Can you explain some of the UPS features?

When you purchase a UPS system, you may notice some items listed as additional features. Here is a breakdown of some of these features:

Energy-Saving Models

An Eco-friendly UPS model reduces energy consumption and related costs.

Communication Ports

Most UPS systems have built-in USB, serial, and/or communication ports. These enable power management and added surge protection to connected devices along with automatic unattended shutdown; systems will shut down when not in use for a certain amount of time.

Multifunction LCD Control Panel

An LCD screen may allow access to the advanced features of a UPS system without a computer. It can display useful information like input voltage or battery capacity. The LCD display is typically backlit. If you plan to use the UPS system in a darkened home area, make sure you can dim the backlight to minimise distractions.

Replaceable Batteries

Most UPS models feature a removable panel for internal battery replacement. Many manufacturers offer a complete range of replaceable batteries. This can be a great feature if and when the battery no longer holds its charge. Rather than replacing the entire UPS, you can just get a new battery pack.

Lithium Batteries

Some UPS systems have Lithium-Ion batteries. Compared to the typical lead-acid batteries, Lithium-Ion batteries offer longer life, more cycles and faster charging to capacity.

Extended Runtime

Some UPS systems accept external battery modules to extend runtime during a power failure.

Cooling Fan

A larger UPS system will typically have built-in cooling fans, which may affect the noise levels of your environment during operation. Typically, the more power that is flowing through a UPS, the more heat builds up. If the UPS gets too hot, it can diminish the life of the UPS, the UPS could fail and could even cause harm to your devices. Cooling fans help to keep the UPS cool and running optimally.

Hot-Swappable Repair/Replacement

Even a UPS needs maintenance from time to time. A UPS with a Hot-Swappable feature will allow for the servicing of the UPS without having to completely shut down the connected equipment. They have a detachable power disruption unit (PDU) with a manual bypass switch that enables live UPS repair or replacement.

Remote Power Management

Network management cards turn any UPS equipped with a network card slot into a managed device on the network. You can remotely monitor energy usage and reboot unresponsive equipment from anywhere. An optional network card allows complete management via SNMP, Web, SSH or telnet. A card has an Ethernet port, allowing access to advanced monitoring, control and notification features over the network without directly connecting the UPS to a computer. The card also supports one or more optional sensors for remote temperature, humidity and contact closure monitoring. Some network/server UPS systems include a pre-installed network card. This feature would be especially valuable to those operating in an enterprise-level environment, allowing the prioritisation of power to the most important systems and turning the power off as needed to less critical systems.