Match the UPS to what you are backing up
Quick answer
- Choose the UPS type by what you are protecting: standby for desktops and basic electronics, line interactive for workstations and network equipment, on-line double conversion for critical servers, and specialised units for industrial and outdoor sites.
- VA ratings are not comparable between ranges. A 2000VA UPS can supply anywhere from 1200W to 2000W depending on its power factor, so check the watts.
- Check the outlets before you buy. Some ranges have standard Australian 3-pin outlets, others have IEC outlets that need IEC power cables.
The most common UPS question we hear is not "which brand?" but "what type of UPS suits what I want to back up?" The answer depends on the equipment: a home desktop, a small business network cabinet and a server room all need different protection.
This guide matches each Powercom UPS range to the equipment it suits. For how UPS types work, how to size a UPS and how to choose between them in detail, see our UPS buying guide.
Page Index
- What are you backing up?
- Why VA ratings are not comparable
- Outlets: Australian 3-pin or IEC
- Tower or rack
- Runtime and external batteries
- Monitoring and accessories
- Frequently Asked Questions
What are you backing up?
Start with the equipment you need to keep running, then use this table to find the UPS type and range.
| What you are backing up | UPS type | Range | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desktop computer, home electronics, non-critical peripherals | Standby | WOW (300, 500, 850VA) | Compact, powerboard-style unit with Australian 3-pin outlets and a USB interface. A low-cost way to get backup power. The power factor is about 0.5, so the 850VA model supplies 425W. |
| Workstations, home office, small business computers, modem and router | Line interactive | Raptor (600 to 2000VA) and Imperial Digital (3000VA) | Tower-style with a USB interface. Raptor has Australian 3-pin outlets and Imperial Digital has IEC outlets. Automatic voltage regulation stabilises the voltage. Modified sine wave output. Raptor has an LED or LCD panel depending on the VA. |
| Servers, NAS, switches and other sensitive equipment | Line interactive, pure sine wave | Smart King Pro (700 to 3000VA) | Pure sine wave output, IEC outlets, a network card slot and a USB interface. Available as a tower (SPT) or a rack/tower (SPR). |
| Critical servers, data centres and sensitive applications | On-line double conversion | Macan (1500 to 10000VA) | Isolates the equipment from power problems. Pure sine wave, IEC outlets, LCD panel, network and alarm card slot, and external battery connectivity. Unity power factor means more usable watts. |
| Harsh industrial and marine environments | On-line double conversion | Vanguard II (1500 to 10000VA) | Industrial and marine grade pure sine wave with conformal-coated circuit boards, Australian outlets, LCD panel and a network and alarm card slot. Available as a tower (VGS) or a rack/tower (VRT). |
| Control panels and industrial cabinets | Standby, DIN rail | DIN Rail (850VA) | Compact industrial unit that mounts on a DIN rail, with terminal block input and output. |
| Outdoor and infrastructure sites such as traffic control | Line interactive, pure sine wave | Traffic Control (650 to 3000W) | Rugged high-temperature rack/tower unit, rated up to 74°C. It has terminal block input and output and needs an external 48VDC battery bank. Transfer time is up to 12 ms, and it has a generator mode. |
Not sure where your equipment sits? Browse our standby and speciality, line interactive and on-line UPS, or ask an expert.
Why VA ratings are not comparable
A UPS is sold by its VA rating, but the equipment you plug in draws watts. The relationship between the two is the power factor, and it differs from range to range. That means two UPS with the same VA rating can supply different amounts of real power.
Here is the same 2000VA rating across four ranges:
| Range | UPS type | Power factor | Watts at 2000VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raptor | Line interactive | 0.6 | 1200W |
| Smart King Pro | Line interactive | 0.8 | 1600W |
| Vanguard II | On-line | 0.9 | 1800W |
| Macan | On-line | 1.0 | 2000W |
Add up the watts of the equipment you want to protect, then compare that against the watts column, not the VA rating alone. Our UPS buying guide shows how to work out the load and leave room to spare.
Outlets: Australian 3-pin or IEC
The outlets on the UPS decide what you can plug straight in.
- Australian 3-pin outlets: WOW, Raptor and Vanguard II. Standard plug-in equipment connects with its normal power cable.
- IEC outlets: Imperial Digital, Smart King Pro and Macan. Equipment connects using an IEC power cable. This is common for servers, switches and rack equipment, which often use IEC inlets.
Check the plug or inlet on your equipment before you choose. For help with IEC connector types, see our guide to IEC connectors.
Tower or rack
Match the form to where the UPS will live.
- Tower: Sits on the floor or a desk. Suits home offices, small offices and standalone servers.
- Rack/tower convertible: Mounts in a 19-inch rack or stands as a tower. Available in the Smart King Pro (SPR), Macan (MRT) and Vanguard II (VRT) ranges.
- DIN rail: For control panels and industrial cabinets.
If you are protecting a rack, see our guide to PDUs for distributing power from the UPS to your equipment.
Runtime and external batteries
How long a UPS runs depends on the load connected to it, so a lighter load runs longer. Check the model runtime chart at your load rather than relying on a single figure.
If you need longer runtime, choose a model that supports external batteries. Macan and Vanguard II both have external battery connectivity, and add-on battery packs for each model are available on request from our team. Two other options suit larger battery strings: the Vanguard II "L" series has no internal batteries and includes a larger charger for external battery strings, and the Traffic Control range uses an external 48VDC battery bank.
Monitoring and accessories
A UPS can do more than ride through an outage. These options help with monitoring and managed shutdown.
- Network card slot: Smart King Pro, Macan and Vanguard II have a network card slot, so the UPS can connect to your network for remote monitoring. Macan and Vanguard II also have an alarm card slot.
- AS400 relay alarm card: Available online for the Vanguard II range.
- Temperature and humidity sensor: An additional sensor for inSentry environmental monitoring, available online.
Also available from our team
Our sales team can also supply a wider range of UPS accessories on request, including external battery packs, UPSMON monitoring software, SNMP network cards, maintenance bypass switches, auto transfer switches, line conditioners and rack mount rail kits. Ask an expert to find the right option for your UPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of UPS do I need for a home office?
For a desktop computer and a few peripherals, a standby unit such as the WOW or a line interactive unit such as the Raptor is the usual choice. A line interactive UPS adds automatic voltage regulation, which stabilises the voltage when the supply fluctuates. Add up the watts of what you plan to plug in, then choose a model with some spare capacity.
What UPS do I need for a NAS, server or network cabinet?
Line interactive pure sine wave models such as the Smart King Pro suit sensitive equipment like NAS devices, switches and small servers. For critical servers and data centres, an on-line double conversion UPS such as the Macan gives the highest level of protection. Check which outlets your equipment uses, because Smart King Pro and Macan have IEC outlets.
Do I need a pure sine wave UPS?
Pure sine wave output is the better choice for sensitive equipment such as servers and network gear. Smart King Pro, Macan, Vanguard II and Traffic Control are all pure sine wave. WOW, Raptor, Imperial Digital and DIN Rail produce a modified sine wave, which suits basic protection for desktops and peripherals. If you are unsure, check your equipment manual or ask an expert.
What is the difference between line interactive and on-line UPS?
A line interactive UPS passes mains power through and corrects the voltage as needed, switching to battery when the power fails. An on-line double conversion UPS continuously converts incoming power and supplies the equipment from the inverter, which isolates it completely from power problems. See our UPS buying guide for a full comparison.
Why do two UPS with the same VA rating supply different power?
Because the power factor differs between ranges. Watts equal VA multiplied by the power factor, so a 2000VA Raptor supplies 1200W while a 2000VA Macan supplies 2000W.
Can I extend the runtime of my UPS?
Yes, on models that support external batteries, such as Macan and Vanguard II. Add-on battery packs for each model are available on request from our team, and the right pack depends on the UPS model and your load.
Can I run a UPS from a generator?
Macan and Vanguard II both have a generator mode. In this mode the UPS stays off bypass and holds the output at 50Hz, which protects the load when the generator supply is unstable. Both also accept a wide input voltage range that depends on the load: from 120VAC at up to 25% load, rising to 180VAC at full load, up to 276VAC. The Traffic Control range also has a generator mode. For other ranges, ask an expert before connecting a generator.
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