New UPS Industry Prices Offer Generous Rewards to Savvy Buyers

(SANEPR.com) June 2, 2009 -- Miami, FL, June 01, 2009 -- UPSonNet, a Power protection and UPS information source, recent review of North American industry average UPS prices indicates that low power standby battery backups and Line Interactive UPS systems price dropped in the last half year by almost 20 percent, while prices of online systems rose up by 10 to 15 percent.

Price drop of low power systems may be attributed to the recent boost of notebook sales substituting desk type computers, as well as to recession driven competition. The rising prices of higher power professional online systems, in spite of the drop in UPS sales, are dictated mainly by big manufacturing companies, indicating probably pricing consistency as well as the higher prices of new systems with better performance and higher efficiency.

Generally, when buying an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), one looks for the lowest price of a simplest unit that meets requirements. Generous rewards await however, those that look around, and consider, smart cost effective solutions before buying a UPS.

UPS systems protect computers when utility power is available and continue to supply conditioned power from batteries at power outage. According to the specific application, basic requirements should be defined, such as the type of the UPS, its Capacity (Size) in VA (Volt-Ampere) or kVA (kilo-VA) units, and the battery backup time.

After specifying the basic requirements shopping for the best price of a suitable UPS can be performed. However, by surveying the market, looking around, checking what is available at what prices, and considering creative scenarios, dramatic cost saving can be achieved , generally reaping additional performance benefits.

Information about specifying the basic requirements as well as market survey results both can be found by visiting a single website. UPSonNet, publishes on its website: www.upsonnet.com both UPS Selection guides, as well as Industry average UPS Price list of systems from 350VA to 120kVA.

Here are seven points to consider for making a smart cost effective decision when buying a Power UPS.

1. As a rule: For better protection, Line Interactive type should be preferred over Standby type and On Line type over Line Interactive type. Therefore, unless other considerations prevail, choose the better system if its price is only slightly higher.

2. Compare specified UPS price to the price of next size system. Consider buying bigger unit, if the added price isn't significant. Bigger UPS enables to increase future loads, it has bigger battery with increased backup time, and extends battery life time.

3. Consider buying a bigger system if you need to increase battery capacity, beyond the standard battery coming with the UPS. You might pay for a bigger UPS, already equipped with the battery size you need, considerably less than the cost of the smaller system with extended battery.

4. Check the cost effect of splitting the load or buying systems which can operate in parallel. In some cases the cost of two systems, each rated half total capacity, may be lower than a single UPS system.

5. Consider using several stand alone single phase UPS systems, instead of a three phase UPS, provided loads and installation allow. Generally, the cost of two or three single phase units is less than one three phase system. Multiple systems may in certain cases increase power reliability by adding redundancy.

6. Consider the cost of using three single phase UPS systems, each fed from different phase, instead of a single three phase UPS systems, provided loads and installation allow. This configuration allows continuing partial operation, in case of a single UPS or input phase failure.

7. In redundant configuration, two or more units work in parallel, while at least one is a spare unit. Thus full power is supplied even if a single UPS fails.
Check possible combinations to find the lowest cost. For instance, for a redundant system supplying 20kVA load, compare the cost of two parallel 20kVA systems, to a single three parallel systems 10kVA each. (Common mistake assumes that the last solution is always cheaper, due to lower total power).

How much can be gained?

Using UPS-Prices, displayed on UPSonNet website, various scenarios can be conceived, in order to asses the possible gains or savings achieved by implementing the said points.

Here are some examples; based on average UPSonNet May 2009 Prices:

At low power levels, the price of an Online UPS is almost twice compared to Line Interactive type. This ratio decreases when power grows. You will have to add only 10% to buy a 5kVA online system.

Only 20% addition is needed to increase an Online UPS from 1kVA to 1.5kVA or from 20kVA three-phase UPS to a 30 kVA three phase unit.

Three 5kVA single phase UPS systems each per phase will cost 30% ($ 3530) less, compared to a single three-phase 15kVA UPS.

Three 30kVA units in parallel redundant configuration for a 60kVA load, save 25% ($15,050) compared to two 60kVA units.

Implementing the suggested cost effective points, before buying an Uninterruptible Power Supply, using average UPS Prices, may lead to a better solution with dramatically lower cost. The price list and the said steps should however, be used for guiding purpose only. Local availability and price of the specific system, as well as additional technical restraints on using the suggested solutions, should all be professionally checked before a final decision is made.

For more information visit: http://www.upsonnet.com

UPSonNet is an Information Source operating since 2006 in USA (now also in Israel), providing information about Power Protection and Power UPS field. UPSonNet website includes also Selection guides, UPS Industry Prices, most extensive UPS-Glossary and Essential UPS News which update about important industry products, developments and trends. For more information visit: http://www.upsonnet.com
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Press Contact:
Meir Portnoy
UPSonNet
Miami FL
meirp@upsonnet.com
http://www.upsonnet.com