Maximum network uptime requires maximum power reliability. Unfortunately, many Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) installations have hidden vulnerabilities that aren't recognized until it's too late. The UPS design should be part of a strategic plan for total data center availability, from which the engineering solution follows, not simply a "stand-alone" engineering exercise as it too often is.
This session explores the ways in which your UPS can fail you, how the gaps can be plugged, and how to get maximum reliability for the dollars you spend. It will explain how UPS systems are rated, the design approaches of different manufacturers, how to properly calculate capacity, and configuration options and how they affect reliability, availability and cost. We will also cover battery considerations and why the incoming power design can be just as important as the UPS. In addition, we will explore considerations for generators and other forms of "ride-thru" devices such as flywheels and fuel cells, and we will provide some guidelines for the all important "black art" known as grounding.
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This was first published in June 2005