’t survive without incorporating IT into your operations. Today, data is power, and anyone who refuses to adjust to the changes we’re witnessing now is doomed to fail.
That’s why there are data centers. This is where we store and process data according to how we need it for our business. For many, it is the backbone of their operations. Among the tools you utilize in your data center construction is the uninterruptible power supply or UPS.

What is an Uninterruptible Power Supply?

A UPS is responsible for providing power in case the primary source fails. Unlike generators and other backup power supply, UPS reacts instantaneously in the event of an interruption. This means you’ll have lower chances of having to deal with reboots and suspension of processes.

All UPS units fall under three categories, and they are:

  • Standby UPS
  • Online UPS
  • Line-interactive UPS

The standby UPS has the essential functions of protecting your device from power sag, surges, and failures. It switches to battery mode, but when it does, it affects its service life.

Line-interactive UPS provides the same benefit in addition to preventing problems due to noise and blackouts.

Online UPS, on the other hand, can provide protection against all common problems related to power quality. It offers the highest amount of protection. It switches to battery mode less often than the first two types, and unlike what happens in a standby UPS, it increases its battery life.

Backfeed Protection in UPS

Among the most critical components of UPS is backfeed protection, which prevents electric shocks due to current feedback from the UPS output. It is a safety measure both to the people working on the device and your data.

What Happens When the Mains Supply Fails?

One of the possible outcomes is that current can start feeding back from the UPS to isolated circuits. Without backfeed protection, this can be very harmful to anyone who handles that circuit.

This is why, apart from ensuring backfeed protection, tests to check backfeed voltages should be done regularly. Other maintenance procedures should also be followed.

Backfeed protection is often overlooked because it normally causes minor problems in your system. However, you must remember that even the tiniest issues can lead to devastating results when it comes to circuitry. Contact LDP Associates for all of your data server needs, including UPS.