A line interactive UPS is a type of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system that constantly monitors the input line voltage, and automatically adjusts its output current to prevent any disruptions to your connected equipment.
Line Interactive UPS Meaning
A line interactive UPS is a type of uninterruptible power supply that provides battery backup to connected equipment in the event of a power outage. This type of UPS features an internal inverter that works to convert the incoming AC current into DC current in order to charge the battery and provide continuous power. This process takes place within milliseconds, allowing users to work without interruption during brief outages. The inverter also allows line interactive UPS units to provide power during brownouts and voltage fluctuations.
How Line Interactive UPS Work
A line-interactive UPS system works by taking the AC power from your home’s incoming electrical service and converting it into DC power. The device then stores it in a battery, which is usually made up of lead-acid batteries. As long as the grid is working, the UPS receives its battery charge from the AC sine wave. When the grid goes down, the battery takes over and provides a clean DC source of electricity for a limited time.
Applications of Line Interactive UPS
Line interactive UPS is most commonly used in low-demand applications. A good example of this is a distribution center or a manufacturing plant. The power used in these facilities is usually fairly consistent throughout the day.
If you have a large, high-intensity load that needs to run at all times (like an air conditioner), then you may want to look into using a double conversion UPS.
Line Interactive vs Double Conversion UPS
The biggest difference between line interactive and double conversion is that line interactive units are cheaper and have fewer bells and whistles. As their name suggests, they only “interact” with the incoming power, while double conversion units work to both filter and convert power to make it usable by your devices.
Line Interactive ups are more efficient than double conversion ups and require less energy for battery recharge . They are also smaller in size than double conversion ups.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Line interactive UPS
The advantages of a Line Interactive UPS over a Battery Backed Up UPS are primarily that it is less expensive and takes less time to install. Since there is no battery, there is no need to replace or recharge it. The disadvantages are that they can be noisy (due to the capacitor switching on and off), larger in size than a battery backed up unit, and in a power outage, they will only run your load for 10-15 minutes before needing to switch over to line power.
