The basic difference in layman's terms is:
While both provide backup power during mains outage, with the UPS the switch is instantaneous whereas with the Inverter there is a gap of a second or two. This gap is OK for household gadgets such as lights, fans, fridge, etc. but not OK for computers.
In technical terms:
UPS: The mains power comes to the UPS. The AC is converted to DC and this DC is constantly charging the battery. The output of the battery is fed to the Sine wave inverter and it converts DC to AC and this feeds the equipment. Since power out is always drawn from the battery, there is no time lag when mains swicthes off; it justs stops the battery from being charged and the UPS continues to supply power till the battery runs out.
Inverter: The mains power comes to the Inverter. This is directly sent to the output but the AC is also converted to DC and this DC is constantly charging the battery. A sensor and relay mechanism checks whether the mains is ON or OFF. When the main switches OFF, the relay actuator triggers to switch from mains to inverter. Rest is same like the UPS. Because of this sensor and relay, there is a gap between triggering.
UPS involves more costly circuitary and is therefor more expensive to make and sell ----------- Difference between UPS and Inverters
A Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) broadly consists of:
1. Rectifier (Charger) - To convert AC Power (from Power Grid) to DC Power (to charge Battery)
2. Inverter - To convert DC Power (from Battery) to AC Power (to power load i.e., electrical and electronic equipment.)
3. Controller - To control functions of Rectifier (Charger) and Inverter. (i.e., when to start or stop charging battery, when to start or stop power from battery to load, how fast to change from Grid Power to Battery Power and so on)
An Inverter broadly consists of:
1. Inverter - To convert DC Power (from Battery) to AC Power (to power load i.e., electrical and electronic equipment.)
2. Controller - To control functions of Inverter. (i.e., when to start or stop power from battery to load and so on)
Inverters are usually used with Solar Photovoltaic Cells/Modules (Solar Panels) or Windmills, which directly generate DC Power to charge batteries and therefore no Rectifiers are required.
Batteries be directly charged via Battery Chargers. Typically, hawkers in India use Inverters to power light sources. At the end of the day, they give their batteries for charging.
Notes:
1. Change over time from Grid Power to Battery Power is typically set to less than 10 milliseconds to avoid sensitive electronic equipment and computers from rebooting. As change over time is set in Controller, both UPS and Inverters can run sensitive electronic equipment and computers.
2. DC Power from Battery is converted to AC Power for load in either Pure Sine (Sinusoidal) Wave (Waveform) or Modified Sine Wave. Pure Sine Wave is ideal and recommended for increasing life of electrical and electronic equipment and is a must for sensitive electronic equipment. Modified Sine Wave damages electrical and electronic equipment over a period of time and generates humming noise from load during operation. Both UPS and Inverters can generate either Pure Sine Wave or Modified Sine Wave.
Thanks to : http://www.indiabroadband.net/computer-accessories/7686-difference-between-inverter-ups.html
While both provide backup power during mains outage, with the UPS the switch is instantaneous whereas with the Inverter there is a gap of a second or two. This gap is OK for household gadgets such as lights, fans, fridge, etc. but not OK for computers.
In technical terms:
UPS: The mains power comes to the UPS. The AC is converted to DC and this DC is constantly charging the battery. The output of the battery is fed to the Sine wave inverter and it converts DC to AC and this feeds the equipment. Since power out is always drawn from the battery, there is no time lag when mains swicthes off; it justs stops the battery from being charged and the UPS continues to supply power till the battery runs out.
Inverter: The mains power comes to the Inverter. This is directly sent to the output but the AC is also converted to DC and this DC is constantly charging the battery. A sensor and relay mechanism checks whether the mains is ON or OFF. When the main switches OFF, the relay actuator triggers to switch from mains to inverter. Rest is same like the UPS. Because of this sensor and relay, there is a gap between triggering.
UPS involves more costly circuitary and is therefor more expensive to make and sell ----------- Difference between UPS and Inverters
A Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) broadly consists of:
1. Rectifier (Charger) - To convert AC Power (from Power Grid) to DC Power (to charge Battery)
2. Inverter - To convert DC Power (from Battery) to AC Power (to power load i.e., electrical and electronic equipment.)
3. Controller - To control functions of Rectifier (Charger) and Inverter. (i.e., when to start or stop charging battery, when to start or stop power from battery to load, how fast to change from Grid Power to Battery Power and so on)
An Inverter broadly consists of:
1. Inverter - To convert DC Power (from Battery) to AC Power (to power load i.e., electrical and electronic equipment.)
2. Controller - To control functions of Inverter. (i.e., when to start or stop power from battery to load and so on)
Inverters are usually used with Solar Photovoltaic Cells/Modules (Solar Panels) or Windmills, which directly generate DC Power to charge batteries and therefore no Rectifiers are required.
Batteries be directly charged via Battery Chargers. Typically, hawkers in India use Inverters to power light sources. At the end of the day, they give their batteries for charging.
Notes:
1. Change over time from Grid Power to Battery Power is typically set to less than 10 milliseconds to avoid sensitive electronic equipment and computers from rebooting. As change over time is set in Controller, both UPS and Inverters can run sensitive electronic equipment and computers.
2. DC Power from Battery is converted to AC Power for load in either Pure Sine (Sinusoidal) Wave (Waveform) or Modified Sine Wave. Pure Sine Wave is ideal and recommended for increasing life of electrical and electronic equipment and is a must for sensitive electronic equipment. Modified Sine Wave damages electrical and electronic equipment over a period of time and generates humming noise from load during operation. Both UPS and Inverters can generate either Pure Sine Wave or Modified Sine Wave.
Thanks to : http://www.indiabroadband.net/computer-accessories/7686-difference-between-inverter-ups.html
