What’s the Difference Between Inverter and UPS?

UPS and inverters are two important power solutions that can be used as backup equipment during a power outage. But what is the difference between a UPS and an inverter? This article provides an in-depth explanation of how to choose between these two devices.

Learn about inverters and UPS

What is an inverter?

An inverter does not generate and store electricity; it is a device that converts DC power from batteries to AC power to power equipment during a power outage. An inverter can be used as a stand-alone device or as part of a UPS circuit.

What is a UPS?

A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a device that provides power during a power outage. It integrates an inverter, batteries, and chargers in one system and then provides power through the batteries. When a power outage occurs, it can seamlessly switch from mains power to emergency power with ultra-fast switching speeds. It also has built-in surge and over-voltage protection, which helps protect your appliances from sudden voltage spikes.

Key differences between inverter and UPS

The main difference between an inverter and a UPS is that in the event of an unplanned power outage, a UPS seamlessly switches over to provide a reliable, stable backup power source. The main purpose of a UPS is to provide “uninterrupted” power support, which ensures that no data is lost from your critical equipment (computers, medical devices).

Conversely, inverters must be powered by batteries (lead-acid or lithium) and have a long switching time. This means that in the event of a power outage, there may be a brief loss of power to the connected equipment.

Switching speed

Inverters have a slower switching time than UPS, typically 200-500 milliseconds, and are suitable for powering non-sensitive equipment such as lamps and fans.

UPS switching times are extremely fast, typically no more than 10 milliseconds. This seamless switching is suitable for protecting critical equipment from power interruptions.

Costs

Inverters are more cost-effective in the long run. TOPBULL inverters typically have efficiencies of over 95% and support solar charging, further reducing electricity costs.

A UPS has a higher initial cost for the same amount of power. Due to their smaller battery capacity and the need for frequent charging and discharging, they are less efficient in the long run and have higher maintenance costs.

Standby time

Inverters are often paired with high-capacity batteries to provide long standby times (hours to days). For example, an inverter paired with a 10kWh Li-ion battery pack can power a home for an entire day. Inverters are also often the first choice for RVs, boats, and camping.

A UPS typically has a smaller battery capacity and is primarily used for short-term backup power (15-30 minutes). It is designed to give the user enough time to save data or safely shut down equipment rather than provide power for extended periods.

Functions

The inverters offer a wide range of functions, such as support for solar charging, parallel operation with the grid, and a built-in UPS mode (switching time < 10 ms). This versatility makes them ideal for residential and renewable energy systems.

UPSs are relatively single functions and are primarily used to provide immediate backup power. While some high-end UPSs support extended battery capacity, their core function remains to protect critical equipment from power interruptions.

Applicable scenario

Inverters are used to maintain basic home power in the event of a home power outage and are suitable for appliances that are not sensitive to brief power outages. The combination of inverters and solar panels can also reduce electricity bills.

UPS is commonly used for equipment that has zero tolerance for power outages, such as medical equipment, security systems, servers, data centers, etc.

Maintenance

Modern inverters offer higher energy density, longer life, and faster charging. The TOPBULL 3000W inverter can be cycled more than 5,000 times and can reach a peak power of up to 6,000W with virtually no maintenance.

UPS typically uses small batteries that have a shorter lifespan and require regular maintenance (e.g. lead-acid batteries require electrolyte checks). Although some high-end UPSs support lithium batteries, the overall battery capacity is small and is used primarily for short-term power.

Inverter vs UPS: Which one should I choose?

After reading the comparison chart above, you will realize that inverters and UPS have their advantages and disadvantages. Some of the factors to consider when choosing the right UPS or inverter are budget, features, and capacity.

Residential and solar customers

First, consider the following common frequency of power outages. If you have frequent power outages, then you should choose an inverter to provide long-term backup power. If you experience occasional power outages or have sensitive equipment in your home, a UPS may be more appropriate.

Small office

To protect the data on business or office computers, printers, and surveillance equipment, you can choose a combined UPS+inverter solution. Equip critical equipment with a UPS (such as the ABC Office UPS) to ensure instant transfer. Then equip the entire office area with a lithium battery inverter to provide 1-2 hours of backup power.

Industrial equipment

Hospitals, data centers, factory production lines, etc., where power outages can cause significant losses, require millisecond switching and long backup power protection. Generally, such industrial scenarios are often equipped with a UPS + inverter/generator redundancy program.

Choose a quality inverter at TOPBULL

Compared to UPS, inverters offer the advantages of portability, low cost, and battery compatibility. If you are considering purchasing an inverter, TOPBULL is a good choice because TOPBULL inverters are known for their cost-effectiveness and reliability. We offer many types of inverters including different waveforms, power, and application scenarios.

Recommendation: 2000W pure sine wave inverter