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The
line-interactive UPS uses a totally different design than any
type of standby UPS. In this type of unit, the separate battery
charger, inverter and source selection switch have all been replaced
by a combination inverter/converter, which both charges the battery
and converts its energy to AC for the output as required. AC line
power is still the primary power source, and the battery is the
secondary. When the line power is operating, the inverter/converter
charges the battery; when the power fails, it operates in reverse.
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schematic of a line-interactive UPS. Much of the circuitry of a
standby UPS has been replaced by a combination inverter/converter
unit that charges the battery, inverts its power, and conditions
the output. |
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The
main advantage of this design is that the inverter/converter unit
is always connected to the output, powering the equipment. This
design allows for faster response to a power failure than a standby
UPS. The inverter/converter is also normally fitted with circuitry
to filter out noise and spikes, and to regulate the power output,
providing additional power during brownouts and curtailing output
during surges.
The line-interactive UPS is an improved design that is commonly
used in units for home and business use, available in sizes up
to 3,000 VA or so. It is superior to the standby UPS, but it still
has a transfer time, and thus does not provide protection as good
as the online UPS.
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