Four Steps To Determine When A Standby Generator Is Needed For Small Data Centers

Small data centers and network rooms vary dramatically in regard to the amount of uninterruptible power supply (UPS) runtime commonly deployed. This paper describes a rational framework for establishing backup time requirements. Tradeoffs between supplemental UPS batteries and standby generators are discussed, including a total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis to help identify which solution makes the most economic sense. The analysis illustrates that the runtime at which generators become more cost effective than batteries varies dramatically with kW and ranges from approximately 20 minutes to over 10 hours.