Despite the fact that household electrical networks are characterized by a high level of reliability, quite often there are blackouts or power surges. To protect yourself from such troubles and keep the equipment working for a long time, you can install an uninterruptible power supply. This is a special device that allows you to stabilize the voltage in the network, in addition, it is equipped with a battery of a certain power, which allows you to save all the data when working on a personal computer or to ensure the correct shutdown of other equipment in the event of a power outage.
In specialized stores you can find a large number of such devices, each of which has its own operational characteristics. In the existing variety is quite simple to get confused. To ease the problem of choice, we decided to create an overview of the best UPS of the year. Before proceeding to a direct analysis of the characteristics of such products, we decided to give the main points that you should pay attention to when buying an uninterruptible power supply.
Summary of the rating:
What qualities are important to the UPS?
Such a device structurally includes a control circuit and a charger, which includes an inverter. Uninterrupted power supply and switching time directly depend on the power of this element. The stabilizing parts equalize the output voltage. All uninterruptible power supplies can be divided into three main groups according to a number of characteristics. One of the most common products works on the principle of a backup circuit with external power. She will charge the battery directly from the mains. In the event that the voltage starts to jump or disappears altogether, the UPS starts using its own resources. Such designs are cheaper compared to the others, in addition, during the work they will practically not heat up, they have a high efficiency.
The interactive scheme works on a similar principle, but switching to using your own resources is much faster. The form of voltage can be either sinusoidal, or rectangular or trapezoidal - depending on the brand of device. The efficiency here is somewhat lower, the case may begin to heat up when the voltage drops.
On sale, you can also find designs with double conversion - this is a rather expensive product, designed to maintain the operability of stations with high congestion rates. The operation scheme is such that at first the incoming current is converted to direct current, and at the output it again becomes alternating. The inverter acts here as a similar converter. This mechanism is constantly connected to the network, it does not need extra time in order to switch to a backup power source. If necessary, you can change not only the voltage power in kW, but also its frequency. To select the most suitable UPS, you need to know the power consumed by the equipment that will be connected to it.
When compiling our rating of the best UPS of the year, we took into account not only all these points, but also user reviews, as well as the price-quality ratio of models. Quite expensive products were not included in this review, since we took into account the financial capabilities of people. Now is the time to start analyzing the immediate characteristics of each product.
Best double conversion UPS
3. Ippon Innova RT 1000
The products of this brand have been on the market for over ten years. This model appeared on sale not too long ago, and it differs in greater power in comparison with other products of this company. It is produced using online technology (double conversion of electric current). The design is perfect not only for use in domestic conditions, but also for industrial systems, in particular, servers running on Noveli, Windows NT, Unis, and so on. Using this equipment, you can ensure the elimination of any violations and malfunctions that occur in the power supply network. The rectifier makes the current constant, and it is in this section that the battery is charged and the inverter is powered. Based on this voltage, the inverter generates an alternating current of a stable sine wave.
All connected equipment is completely isolated from the external network, however, they are provided with full power. If the voltage in the external network disappears, the product begins to use the energy stored in the batteries, whose power lasts 15-20 minutes, depending on how capacious the equipment is. You can control and configure an uninterruptible power supply using several mechanical buttons. In addition, this product is equipped with a liquid crystal display, which displays all the important information for the user - the current mode of operation, the degree of charge of the batteries, the load power at the output. It is worth noting that this equipment is multifunctional - it is equipped with several interface ports that allow you to directly connect server equipment.
Benefits:
- Output voltage stability;
- High quality workmanship;
- If necessary, you can connect another battery;
- A very informative display that facilitates the operation of equipment.
Disadvantages:
- A fairly noisy fan is installed.
2. Powercom VANGUARD VGS-2000XL
This design is equipped with a "bypass", which in fact is a special bypass circuit, which is used if the input voltage meets all the specified characteristics. Due to this possibility, it is possible to significantly increase the efficiency of the equipment. The case has a traditional tower format, so they are installed strictly vertically. On the back of the case there is a decent number of connectors, which allows you to install it not only at home, but also in the office or even in production. The fan here is quite powerful, it will not accumulate dust. There are only two outlets, which is why it will be very problematic to fully power the entire periphery.
The device weighs quite a lot, not only because of high-capacity batteries, but also a complex electronic part. The charger also has high power rates, however, the product does not make too much noise during operation. Build quality and materials are on top. At the inverter, transistors of high quality act as the basis. If necessary, the batteries can be replaced - this is required if they have fully exhausted their resource and do not hold a charge.The product is equipped with three NPW36-12 brand batteries at once, whose capacity is 7 Ah.
Benefits:
- There is a bypass that provides good performance;
- The output is always perfect;
- Socket segments can be controlled separately if necessary.
Disadvantages:
- With increased load begins to make noise;
- It weighs quite a lot;
- Only two outlets.
1. APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS RT 10000VA 230V
This is a rather expensive product, which is designed for the most severe operating conditions. Here the most efficient and long-lasting battery is installed, which has an intelligent charging system. All connected equipment is provided with a pure sinusoidal voltage, which does not have any interference. Another additional function of the batteries installed in this device is to increase the battery life if necessary. All equipment starts automatically immediately after a voltage occurs in the network. The batteries are charged using temperature compensation, which avoids overloading, as well as overheating of the batteries.
Such a device is perfect in order to fully protect refrigeration equipment or to make the operation of heating appliances more stable. The model has an internal bypass, which can be turned on either automatically or in manual mode. The battery pack can be replaced if necessary. There are a lot of settings, so the device can be adjusted in the way required by the user.
Benefits:
- High stability of output voltage;
- Several options for enabling bypass;
- Long battery life;
- High quality workmanship.
Disadvantages:
- Very high cost.
Best backup UPS
2. Powercom WOW-850 U
Not too overall, but quite functional device. It has a rectangular streamlined body, all corners are rounded. In the upper part of the product there is a mechanical button for turning on the product, three indicators are also provided, based on the LEDs. There are also three euro-type sockets here. They are equipped with a special protective mechanism that prevents various objects from getting inside. The case is made of frosted molded plastic. The casting quality is excellent, the assembly is also very good, so no backlashes or extraneous creaks are observed. All vents are located on the sides of the device. The legs are plastic, there are special holes for mounting in the wall.
All connectors for connecting communication equipment, including the USB port, are located on one of the sides. A non-disconnectable power wire and an automatic fuse exit from the end part. This device contains a WP1213W battery, the capacity of which is 13 W / h, its operating voltage is 12 V. The internal elements are located quite compactly. All electronic components are located on a double-sided printed circuit board, which is located in the lower part of the housing. The inverter operates on two transistors assembled according to a high-frequency circuit. Power transistors are installed on large radiators. An automatic voltage regulator is not provided here. The UPS switches to battery power at an input voltage of less than 165 V, and before that, it emits an appropriate sound signal. If the battery is almost empty, the signal frequency increases and is 1 time in 0.4 seconds.
Benefits:
- Reasonable cost;
- Small overall dimensions;
- Protection of sockets against hit by random objects;
- It runs silently.
Disadvantages:
- In stand-alone mode, it is not able to work out too much time, but it is quite enough for the correct completion of the equipment.
1. Eaton Ellipse ECO EL650
High-quality and durable equipment. It is housed in a housing made of high impact black plastic. To increase the strength of the product at the corners there are additional pads. For this type of product, the overall dimensions are small - 260x82x285 mm with a mass of 6.6 kg with batteries. The design can easily be placed anywhere. Front and rear are openings of air intakes, which are forbidden to cover with various foreign objects. The front part is equipped with a liquid crystal display, which displays all the necessary information for the user. Nearby there are two control buttons - the first turns the product on and off, the second is responsible for navigating the display menu.
At the back there are four sockets equipped with grounding, all of which are protected from lightning and have a reliable filter of electromagnetic interference. Backup power is supplied only to the top three sockets, the fourth is turned off if the mains voltage disappears. All of them are well protected against voltage surges thanks to AVR technology - automatic voltage regulation. The display is small, but all the information on it is visible very clearly. The backlight is bright, all the characters are white, the color rendition is good - the data can be seen at any time of the day or night.
Benefits:
- There is a function of automatic battery testing;
- The battery model is widespread - you won’t have to look for a replacement for a long time;
- Convenient and quick setup of user modes;
- The possibility of the so-called "cold start".
Disadvantages:
- High cost for this type of equipment.
The best interactive UPS
5. Powercom Imperial IMP-825AP
It is a rather interesting and stylish design that can even be installed in plain sight. The case has a rectangular shape, the front panel is slightly rounded. There is a power button on it, a liquid crystal and quite informative display is located here. The case is entirely plastic, all its elements are carefully adjusted to each other, which completely eliminates the appearance of various extraneous sounds. A transformer is located on the lower inner side; an electronics board is installed on the upper side. There are a large number of vents. All connectors are located on the rear panel. A USB connector is provided through which the UPS is connected to a personal computer or other control device. The battery capacity of NPW 36-12 is 7.2 Ah, its operating voltage is 12 V.
If necessary, the battery can be replaced, and the manufacturer described this process in detail in the instructions. The internal filling is classic, all elements are located very compactly. All electronic parts are on a single-sided printed circuit board. The inverter runs on four IRFZ44V transistors. Power transistors are located on radiators, the total area of which is 80 square meters. see. The power of each of the transistors is 115 watts, it can be heated up to 175 degrees - this is its maximum operating temperature. The uninterruptible power supply has an automatic voltage stabilization system.
Benefits:
- Instantly reacts to a drop in current or voltage;
- It is very easy to connect and operate.
Disadvantages:
- Not a single standard outlet is provided.
4. Ippon Back Basic 650
It differs in small overall dimensions and weight - together with the battery the product weighs 4.35 kg. Appearance is simple, unremarkable, but the functionality is quite decent.On the front side there is a power button, LED type indicator and a USB connector. On the back there is a power cable and three sockets made according to the IEC 320 standard. On the sides of the product you can see special slots of the air intake. This equipment provides continuous filtering of incoming currents: if the overload is only 10%, the device turns off after 5 seconds. If this indicator is even higher, then it will turn off instantly.
It is worth noting that the design is equipped with a reliable automatic voltage regulator. With a small load, the equipment uses the Green Power function - it is disconnected when working from batteries, which can significantly extend their battery life. The battery capacity is 7 Ah, it is a lead-acid battery that fully charges in about 6 hours. Sound alerts are quite loud - during stand-alone operation, a signal will sound every 10 seconds, when the charge level decreases, the frequency increases to one signal per second.
Benefits:
- Reasonable cost;
- Good workmanship;
- Quite quietly works if the network has a normal voltage.
Disadvantages:
- Lack of standard outlets;
- Fixed power cable.
3. Powercom RAPTOR RPT-2000AP
The product has a small overall dimensions. On the front side you can find only one power button. The model is framed quite simply and concisely, nothing more can be found on the case, which is quite natural for an uninterruptible power supply in the inexpensive price segment. On the back side, you can immediately find six outlets designed to connect various computer devices - the system unit, monitor, printer, and so on. There is also a USB connector, two more RJ-45 connectors and a circuit breaker. On the sides there is a perforation that allows you to qualitatively remove warm air. Unfortunately, the fan located under the case does not have its own ventilation grill - a somewhat unusual design solution.
The central board and all other elements are close enough to each other, therefore, forced ventilation is used to protect against overheating, which creates quite a lot of noise. The fact is that in a running UPS, the fan always rotates at the same speed, regardless of the applied load. Heating elements are equipped with radiators, but this does not necessitate the use of a fan. This device has two Yuasa REW45-12 batteries, each of which has a nominal capacity of 8 Ah, each weighing 2.7.
Benefits:
- High power reserve;
- Reasonable cost;
- Insignificant overall dimensions;
- Good quality and long service life.
Disadvantages:
- It is noisy;
- Accessing batteries is not easy.
2. APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1000VA USB & Serial 230V
In second place among the best inexpensive UPS of this year is a rather original model of not very large overall dimensions, and it can be installed both in horizontal and vertical versions. The case is entirely plastic, the parts are cast. There are several LED type indicators on the front panel, all of them show the operating mode: the top one is from the network, the middle one is from the battery, the bottom one informs about the need to replace the battery. The back side is equipped with a ventilation grill. The device contains a replaceable battery cartridge type RBC32, the capacity of which is 7 Ah, the operating voltage is 24 V. It contains two CP 1270 batteries. If necessary, you can replace the battery on your own.
The equipment is supplied with the battery disconnected, therefore, before the first start-up, it should be brought into working condition.All electronic elements are located on the double-sided board, which is located in the upper part of the case. The fan has an average power and two modes of operation, it reaches its maximum speed if the load exceeds 50%. Power transistors are installed on radiators, the working area of which is 40 sq.cm. everyone.
The inverter is manufactured according to a high-frequency circuit, due to which the highest possible coefficient of efficiency is ensured. The range of operating temperatures can reach 150 degrees. The system of automatic voltage equalization is triggered if the deviation from the norm exceeds 10% up or down.
Benefits:
- Compatible with most power supplies for computers;
- If necessary, you can even connect to a generator;
- It has a system of flexible settings, it is very easy to manage.
Disadvantages:
- Fairly expensive battery pack.
1. APC by Schneider Electric Smart-UPS 1500VA LCD 230V
The best UPS in an inexpensive price category was precisely this model, which surpassed the others in many respects. The body of the tower-type product, decent dimensions. It is made of galvanized sheet metal, powder coated on the outside. On the front side is a monochrome LCD. It has a backlight, five buttons and LED type indicators are located nearby. All these elements allow you to quickly establish the work of all the basic functions of the design, set the specified shutdown parameters, and so on. On the back of the case you can immediately find eight computer outlets. They are divided into two groups - the right side can be adjusted due to specialized software, the work of the second is set exclusively on the case.
On both sides there is a perforation that provides a quick discharge of heated air. For better cooling, a special fan is provided in the design. The device is equipped with four rubber anti-skid legs. There is practically no free space under the case - almost all the space is occupied by the battery pack, there is also a large transformer, a set of printed circuit boards. The cooling function is performed by a fan with an automatically regulated speed. RBC7 models are used as batteries, each of which has a capacity of 17 Ah and an output voltage of 12 V.
Benefits:
- Excellent performance when running on a generator;
- Most systems are intelligent - you can not configure;
- It is well combined with almost all power factor correction models.
Disadvantages:
- High price and lack of standard outlets.
In conclusion, a useful video
Our review of the best UPSs of this year is nearing completion. In conclusion, I would like to express the hope that, based on the information we collected, you will choose the optimal model for yourself. If we were not able to resolve all the questions you have, you can well ask them in the comments - we will try to answer them as soon as possible and give you all the necessary information.