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Difference between Inverter and UPS
There are two important devices viz. UPS and inverter that are used extensively to provide backup supply to the electrical systems. As we know, today electricity has become a necessity because almost all of our day-to-day activities require electricity. Since, all the device such as mobiles, laptops, PCs, washing machines, coolers, ACs, etc. use electricity to work. If the electric supply gets down, it will greatly affect the operation of these devices. Therefore, to smoothly run these devices even after the cut out of electric supply, two electric power systems are designed named Inverter and UPS.
Basically, both UPS and inverter are used for the same purpose, i.e. backup power supply, but there are many differences between them. In this article, we will explain the differences between UPS and inverter in detail. For the reader’s reference, we also included a brief description of UPS and inverter which makes it is easy to understand the differences between them.
What is a UPS?
UPS stands for Uninterrupted Power Supply. As its name suggests, it is a device used to stop the interruption in the electric power supply caused to electrical devices during the cut out of electricity.
In actual practice, the UPS is mainly used with the computer and other IT systems to provide the electric power for the sufficient amount of time to save the data and safely shutdown the computer when sudden power cut occurs. The block diagram of a typical UPS is shown in Figure-1.
The main parts of a typical UPS system are: rectifier, battery, inverter and controller. The rectifier converts the AC supply in DC supply to charge the battery. The battery is connected to the inverter which converts the DC output of battery into AC and supply to the connected device or system. The controller is provided to control the operation of the entire system.
A UPS provides a backup of up to 10 to 15 minutes. Therefore, the UPS is mainly used to provide backup power to the electronic devices and IT systems that may get damaged with the sudden power failures.
What is an Inverter?
Invert is a power electronic circuit that inverts the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). An inverter uses electric supply from an AC source to charge a battery. During the power failure, the inverter takes the DC supply from the battery, converts it into AC supply and provides the power supply to the electrical appliances. The block diagram of an inverter is shown in Figure-2.
The inverters are used to supply the domestic and commercial electric appliance like lamps, fans, coolers, etc. in case of power cut. Also, an inverter can provide backup for hours depending upon the battery capacity.
Difference between UPS and Inverter
The following table highlights the key differences between a UPS and an inverter −
| Parameter | UPS | Inverter |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A UPS (or Uninterrupted Power Supply) is a device which provides power to the load in case of main power failure. | Inverter is a power electronic circuit which converts the direct current into alternating current. |
| Main parts | The main parts of a UPS are: rectifier, battery, inverter and controller. | The main parts of an inverter are: inverter circuit and battery. |
| Function | UPS converts DC into AC and AC into DC at the same time. | Inverter only converts DC into AC. |
| Types | UPS is of three types as −
| Inverters are of two types as −
|
| Charging of battery | A UPS can charge the battery from AC mains. | Inverter cannot charge a battery itself. It requires an external charge controller to the charge the battery. |
| Backup time | A UPS provides less backup time, up to 10 to 15 minutes, as compared to an inverter. Therefore, UPS supplies power for short duration. | The backup time of an inverter is greater than that of a UPS. It can provide supply for hours depending on its capacity. Hence, inverters supply power for long duration. |
| Switching time | The switching time of a UPS is of the order of 2 to 5 milliseconds. Hence, a UPS provides fast switching. | The switching time of an inverter is about 200 ms to 500 ms. Thus, the switching of inverters is slower than UPS. |
| Protection | UPS provides necessary protection against abnormal conditions like short circuit, overload, etc. | Inverter does not provide protection against abnormal conditions. |
| AVR | UPS is equipped with an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) that provides a constant output voltage to the load. | Inverter does not include AVR, thus the output voltage of the inverter may vary due to change in load. |
| Circuit complexity | UPS has relatively more complex circuit. | Inverter is a simple circuit than a UPS. |
| Cost (for same rating) | UPS includes complex circuitry and smart devices to provide necessary protections which makes it more expensive than an inverter. | Inverters are less expensive than a UPS. |
| Maintenance | UPS are almost maintenance free, except the battery. | Due to more wiring and need of distilled water in inverter batteries, the inverters require relatively more & frequent maintenance. |
| Applications | The UPS are used to supply electric power to PCs, workstations, small office and home office devices like routers, etc. | The inverters are used to supply power to various domestic electric appliances such as lamps, fans, coolers, etc. |
Conclusion
UPS and inverter are both used to provide backup power to the electrical appliances. The most significant difference between a UPS and an inverter is that a UPS is a more expensive device used for supplying backup power to the sensitive electrical and electronic equipment for short duration of time; while an inverter is a power electronic circuit which receives DC power from a battery, converts it into AC power, and supplies it to the load. An inverter can supply power to a load for long durations.
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