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ITGlossary · Electrical units
Peak Load
The highest amount of power drawn by connected equipment during operation.
Technical level:Intermediate
The consumption of an installation does not stay constant: when motors, compressors or power supplies start up, or when many devices run at the same time, the power drawn rises well above the average. This maximum demand is the peak load.
The peak determines the size of the UPS, generator or inverter, because the device has to withstand it without overloading. A motor's starting current can be several times its rated current, which is why a pump or an air conditioner needs a much larger generator than its running power suggests.
A practical tip: to estimate the peak, do not simply add up the watts on the labels; measure with a clamp meter or ask the manufacturer for the starting currents.
Related terms
- Hardwired (Terminal Block) ConnectionPermanent connection of the UPS input or output by an electrician, with cables screwed into a terminal block instead of plugs and sockets, usually on higher-power UPS units.
- IEC C19/C20 ConnectorsPair of connectors rated up to 16 A under IEC 60320, used on higher-power UPS units, rack PDUs and servers or switches with high-consumption power supplies.
- Load SheddingA method used to prioritize power delivery by disconnecting non-critical loads during outages.
- IEC C13/C14 ConnectorsStandardised pair of connectors rated up to 10 A under IEC 60320, found on UPS outputs and on the power supplies of computers, servers and monitors.
- Input Power CordThe cable that connects the UPS to the wall socket or distribution board, i.e. to its AC power source.
- Inrush CurrentThe initial surge of current required when electrical equipment is first powered on.