constant voltage

[Anonymous user]

This may be a stupid question. I don't know much about UPS/APC devices. In my lab, the power can sometimes fluctuate and we want to keep it at a constant output. Would APCs keep the power flow constant if there is not a power outage or would the power output from the outlet continue to fluctuate with the power to the room. We would like to keep the power constant to some equipment during experiments and not sure how to do it.

[Anonymous user · Accepted solution]

Jason Gilbert wrote:
This may be a stupid question. I don't know much about UPS/APC devices. In my lab, the power can sometimes fluctuate and we want to keep it at a constant output. Would APCs keep the power flow constant if there is not a power outage or would the power output from the outlet continue to fluctuate with the power to the room. We would like to keep the power constant to some equipment during experiments and not sure how to do it.

It would continue to fluctuate. Higher end Back UPS and Smart-UPS have voltage adjusting in two steps but not constant voltage.

To get a table top flat voltage regulation with protection against brown outs, overvoltage and outages all in one package, you should get an online double conversion UPS regardless of the brand.

APC's offering is the APC Smart-UPS RT series.

Another option is to get a ferro-resonant voltage regulating transformer, but it is limited in its abilities. Once the voltage falls outside the range or the power is lost, it's game over.

If you're going with the RT and your load is up to a kilowatt, I'd get the 1500VA/1050W model which is about a grand.
http://www.apc.com/resource/include/techspec_index.cfm?base_sku=SURTA1500XL

That's the smallest one they make. If it isn't adequate, you can post the electrical requirements and I'm sure the APC people will tell you the right model to get.

I don't work for APC. The choice above was based on what I would pick if I was in your situation.