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ITGlossary · UPS technology
Transformer-Based UPS
Traditional UPS design using internal transformers to regulate voltage and provide isolation.
Technical level:Advanced
In transformer-based UPS units, a low-frequency transformer, usually at the inverter output, adapts the voltage and provides galvanic isolation between the mains and the load. For years it was the classic design for medium and high-power double-conversion UPS systems.
Its advantages are robustness with demanding loads, such as motors and industrial equipment with high inrush currents, good behaviour on unstable grids, and isolation. The trade-off is greater weight and size, more heat and usually slightly lower efficiency.
The choice between a transformer-based and transformer-less design depends on the load and the installation. Check in advance whether the room and the floor can carry the weight of the unit.
Related terms
- Transformerless UPSModern UPS design that omits bulky transformers to improve efficiency and reduce size.
- TransformerAn electrical component that changes voltage levels or isolates circuits.
- IsolationSeparation of input and output with no conductive connection, usually through a transformer, to protect against faults and noise.
- Line Interactive UPSA UPS that corrects voltage sags and swells with an automatic voltage regulator and switches to battery only when the voltage is lost or out of range.
- Static BypassAn electronic path inside the UPS that instantly and automatically transfers the load to the mains on overload or internal fault.
- Static SwitchA thyristor-based switch with no moving parts that transfers the load between inverter and mains within a fraction of a cycle.