Power Protection FEATURED ARTICLE

Cost of ownership can oftentimes be an afterthought when purchasing an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), according to power protection leader Minuteman UPS/Para Systems (News - Alert). However, there are a few factors that one should consider when evaluating how much it will ultimately cost to have a unit in operation for its typical life span.“The foremost cost involved in owning a UPS is replacing the batteries,” Duston Nixon, marketing communications specialist for Minuteman, told TMCnet in a recent interview. “Many people don't consider this at the time of purchase, but batteries are essentially living things. Replacement is typically necessary after three years, but can vary in either direction depending on environmental factors, input power quality, battery management capabilities of the UPS, and the attached load.”

Most of Minuteman’s power protection products boast non-prorated battery coverage, which is an industry exclusive, and ensure battery replacement at no charge in the event that the battery stops working during the first three years. This feature sets Minuteman apart in a  marketplace in which manufacturers offer prorated coverage, which is often only two years, and providel only partial credit should external factors cause battery life to be shorter than normal.

Moreover, many of the power protection units from Minuteman – those that are line interactive and online – feature superior battery management.

“This is achieved through the use of advanced charging algorithms, and careful consideration of the charging specifications of the batteries,” he said. “Users frequently see battery life spans well in excess of the expected 3 years thanks to this feature. While other manufacturers utilize charging schemes that reduce recharge times, these schemes ultimately lead to shortened battery life.”Another factor in ownership cost is the consumption of utility power by the UPS itself. This can be measured by either looking at the efficiency of the unit’s hardware or by simply looking at the Watt rating of the unit in comparison to the Volt Amp (VA) rating.

“While VA ratings are often touted on product literature, Watts tell the real story on how much load a UPS can support, and how efficient the hardware housed inside the case is,” Nixon said.If the VA and Watts numbers are close, the unit is more efficient.  The combined number is known as the “power factor,” and a higher power factor can allow a smaller unit to sustain the same load, or a unit with an equivalent VA rating to sustain a given load for a longer period of time.“In comparison tests on models such as the PRO1500E, users will find Minuteman UPSs to offer higher power factors than competitors in most cases, meaning the unit uses a more efficient hardware design,” Nixon said. “A higher power factor means longer runtimes as well as more efficient use of utility power, which results in reduced energy costs versus competitive units.”