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Difference between Online UPS and Offline

UPS
• Categorized under Technology | Difference between Online UPS and Offline UPS

The term ‘Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)’ is much essential for the IT world as for how we
humans require uninterrupted air to breathe. Some way or the other we should supply the input
power to our electronic gadgets to work. Not all the electronic items could be connected to a direct
AC plug always. Even if we connect to such inputs, we could not rely on it 100%. That means there
are cases where the electricity could fail due to a variety f reasons. To solve the issue, we have a
wonderful solution in hand i.e. the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). Yes, it is capable of supplying
uninterrupted power to the electronic devices and it has got hence the name.

What is Online UPS?

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22/07/2020 Difference between Online UPS and Offline UPS | Difference Between

The online UPS is

connected to the main load
at all the time or until the
battery in it gets charged. In
this case, our electronic
device gets the power from
the online UPS and not
directly from the AC main
supply. So, even when the
main AC fails, our electronic
device’s operations need not
be stopped. One such good
example for online UPS is the Laptops. We could use laptops while it is charging or we could even
use it later after getting charged. However our use might be, our device gets power only from the
charging or charged battery connected to the main power supply.

What are Offline UPS?

The Offline UPS need not finds its usage often. It is required only when the main power supply fails.
Yes, in this case, the electronic device gets power directly from the main AC power supply and not
from the UPS. When there is any voltage surge or fluctuation in the main input power, then the offline
UPS supplies power to the electronic devices. Therefore, these kinds of UPSs are required only
during power failures and not all the time. One of the best examples for offline UPS is the desktop
computers that we use at our homes or office. Those computers have a separate UPS unit and it
supplies power to the computer in the case of power failures. The only required measure is the
switching delay. An offline UPS said to work better if it’s capable of doing the switch in lesser time.

Differences
The Input: The online UPS gets the direct AC power supply to it and in turn, it uses the AC-DC
inverter power to the electronic device. The offline UPS gets the AC power supply and gets charged
but the charged AC-DC inverter power is utilized only when there is a power failure.

Operating Temperature: The online UPS renders power to the electronic devices whenever those
devices are switched on. Yes, it gets charged and then supplies the power to the devices. It means
that it has to work more time and so is the operating temperature. But the offline UPS on the hand
comes into picture only during power failures. So, the operating temperatures are not always higher
and it gets heated only when used for more time.

Parts Used: The Online UPS, in order to maintain its frequency of operations and a continuous
power to the electronic device, it requires numerous parts. Each part is chosen to ensure the
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reliability of operations. Those parts should also be chosen with a caution as it had to with stand the
higher operating temperatures. In the case of offline UPS, the operating time is really lesser and
hence the parts could also be chosen so. These parts never heat up often and hence such kinds of
parts are enough to be placed. Also only during extreme conditions such as prolonged power
failures, it needs its operations for a longer duration. Hence, there is no need to be very much
cautious about the parts as they are hardly utilized for longer hours.

Cost: The number of parts in online UPS requires more cost for its set up. On the other hand, the
offline UPS requires lesser cost as it involves only fewer parts in it. So if you are much concerned
about the cost of set up, then offline UPS is the better choice.

Battery Usage: The online UPS uses its battery throughout the time when the electronic device is in
use whereas the offline UPS is not so. It never uses the battery until there is a power failure.
Therefore, we rarely use the battery in the case of offline UPS and we always use the battery in the
case of online UPS.

Extreme Voltage
Distortion: When there are
extreme voltage fluctuations
in the main power supply,
the offline UPS needs to
come into the picture. Hence
the more the voltage
fluctuations, the more the
offline UPS is used. A
frequent switch could lead to
switching delays or could
ultimately reduce its
performance. But the online
UPS is designed to handle
such extreme voltage fluctuations and therefore, such conditions are expected ones here. As the
online UPS is always in operation irrespective of the voltage fluctuations of the main power, there is
nothing to worry about it.

Output: The output from an online UPS remains stable and almost fixed to a particular frequency.
But the output from an offline UPS varies significantly within a range. Whenever you need a fixed
and stable output, just for the online UPS otherwise, just go ahead with the offline UPS.

Reliability: The online UPS uses highly stable parts and delivers a fixed and stable output all the
times. But the associated temperature issues are higher here. In the case of offline UPS, the output
is not stable and it varies within a specified range. But the associated temperature is also based on

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the usage time. When you use the UPS for a longer time, the offline UPS could render a reliable
service whereas an online UPS could not render such a service in this scenario.

When to use? When you need a UPS for a longer duration of time and the main power supply
fluctuates drastically, then online UPS is the best choice. But when you are much concerned about
the cost and a lower operating temperature, then it is obvious that you should go with the offline UPS.

Let us look at the differences in a tabular form below.

S.No Differences in Online UPS Offline UPS

It gets the direct AC power It gets the AC power supply
supply to it and in turn, it and gets charged but the
1. The Input uses the AC-DC inverter charged AC-DC inverter power
power to the electronic is utilized only when there is a
device. power failure.
It renders power to the
electronic devices
whenever those devices It comes into picture only
are switched on. Yes, it during power failures. So, the
gets charged and then operating temperatures are not
2. Operating Temperature
supplies the power to the always higher and it gets
devices. It means that it heated only when used for
has to work more time and more time.
so is the operating
temperature.
3. Parts Used In order to maintain its The operating time is really
frequency of operations lesser and hence the parts
and a continuous power to could also be chosen so.
the electronic device, it These parts never heat up
requires numerous parts. often and hence such kinds of
Those parts should also be parts are enough to be placed.
chosen with a caution as it Also only during extreme
had to with stand the higher conditions such as prolonged
operating temperatures. power failures, it needs its
operations for a longer
duration. Hence, there is no
need to be very much cautious
about the parts as they are
hardly utilized for longer hours.

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The number of parts used

It requires lesser cost as it
4. Cost here requires more cost for
involves only fewer parts in it.
its set up.
It uses its battery
It never uses the battery until
throughout the time when
there is a power failure.
5. Battery Usage the electronic device is in
Therefore the battery is rarely
use. Therefore the battery
used here.
is always used here.
As it is designed to handle
such extreme voltage
fluctuations and such
conditions are expected The more the voltage
ones here. As the online fluctuations, the more the
Extreme Voltage UPS is always in operation offline UPS is used. A frequent
6.
Distortion irrespective of the voltage switch could lead to switching
fluctuations of the main delays or could ultimately
power, there is nothing to reduce its performance.
worry about it.

It remains stable and

It varies significantly within a
7. Output almost fixed to a particular
range.
frequency.
It renders reliable service
When you use the UPS for
because of fewer parts used
8. Reliability a longer time, it renders
and the lesser operating
unreliable service.
temperature.
Use it when you need a Use it when you are much
UPS for a longer duration concerned about the cost and
9. When to use?
of time and the main power when you wish a lower
supply fluctuates drastically. operating temperature.

Author Recent Posts

Ramalan Harifa

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Cite
Ramalan Harifa. "Difference between Online UPS and Offline UPS." DifferenceBetween.net. October
18, 2019 < http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-online-ups-and-offline-
ups/ >.

3 Comments
1. takin
October 17, 2018 • 4:02 am

great article
thank you
please let me know APC is a great brand of UPS?

Reply
2. Shivdas ambegaonkar
October 22, 2019 • 2:26 pm

Information for solar panels

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22/07/2020 Difference between Online UPS and Offline UPS | Difference Between

Reply
3. Ghan shyam kushwaha
April 12, 2020 • 2:34 pm

Very good.

Reply

Leave a Response
Written by : Ramalan Harifa. and updated on October 18, 2019

References :

[0]https://www.techvigil.com/electronics/116/Difference-Between-Offline-and-Online-UPS/

[1]http://www.completepowerelectronics.com/comparison-online-offline-ups/

[2]https://www.livetolearn.in/site/forum/hardware-troubleshooting/difference-between-online-ups-and-
offline-ups

[3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Standby_UPS_Diagram.png

[4]https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Off_line_ups.png

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