UPS Vs Voltage Stabilizer(Difference, Price, Buying Tips)


stabilizer vs ups

If you have a sensitive electronic device, the UPS and Voltage stabilizer debate is not new to you. While the sophisticated gadgets that people use today are very convenient, they are also vulnerable to surges and voltage fluctuations. What’s the difference between UPS vs Voltage stabilizer?

Universal power supplies and voltage stabilizers are not the same. A UPS provides backup power and surge protection. It is useful in cases where the power has gone off and you need a few seconds or minutes to shut your equipment down. Whereas a voltage stabilizer is used to maintain a constant power supply when fluctuations occur.

Universal power supplies and voltage stabilizers are supposed to solve such problems. But a lot of consumers cannot choose between the two. They have either made the mistake of thinking that these devices perform the same function or they cannot figure out whether they are better off getting a UPS or a voltage stabilizer.

This decision matters because universal power supplies and voltage stabilizers are not the same. And by buying one of these devices, you ran the risk of leaving your electronic devices open to attack from threats that only the other device can stop.

Of course, as the guide below will reveal, you cannot proceed without first understanding the difference between these two items.

An In-depth Difference Between UPS and Voltage Stabilizer

If you know anything about Universal power supplies and voltage stabilizers, then you know that it is impossible to confuse the two because the roles they play are quite different:

1). Voltage Stabilizer

A voltage stabilizer is designed to maintain a constant voltage output.

voltage stabilizer

Every electronic device has a nominal operating voltage. This is the voltage the device needs to perform its function optimally.

However, the voltage in most places tends to fluctuate from time to time. These fluctuations are more prominent in some places than others. But they are a common issue in most communities. You can’t avoid them.

Extreme overvoltage (where the voltage exceeds safe levels) can destroy your equipment. It can also cause overheating, melting weaker components such as the wires. if your device survives in the short term, overvoltage can reduce its lifespan, gradually degrading the gadget’s ability to do its work in the long term.

Under-voltage (where the voltage falls below nominal operating levels) isn’t any better. Not only does it lower the efficiency of your equipment but it can cause an outright malfunction. Under-voltage can also affect the lifespan of your device.

This is where a voltage stabilizer enters the picture. It maintains a constant power supply. It does this by either increasing the voltage (in case of under-voltage) or reducing it (in case of an overvoltage).

This ‘Buck and Boost‘ function will prevent fluctuations from wreaking havoc on your electronics.

2). UPS

UPS is a device that provides continuous power. When a blackout occurs, the UPS kicks in, using its batteries to supply power to your device.

Universal power supplies are not supposed to run your equipment.

People use them to maintain the power supply long enough to shut their devices down safely. This prevents unnecessary data loss. It can also protect devices from the damage that can occur when the power supply is suddenly cut.

As you have probably already noticed, a UPS does not do the same thing as a voltage stabilizer. It comes into play when the power goes off. You use voltage stabilizers when the power is on but it keeps fluctuating. The functions of these two devices are the primary factors that differentiate them from one another.

Price Comparison

DeviceMin PriceMax PriceAverage Price
Stabilizer$100$166$133
UPS$80$200$140

You would expect most people to flock towards universal power supplies because they provide backup power as well as voltage regulation. But that isn’t the case. First of all, the average UPS cannot offer the same degree of voltage stabilization as a voltage regulator

Or at the very least, it doesn’t deliver the same tight control. Secondly, universal power supplies that offer significant voltage regulation are not only big but very expensive. For that reason, if your only concern is voltage fluctuations, the voltage stabilizer is the better option.

UPS VS Voltage Stabilizer – Which One To Buy?

A UPS is suitable for consumers that are concerned about disruptions in the power supply. This is because a UPS provides backup power. Whereas a voltage stabilizer/regulator is only useful when you have instabilities in the power grid. It has nothing to offer consumers when the power goes off completely.

If you want your computer to stay on for a few minutes as you shut it down, a voltage stabilizer cannot help you. I also favor universal power supplies in scenarios that involve surges, spikes, and sustained overvoltage because a decent UPS has surge protection capabilities.

Can A UPS Be Used As a Voltage Stabilizer?

Yes, you can use ups as a voltage stabilizer. Universal power supplies are quite versatile. They provide both surge protection and voltage regulation services. However, you cannot rely on an ordinary backup UPS to play this role.

If you want a voltage regulation function, you need an online UPS. This device charges its batteries by converting the current it receives into DC power. It has an inverter that eventually changes that DC power to fit the needs of your equipment.

In doing so, it filters the power. It also ensures that the supply is stable. Line Interactive universal power supplies do the same thing. They eliminate fluctuations and distortions. That being said, universal power supplies that also regulate voltage are expensive.

Conclusion

A UPS provides backup power and surge protection. It can also offer voltage regulation, especially if you get an online or line-interactive universal power supply. But such devices are big and expensive.

A voltage stabilizer is of no use to you when the power goes off. It is used to maintain a constant power supply when fluctuations occur. You can trust it to either raise or lower the voltage depending on whether you have an over-voltage or under-voltage on your hands.

The situation in your area will determine the device you get. If you have an unstable grid that is prone to extreme fluctuations, you should get a voltage stabilizer. If your area is prone to blackouts and voltage spikes, you should get a UPS.

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