Enterprise data centers are becoming more and more important nowadays. How to ensure the stable operation of enterprise data centers has become a very critical factor. UPS is a standard accessory for many enterprises in data centers, so how to choose a UPS power supply suitable for enterprise applications?

In our last article we discussed about some options, now we are going to discuss in details.

Know yourself and the enemy

When choosing a UPS, you need to know your own business needs, and at the same time, you must understand your own financial budget and set the capital and operating costs of the UPS system. You also need to be aware of UPS availability, so the UPS system you choose should not be one that can only tolerate a few hours of downtime. The choice of your UPS configuration should be consistent with your availability needs, and your budget should be set based on the potential cost of data center downtime.

Cooling infrastructure

Depending on the UPS system chosen, add cooling loads to your facility. For large data centers, even a percent or two reductions in UPS efficiency can translate into a significant amount of heat that must be removed to protect equipment. Can your existing infrastructure handle this load, or do your UPS need to be upgraded?

Space

UPS systems take up valuable data center floor space, so make sure the configuration you choose doesn't require adding more space in your facility. The current computer room can be said to be worth every inch of land, so the size of the UPS is also very important.

Redundancy

You have a temporary backup power system (UPS), so why not back up yours? Redundancy is necessary if availability is a key design consideration. Adding a backup UPS can avoid a single point of failure, thereby improving the reliability of the power system. A common backup configuration is N+1 (for example, if you need six UPSs to run your data center, then an N+1 design involves seven units), others include 2N (double the number of units required), 2N+1 etc. More redundancy can improve reliability or availability, but it also requires more equipment cost (higher capital expenditure), more floor space (depending on configuration) and lower efficiency.

Design complexity

Simple designs tend to be less prone to human error and independent failures, but they may also lack some of the features you'd rather see in a UPS system. For example, a switch in a line-interactive UPS system is a potential point of failure that is not present in a double-conversion design. Also, complex designs may require more maintenance (or simply, higher repair costs) than simpler designs.

Modular

If you expect your IT needs to grow, then a modular approach should be considered. "Buying ahead," buying more equipment than you need right now, will cost you more in capital expenditures, storage space, and potentially running costs. A modular approach allows you to add infrastructure when needed, avoiding previous facilities becoming waste as demand grows.

In general, it can be summed up in four sentences: proper temperature, regular charging and discharging, good use of communication functions, and timely replacement of damaged batteries. There is no university or primary question in the study of power supply. As long as we pay attention to observation, we can summarize various characteristics and methods to facilitate our design.

If you have any requirements or any kind of query regarding the UPS solutions for your computer room, feel free to communicate with our dedicated team at any time at marketing@everexceed.com.