Why should I use a UPS with my Generator

Although you may have chosen to support your building with a standby generator, you may still be at risk.

A generator even with an automatic start system will take typically between 15 and 30 seconds to start and run up to speed. Fifteen seconds is like a light year to an IT load, computers simply will not accept such a break and will crash, to bridge this gap most IT users install a UPS system (Uninterruptible Power Supply), the UPS sits between the generator and the critical load providing clean regulated unbroken power until the generator has synchronised.

Choosing the right UPS to work with your generator can be tricky for the inexperienced, the general rule for sizing has typically been that the alternator should be two and a half times the size of the UPS, so a 100KVA UPS will require a 250KVA generator.

Like all calculations this can vary greatly depending on the technology of the UPS, transformer based UPS with conventional rectifiers tend to have higher harmonics which feed back to the generator which in turn affects the real power available.

Borri are able to offer transformerless power factor corrected UPS with IGBT rectifiers, the benefit of such technology means that the power calculation can normally be reduced from 2.5 to 1.25, this is a reduction of 50% resulting in very substantial savings on generators, cables and switchgear.

How a UPS integrates with your diesel generator

To further enhance an integrated power installation Borri offer a comprehensive range of power management software allowing remote monitoring and control of both the UPS and generator, all this information can simply be downloaded to your PC putting you in control.

For more information please call 0800 136 993