Electricity is now a requirement in today’s world. Electricity is necessary for almost all of our daily tasks. Laptops, washing machines, electric ovens, mobile phones, refrigerators, and other electronic devices require electricity. It can lead to a lot of confusion without electricity. Electrical power systems help to run these devices smoothly and uninterrupted even after a power outage. Such inventions include UPS and Inverter.
Both UPS and inverter serve the same purpose, and often people get confused about the difference between a UPS and an inverter. This article will explain the difference between these two gadgets so that you can make greater use of them once you’ve learned about their functionality.
Inverter vs UPS
The main difference between an inverter and a UPS can be that an inverter requires time to make a smooth transition from the main to the battery, but a UPS switches from the main supply to the battery instantly. Both UPS and the inverter provide the electrical system with a backup source.
In simple words, an inverted takes direct current (DC) power from sources such as batteries or solar panels and converts it to alternating current (AC) for usage by most appliances. This function is also available in a UPS, as it comes with extra capabilities such as rapid response and energy storage.
The UPS is an acronym for Uninterruptible Power Supply. During power outages, the UPS has a battery that provides backup power. It supplies power for a short period. It allows to save data before the system is completely closed down. On the other hand, a UPS is a more advanced device with more features, and it includes an inverter as on e of its internal components.
Comparison Table Between Inverter and UPS
| Parameters of Comparison | Inverter | UPS |
| Definition | The inverter changes the current from unidirectional to bidirectional. | The UPS turns in and supplies power to the load when the main power turns off. |
| Function | The wiring in an inverter transforms AC to DC and stores it in the battery. When the power supply turns off, the DC power is converted to AC and sent to the appropriate electronic device. | It is an electric circuit device that provides immediate power backup for a device. The device continues to function normally, with no damage. |
| Principle | The inverter converts DC electricity stored in batteries to AC power, and sends to the devices. The battery charges with AC power. It detects whether to use DC or AC with relays and sensors. | It transforms AC to DC power to charge the battery. It then converts DC power to AC and sends it to the load. Also, UPS monitors the input voltage and processes it by voltage requirements. UPS includes a battery charger and an inverter. |
| Types | Square Wave Inverter, Quasi Wave Inverter, and Sine Wave Inverter | Offline UPS, Online UPS, and Line-interactive UPS |
| Switch Over Time | 500 Milliseconds | 3 to 8 Milliseconds |
| Backup | Power supply for a long period of time | Power supply for a short period of time |
| Voltage Movements | An Inverter will not protect voltage movements. | While the UPS can regulate voltage changes in the input supply, the output voltages should be as smooth as feasible. UPSs are superior to inverters in terms of voltage outputs. |
| Advanced Control Systems | The Inverter has a less complicated circuit than UPS. | UPS wiring is significantly more advanced than inverter technology. |
| Application | Inverters are best for typical electric applications that will damage by prolonged power supply delays. | Computers, servers, Network Switches, workstations, medical equipment, and processing equipment can be a few applications of a UPS that cannot tolerate power supply delays. |
| Protection | Line anomalies are not protected by the inverter. | Voltage spikes, voltage drops, main frequency, instability, and harmonic distortions are all protected by UPS systems. |
| Battery | Inverter uses Flat plate or tubular battery | UPS uses Sealed maintenance free battery |
| Major components | Inverter and controller | Rectifier or charger, Inverter, controller |
| Battery Maintenance | It needs to be maintained regularly, and should fill the distilled water toppings at regular intervals. | UPS does not require any maintenance. |
| Energy Consumption | Energy Consumption is less than UPS in Inverters. | UPS consumes more energy due to the continuous charge of the battery. |
| Price | Inverters are a bit less expensive than UPS. | UPS are more expensive than inverter. |
What is an Inverter?
An inverter is a device or electronic circuit that transforms DC to AC. It provides backup power to non-sensitive electronic devices, such as lights and fans, where a delay in switching time isn’t a problem. An inverter’s switching speed is far slower than that of a UPS, potentially causing harm to sensitive equipment. It’s just a DC to AC converter that connects to a DC source like a battery. It takes current from the battery and transforms it into an AC supply, which is used to power AC equipment. The battery cannot charge as there is no internal charge controller. You will need an external charge controller if you wish to charge your battery.
It does not protect from unusual currents or voltages. As a result, voltage surges are one of the drawbacks of an inverter which can harm sensitive electrical gadgets. The primary distinction between a UPS and an inverter is the switching time. An inverter has a switching time of between 300 and 500 milliseconds. Computers may shut down due to this delay, and your data may be lost. However, it gives you more backup time. Inverters can also produce variable voltage and frequency outputs. This is why a Variable Frequency Drive is called an Inverter. These drivers are used to control the speed of motors.
Stand-alone inverter is a fundamental model of inverter that converts DC to AC. The sine wave is the output of the stand-alone inverter, although its shape may be disturbed due to distortion. The grid time network distributes AC electricity to the massive grid of the power system. The electrical energy is not stored by the inverter. The battery is used to store electrical energy. The energy is stored in the battery in the form of DC. The inverter aids in the storage of AC power generated by the source in the batteries. The current is stored in the battery as DC, which is then converted to AC by the inverter and supplied to the home appliances. The conversion is essential as the electrical equipment requires AC power.
What is UPS?
Uninterrupted Power Supply is an acronym for UPS. It is a gadget that can provide backup power during a power outage. It has a battery attached to it that serves as a power source. It uses current from the AC main to power any electronics and to charge the battery continuously, but when the power goes out, it abruptly changes the power source and begins taking current from the batteries. The switching time is extremely short barely exceeding 10 milliseconds. The operation of electronic devices such as computers is unaffected by such rapid switching.
It has complex wiring that includes an inverter and a charge controller. The inverter converts DC from the battery to AC, while the charge controller converts AC mains to DC and controls charging conditions. The UPS’s intelligent circuit is what sets it apart from an inverter. It detects any power outage and changes between primary and backup power supplies. The switching speed is also essential. It pulls electricity from the battery continuously, although at a low rate, and switches to pull current from the battery as soon as the circuit detects any interruptions in the AC mains supply.
The seamless operation of sensitive electronic gadgets is enabled by quick switching. Computers are the most common application. It’s inconvenient because you risk losing data if your computer shuts down unexpectedly while you’re working on something important. It gives you enough time to save your work or date before shutting down your computer safely. UPS includes different circuits for protection against abnormal situations such as power surges and fluctuations, under-voltage, overvoltage, etc.
Online UPS
During normal operation, an online UPS gives power to the AC load and uses an inverter to provide AC power during a power outage. The output power is constantly ON in an online UPS, which means the UPS continuously charges the battery and draws electricity from the battery to supply the load. As a result, there is no switching and no time delay between its sources. There will be no interruption even if the power goes out for a moment. The UPS stops charging the battery but continues to drive a load from the inverter battery during a power outage. As a result, the online UPS has no time delay when switching the power source. It’s also known as Online UPS because it keeps running even when it’s not supposed to.
Offline UPS
During normal operation, an offline UPS sends power to the AC load straight from the AC mains and powers the AC load from the DC battery via an inverter. The output supply should swap between the two sources because of the two different suppliers available. An offline UPS has a switching time of 6 to 10 milliseconds and is sufficient for running PCs and other sensitive equipment at home but not for banks or hospitals. The battery stops charging when the power turns off, and the relay or static switch instantly transfers the output line to the inverter side. The inverter starts drawing current from the battery at the same time, which is subsequently provided to the AC load. It is called Offline UPS because it does not draw electricity from the AC line during normal operation.
Line Interactive UPS
The features of Line-interactive UPS are from both Online and Offline UPS. While the AC input is well, the inverter will charge the battery in reverse and switch to battery power if the AC input fails. The switching time is less than an offline UPS and is approximately 5 milliseconds. Internal components provide filtering and voltage regulation. Before switching to battery backup, line-interactive UPS systems provide a diverse range of input voltage changes. This method works particularly well in locations where outages are rare, but power fluctuations are prevalent.
Main Differences Between Inverter and UPS
- The UPS is an electrical device with a rectifier that supplies backup power to the system, while the inverter converts AC to DC power.
- The primary job of UPS is to store electricity, whereas the inverter transforms AC power to DC power.
- The UPS quickly changes from main to battery power during power outages, whereas the inverter has some delay.
- The UPS provides backup power for the electrical system, while the inverter provides backup power for the electronics.
- The UPS is divided into three types: offline, online, and line interruptive, while the inverter is divided into two types: stand-by inverter and grid tie inverter.
- The UPS is directly coupled to the home appliances, whereas the inverter is first connected to the battery and then the circuit of the appliances.
- The UPS circuit has a built-in rectifier and a battery. The rectifier converts AC to DC and stores the energy in a battery, while the inverter stores DC power in an external battery.
- The UPS offers backup power for a short length of time, whereas the inverter provides electricity for a longer period of time.
- The UPS has no voltage fluctuation because its input is affected by the output supply, whereas the inverter does.
- The UPS is employed in home, offices, and industries, whereas the inverter is used in the workplace.
Conclusion
We extensively rely on electric equipment such as fans, lighting, computers, air conditioning, refrigerators, and so on in our daily lives. Inverter and UPS supplement power supply during power loss from the Supply Authority or Generator House. A UPS is a device that keeps an electrical system running for a few minutes when there is a power outage. It makes use of a battery to help maintain power in the event of a power outage.
On the other hand, an inverter is an electronic device that provides electricity by converting direct current from a battery to an alternating current. So, both the UPS and inverter can provide backup power, but the UPS is more expensive and must be useful for sensitive equipment. The inverter is less expensive and more cost-effective for providing backup power to appliances that are not affected by voltage abnormalities or longer switching times.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1198057/
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/955995/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00207217.2011.589736