Page last updated Feb 21, 2009 @ 05:32pm
Concept & Advantages
UPS Systems
Whole House UPS Systems
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What is a Whole House UPS System?
Many people inquire about Whole House UPS Systems for automatically providing AC power from a battery bank. This would be similar to the UPS systems designed for desk-top computers but on a much larger scale. While this is technically possible, the cost of a UPS system sized to power all household circuits with large motor and heating loads would be very expensive. BUT at NoOutage.com we have found a way to satisfy this need for a house UPS system at an economical price. For details read further below.
Our House UPS systems fill a market niche between portable generators and automatic standby generators. Most power outages last less than a couple hours and these systems easily provide backup AC power for that length of time. These systems are silent and fully automatic and transfer extremely fast when line power is lost. No more guessing how long an outage will last and whether it is worth the trouble to drag out that portable generator. For most outages which are short this system eliminates that trouble!
How does the House UPS operate?
The NoOutage.com House UPS System consists of an inverter, charger, transfer relay, batteries, sometimes a transformer, multi-circuit transfer switch and cables. This system will provide AC power to a few household circuits pre-selected by the user. At any time the user can re-select the circuits that are provided power. This circuit selection capability is useful to conserve battery power during an outage or to pre-select circuits that need to be maintained before an outage. For long outages when the batteries are nearly discharged the user can plug the UPS supply cable into a portable generator to continue providing backup power for the household circuits while recharging the UPS battery bank.
- works with multi-circuit generator transfer switches already in use at thousands of homes
- automatically provides AC power to SELECTED house circuits in a fraction of a second during a power outage or brownout
- silent operation, little system maintenance required
- no need to run a portable generator except for long power outages
- run-time easily expandable by adding more batteries
- costs less, easier to install and works faster than an automatic standby generator
Review our evaluation below and see if you do not agree that this system has definite advantages in many applications compared with a portable generator or a automatic standby generator.
| Backup System > |
Portable Generator with Manual Transfer Switch | NoOutage.com House UPS System |
Automatic Standby Generator & Automatic Transfer Switch |
| Criteria | |||
| Ease of use for providing backup power | DIFFICULT: Must move generator from storage to outdoors, add fuel & oil, start, connect cables (sometimes in bad weather and/or at night) |
EASY: Fully automatic, transfers to battery power |
EASY: Fully automatic, starts & transfers without user intervention |
| Time delay to provide backup power | SLOW: 15-45 minutes |
FAST: most are less than 6 milliseconds, fast enough for computers and digital appliances to continue operating, can eliminate need for other UPS systems for your computers |
MEDIUM: 20-40 seconds |
| Shutdown Ease | DIFFICULT: User must disconnect cables, run until carburetor empty, after cool down return to storage |
EASY: Fully automatic, transfers back to line power and recharges batteries without user intervention |
EASY: Fully automatic, transfers back to line power and shuts down without user intervention |
| Installation Ease | MEDIUM: Install manual transfer switch |
MEDIUM: Install manual transfer switch, circuit breaker and receptacle |
DIFFICULT: Apply electrical permit, run fuel & electric lines, pour concrete pad, wire genset & switch |
| Total Cost Product + Installation | LOW: $1K to $3K |
LOW/MEDIUM: $2K to $3K |
HIGH: $5K to $10K or more depending on size |
| Maintenance Required | HIGH: Manually exercise for best reliability, oil & filter changes, |
LOW: Water batteries periodically (not required for gel cells) |
HIGH: Filter changes, fluid changes, |
| Backup Power Run Time | MEDIUM: Refuel after 3-8 hours, frequent oil changes for long power outages |
SHORT/MEDIUM: Varies depending on size of battery bank and average electrical load, typically less than 10 hours |
LONG: Can operate for days or even weeks if fuel |
| Output Power Ratings | MEDIUM: Portable generators up to 12kW are common, some larger ratings also available |
LOW: Economical ratings up to about 4kW |
HIGH: Any kW size available |
| Criteria | Portable Generator with Manual Transfer Switch | NoOutage.com House UPS System |
Automatic Standby Generator & Automatic Transfer Switch |
| Backup System > |
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