True Power Conditioning + UPS
The latest electronic power conditioning devices, however, can provide “computer grade” power − a clean, level, voltage supply with minimal noise − at a fraction of the cost, size and weight of traditional transformers and with additional features.
When incorporated within a UPS unit, electronic power conditioning devices provide full coverage over the myriad of power-related spikes and surges.
Driving this functionality is transformer based filtering (TBF™) technology pioneered by Houston-based Smart Power Systems, an innovator and manufacturer of high-performance power quality products. The company offers a UPS with built-in TBF and automatic voltage regulator.
TBF-equipped UPS units not only provide the necessary protection against massive lighting strikes up to 6000 volts, but more importantly, they also address the more common smaller voltage spikes and power dropouts that usually stem from internal sources such as an air conditioner compressor or elevator motor.
“We had a dealer with an installation that had everything under the sun on the same terminal as the recording system: the refrigerator compressor, A/C unit, the building lighting,” explains Spalsbury. “When the A/C compressor would kick in, the lights would momentarily dim, dropping power, and the system would have to reboot. So we put one of the Smart Power electronic power conditioners in there and that fixed the power issue to the DVR.”
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The digital circuitry in TBF electronic power conditioner also filters out induced noise (EMI and RFI), from outside sources, as well as from unmatched ground loop current. In effect, all the risks are covered.
The use of an internal automatic voltage regulator prevents momentary sags that can cause the UPS to activate, slowly draining the battery. Without this feature, UPS battery back-up life can run down to mere minutes, or drain completely.
TBF-equipped UPS units go one step further by notifying administrators or others when the battery capacity drops low via text or e-mail. Similar systems only notify when the battery is dead.
Another advantage of the UPS-TBF is that it could take place on a network-wide basis, so that several UPS can be monitored through one administrative link. At such time that a battery does need replacement, it is “hot swappable” with no interruption.
“When you’re recording important security data, you want to make sure that all those frames get into the hard drive by using the cleanest power possible, without any interruptions,” says Spalsbury. “We put in an electronic power line conditioner and sure enough the power issue goes away.”
