Voltage Regulation - Line-R versus APC AV versus UPS

[Anonymous user]

Hello all! I'm a bit confused on the subject of voltage regulation, and what each product does about it.

Right now, I have a BackUPS XS 1500, which has a sensitivity setting (Low, Medium, or High, currently set to High since it doesn't click over to battery very often) and an acceptable voltage range (currently set between 88 and 136 volts). Is there circuitry in the UPS that irons out anomalies in line power, or is it only capable of switching between battery and line, choosing battery when line power seems faulty (or missing)? What relationship does the sensitivity setting have to the acceptable voltage range - does the battery only kick in if line voltage is outside of that range, or does sensitivity refer to a different kind of line anomaly?

Does the Line-R product merely do the same as the UPS, using something else in lieu of a battery (but of course providing no help in the event of a power loss)? How does its functionality differ from the APC AV line conditioner products?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[voidstar_apc · Accepted solution]

Hi Rask,

Good questions.

The [Line-R|http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ASTE-6Z7V37_R0_EN.pdf] can boost the input voltage up to 5% or trim it down to -12% to keep the output voltage within an acceptable range. If it cannot keep the output voltage within the acceptable range, it cuts off the output.

The [BackUPS XS 1500|http://www.apcmedia.com/salestools/ASTE-6Z7V26_R0_EN.pdf] can boost the input voltage up to 5% to keep the output voltage within an acceptable range. If it cannot keep the output voltage within the acceptable range, it remains on battery. If the battery becomes depleted, the output shuts off.

Both also have filters that protect against voltage spikes and surges.

>
What relationship does the sensitivity setting have to the acceptable voltage range - does the battery only kick in if line voltage is outside of that range, or does sensitivity refer to a different kind of line anomaly?
>

Very observant--acceptable output voltage range and sensitivity are not directly related, although the sensitivity button on the back of the UPS will change both at the same time (details in the manual). Exceeding either threshold will cause the UPS to go on battery or stay on battery.

Line voltage is an average (well, RMS) voltage over a line cycle, while sensitivity looks at the instantaneous voltage compared with the expected AC waveform. Typically a change in voltage will first appear as a distortion of the expected AC waveform. The UPS detects the distortion (anticipating a problem), transfers to battery, and waits for a clean, undistorted AC waveform. When the input power is clean, the line voltage determines whether it goes back online, boosts, trims, or remains on battery.

>
How does its functionality differ from the APC AV line conditioner products?
>

The Line-R and the BackUPS are designed to protect equipment from power problems, but do little to clean up distortions in the AC waveform, or noise. We don't worry about this because most consumer electronics simply doesn't care. The BackUPS does detect distortions (sensitivity), but only for the purpose of anticipating power problems.

Some people do care about getting a clean AC waveform. The AV product line includes additional line filtering to remove noise on the line. The AV UPS produces a clean sine wave while on battery.

So to summarize:

Line-R:
- Automatic voltage regulation
- Surge protection
BackUPS
- (some) Automatic voltage regulation
- Surge protection
- Battery for when line is bad
- Produces stepped-approximated sine wave on battery
SmartUPS
- Automatic voltage regulation
- Surge protection
- Battery for when line is bad
- Produces clean sine wave while on battery
AV UPS
- Automatic voltage regulation
- Surge protection
- Battery for when line is bad
- Produces clean sine wave while on battery
- Contains additional line filtering to remove noise when not on battery

[Anonymous user]

Thanks very much for a highly informative response!