New, efficient UPS modes: Too “risky” for many

A sector-wide focus on efficiency does not necessarily extend to many organizations’ centralized 3-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems. Today, these systems routinely achieve 94% to 96% efficiency in normal operational mode. Economy (eco) mode removes the double conversion process to enable higher levels of efficiency — up to 98%, typically.

In recent years, newer, high-efficiency operational modes that go beyond eco-mode have launched. In addition to normal operation (with the use of unconditioned power via the UPS bypass), newer UPS modes can actively manage power conversion by conditioning and supporting the output, but with reduced losses (all while maintaining the same level of power protection and the same level of battery backup).