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How to Size Power Conditioners & UPS's

When sizing a Power Conditioner or UPS for you or your customers several steps should be taken to ensure you specify the right one for your application needs. You don't want to over protect. This will cost you & your customers more money and may make you non-competitive relative to obtaining the business. Here are some basic things to keep in mind in order to determine the right Power Conditioner or UPS to satisfy your company or customer's needs.

Determine the voltage rating

Power Conditioner and UPS sizing is based on operating voltage (120V or 240V), current draw (measured in VA or Amps), or power consumption (rated in watts). It is best to size a power conditioner or UPS capable of handling the largest system configuration of the device you are trying to protect. Be sure to include ANY peripherals, modems, maintenance terminals, etc. that may be protected or backed by a single Power Conditioner or UPS.

Determine the Total Current/Wattage Rating

Find the TOTAL system power consumption or power in Watts (W), Amps (A), or Volt Amps (VA). Generally speaking, if you want to find the load current, you divide the Watts by the system Voltage. If you want to find the Amps, divide the VA by the voltage. Sizing can be calculated from the power/name plate rating that normally appears where the power cord enters or connects to the system.

Determine the Plug/Receptacle type

Power Conditioners and UPS's come in a variety of sizes and configurations. Different plugs and receptacles are available to match almost any system. To help you understand a plug and receptacle abbreviation here is a short summary of what they mean. Take for example, a 5-15P as it would typically be listed in a manufacturer's specifications. The first 5 means that this plug can be used on circuits with 110-120V operating voltage, 15 is the current rating in Amps, and P means Plug. If you see 5-15R, the R means it is a receptacle.

There are two basic types of plugs and receptacles, straight blade and twist-lock. A twist-lock has a prefix L before the number (i.e.; L5-15P or L5-15R). The most common voltage ranges are "5" (110-120V) and "6" (240-250V). Your product catalog will have the various plug types listed on each appropriate page for ease of reference and sizing.

Making the Selection

Refer to the appropriate section within the product catalog and review the specification sheet. Match the voltage, wattage, or current and plug configurations to the Power Conditioner or UPS that best matches the system parameters or back-up time desired.

Note: if you use the Powervar ABCE, or ABCDEF UPS, additional Power Conditioning is not needed.

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