UPS is the acronym for Uninterruptible Power Supply.

A UPS is a power protection device that will regulate the incoming power to acceptable parameters and will also supply power when there is no mains power.

It has several functions, designed to protect almost all electronic devices.

To understand why this device is so important, it may help to understand electrical power a little better. If you have witnessed in the past flickering lights in your home or office, computer freezing up or restarting, then you may be suffering a power supply problem.

What many people do not realise is that the power provided to their home or office is at times irregular and not necessarily continuous 230 volts supply. The ideal voltage supply is 230v. However, even in residential areas, this can often be over 260v, or under 200v. It can get even worse in or near industrial areas due to machinery that can cause voltage drops in power that affect the power grid.

An entry-level UPS can sense the voltage is not good enough, and will automatically go to battery power until regular power returns.

Other units can adjust the voltage for the connected equipment to keep it at safe levels. High-end UPS models can give a perfectly stable output of 230v at all times regardless of input power.

Other typical power problem can be surges and spikes where the incoming voltage jumps rapidly.

A UPS can help fix most power problems.