It is a well-known fact that UPS or Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is vital for the operation of electronic appliances during power outages. A UPS system can help safeguard businesses against shutting down. A UPS is indeed the backbone of a power backup system, but the batteries are the heart of that system.
UPS batteries are important for the continuity of businesses. That is why it is crucial to choose the UPS battery types wisely. There are many UPS battery types, each of which comes with varying prices, life expectancy, and maintenance requirements.
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Major UPS Battery Types
If you are wondering which UPS is best for home use, you need to find a balance between some factors. These factors include the battery price, the life of the battery, and its requirement for maintenance. There are basically three types of UPS batteries. Let us take a look at them:
i. Lead Acid Batteries
When utilized in a UPS or an uninterruptible power supply system, lead-acid batteries have demonstrated track record of dependability. They offer the most affordable option in high-power applications where weight is not the main concern. The additional performance attributes, such as, high tolerance and low internal impedance (frequency domain ratio of voltage and current), are combined with the cost-effectiveness of this type of battery.
The lead acid batteries can be divided into two categories:
- Valve Regulated
This type of lead acid battery is most commonly found in modern UPS systems. They usually have a life of 5 to 10 years and are stored in a dry climate at a temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius. Valve-regulated batteries are sealed in a case that consists of a valve that vents out gas if there is too much internal pressure. Since these batteries are sealed, it is possible to mount them both vertically and horizontally. Moreover, they don’t require frequent water topping or other direct care.
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- Open Vented
These batteries, also referred to as Flooded batteries, have electrolyte acid flooded onto their plates. They are frequently employed in big systems with a high ampere-hour (Ah) rating and a long design life (up to 20 years). However, any hydrogen produced escapes into the environment as they aren’t sealed. As a result, installations utilizing these batteries demand robust ventilation systems and may provide a higher risk to user safety.
Open Vented batteries must be installed in a special room with wash-down facilities in case of acid spills in order to reduce these risks. They must be kept upright and the water levels manually topped up because they are top-vented.
ii. Lithium Ion UPS Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are largely known to be used in electronic devices that are used for long periods of time, like laptops and smartphones. But recently, they have become a key component in the development of electric cars. They have also gained more and more appeal as a backup alternative for uninterruptible power supplies and other energy storage systems, including those that use energy from renewable sources like wind or solar.
Since Li-Ion batteries include built-in battery monitoring and management systems that examine each individual cell for any change in performance, they are more reliable than conventional lead acid batteries. Due to their better power density, lithium-ion UPS batteries also have the advantage of being significantly smaller and lighter.
At this point, you must have a basic idea of a UPS system and the different UPS battery types. An uninterruptible power supply is a little gadget connected between your computer and the socket that supplies you with power. Its function is to take in power and send it to your computer. It also requires a battery that kicks in if your power source is disrupted, hence the term “uninterruptible.”
Check out the UPS batteries offered. We at Luminous offer UPS batteries that are reliable and cost-effective. Our experts can help you understand which type of UPS battery best suits your requirement. Head to our official website to know more about our products.
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