What is a line-interactive UPS?
What is a line-interactive UPS? See how AVR fixes brownouts, how it differs from standby and online UPS, and who should buy one.
A line-interactive UPS is a battery backup that also corrects small power problems without using its battery. It is the most common type for home offices, small businesses, and network gear.
How it works
Wall power flows through the UPS to your devices. A feature called automatic voltage regulation (AVR) uses a transformer to raise voltage during a brownout or voltage sag, and lower it during a surge. Because it corrects these problems without switching to battery, the battery lasts longer for real outages.
In a full power outage, the inverter takes over and the UPS runs your devices from battery. The transfer time is only a few milliseconds, so most computers keep running through the switch.
UPS types compared
| Type | How it works | Protection | Cost | Best for |
|---|
| Standby | Switches to battery only in an outage | Basic | Lowest | Basic PCs, small devices |
| Line-interactive | Adds voltage regulation | Good | Medium | Home office, small server, network gear |
| Online double-conversion | Always runs from the inverter | Best | Highest | Servers, medical, sensitive equipment |
Things to know
- Many models give a simulated sine wave, while better ones give pure sine wave
- It cannot fix long outages, so runtime is limited by battery size
- The battery needs replacing every three to five years
Who needs one?
Choose line-interactive if your area has frequent brownouts or flickers, or you want a good balance of price and protection for a PC, NAS, or router.
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