Backup Generators
Backup generators are designed to provide hours and even days of emergency power for a vast and varied range of applications.
It is true that you can achieve some fairly long back up times with just an Uninterruptible Power Supply.
However, when applications require higher amounts of power, running a UPS system for long periods of time can prove costly, particularly when it comes to battery maintenance. But don’t be hasty! When defining your business continuity plan it shouldn’t be a choice between an uninterruptible power supply OR a backup generator.
A combination is often the answer!
In data centres and industrial applications, it is more common to use a combination of both a UPS system with a short run time battery and a backup generator. Whilst diesel generators are almost unrivalled when it comes to doing exactly what their name suggests, (generating power when there is no other power available) they aren’t able to replace the job of a UPS entirely.
For a backup generator to work, you first need to install an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). The ATS is connected to mains power, the backup generator and the load. If the mains fails the ATS sends a signal to the backup generator to start up and automatically switches the connected load from the mains supply to emergency generator supply.
Usually, it will take around 10-20 seconds following a mains failure for the backup generator to start up. So to keep your critical systems up and running until the emergency generator takes over, you need an uninterruptible power supply to sit between the ATS and the load for a seamless transition from mains to backup generator power.
We have a range of backup generators that can be used in conjunction with a UPS to supply back up power for domestic, commercial, industrial and data centre applications.
Delivering and installing a backup generator can present some challenges, but our team are experienced and can help with all aspects of the design, delivery, installation and maintenance of your generator. So if you are looking for a long run time back up solution, we would love to discuss how we can help you.
We have 9 UK data centres and Source UPS are our preferred supplier for infrastructure. Their advice is always valuable and well considered. I would strongly recommend Source UPS.
