Tips for choosing an uninterruptible power supply for a boiler room

In the heating system of residential buildings, hot water circulation is provided by the operation of electric pumps. During a power outage, the system simply stops and does not supply heat to houses and apartments. To avoid this, you can install a special uninterruptible power supply that can keep the pump running for a certain time.

The power supply is an indispensable device for a boiler room. With the help of batteries, it will provide the protective boiler equipment and the circulation pump with power in emergency situations when there are problems with the supply of the main electricity. During a power outage, the UPS goes into independent operation, performing its assigned functions.

An independent source of electricity protects equipment from power surges, and its own cost is significantly lower than repairing boiler equipment.

There are three types of UPS for boilers.

They play the role of conductors, transmitting voltage with the same parameters with which it comes from the main network. Only when the main power is turned off, as well as in cases where the indicators are very different from normal (high or low voltage), the UPS automatically switch to power from their batteries. Typically, such models are equipped with batteries with a capacity of 5-10 Ah, and their work lasts for 30 minutes. During voltage problems, they are immediately disconnected from the external network for a few minutes, giving time for manual troubleshooting, and then go into independent mode. They are distinguished by their low cost, quiet operation and high efficiency when powered from the mains. However, they do not adjust the voltage and have a large battery capacity.

They are considered more modern uninterruptible power supplies than the previous ones. In addition to the built-in battery, they are equipped with voltage stabilizers that provide 220 V at the output. During operation, the sinusoid cannot change its shape. When switching to independent mode, they only need 2 to 10 microseconds. They have a high efficiency when powered from the mains, they stabilize the voltage even without a battery. Their total power is limited to 5 kVA. Such UPSs are purchased more often than standby ones.

For these models, the output characteristics of the mains are independent of the input parameters. The connected equipment is powered by the battery regardless of the input voltage. This opportunity is provided by changing the current in two stages. Thanks to this, the boiler works completely independently with stable current indicators. He is not threatened by lightning strikes, large jumps, a change in the sinusoid.

The advantages of such options are that during a power outage, the connected devices do not stop working. To replenish the charge, you can connect to a gas generator. It is possible to adjust the output voltage. Of course, such models have a cost several times higher than their previous counterparts, they have a relatively low efficiency - from 80 to 94%, and they also make noise due to the operation of the fan.

Consider a couple of popular uninterruptible power supplies for comparison.

This model has:

• output power - up to 1.5 kW;
• starting power - up to 3 kW.

It is a multifunctional inverter station for supplying autonomous and uninterrupted power supply. Its work can be combined with solar panels or wind farms. The device has a relay for switching loads both for independent transfer of work from the network, and vice versa. Thanks to this, it is possible to use the UPS to power a large number of boiler room equipment for a long time.

It is possible to combine with linear and non-linear loads. A high power charger and an automatic self-diagnosis function are provided. Even after long-term operation, the UPS does not heat up, harmonic distortion is less than 3%. The model weighs 19 kg and measures 590/310/333 mm. The transition time is 10 microseconds.

This hybrid inverter has:

• output power - up to 1.6 kW;
• starting power - up to 3.2 kW.

The uninterruptible power supply is very multifunctional: it combines the functions of an inverter, a network charger for uninterrupted power supply and a charge controller from photo modules. Equipped with a display with which you can set the required parameters. It has a high efficiency, and for its own needs the costs are only 2 watts. Regenerates alternating current and sine wave number. The device can be operated around the clock with any kind of load. You can connect not only the boiler, but also various household appliances and electrical appliances.

Besides, it is possible to adjust the input voltage, combine with the operation of the generator. There is an automatic restart after the power supply is restored. During long-term operation, it hardly heats up. You can also choose the type of work - standalone or network. Protects against overload, short circuit and lightning. There is a cold start function, and the input voltage range is from 170 to 280 V with an efficiency of 95%. This model weighs 6.4 kg with dimensions of 100/272/355 mm.

To select a UPS for a boiler room, you must first of all decide on the type of inverter - whether it will be a backup, line-interactive or double-change option. If you have a stable voltage in the house or there is a stabilizer for the entire network, then a backup model is quite suitable.

Line-interactive models are equipped with stabilizers, operate on a network with a range of 150-280 V, and have a minimum transition speed of 3 to 10 microseconds.

Double conversion models always equalize the voltage quickly, instantly switch over to themselves, and produce a perfect sine wave at the output. They are mainly used for very expensive boilers, where there are power surges or where power is provided from a current generator. These are the most expensive models.

And it is necessary to pay attention to the type of signal at the output of the inverter. It can be a type of pure sine wave. Such options give a stable signal without errors, and are perfect for boilers with pumps. But there is also an imitation of a sinusoid. These models do not give an entirely accurate signal. Because of this work, the pumps hum and quickly break down, therefore they are not recommended as a UPS for the boiler.

There are gel and lead acid devices by type of battery. Gel ones are considered the most productive, since they are not afraid of full discharge and last up to 15 years. They have a high cost.

According to the method of placement, wall and floor options are distinguished.

Review of the ENERGY PN-500 model in the video below.