Federal Government2080 BSQuestion 13 of 16
What do you understand by an UPS? Differentiate between online and offline UPS.
5 marks
Question source
- Exam year
- 2080 BS / 2023 AD
- Level
- Gazetted First Class (Computer Operator – Prabidhik)
- Paper
- Paper II – Sewa Sambandhit Karya Gyan
- Section
- Section B
Model answer
A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) gives instant backup during power cuts and stabilizes voltage, letting users save work and shut down safely. Essential in Nepal with frequent fluctuations — protects against data loss and hardware damage.
| Basis | Offline/Standby UPS | Online/Double-conversion UPS |
|---|---|---|
| Working | Switches to battery only when power fails (4–8 ms gap) | Always powers load from battery/inverter, mains only charges (zero gap) |
| Output quality | Basic surge protection | Clean, regulated sine wave |
| Best for | Single PC, home/small office | Servers, networks, hospitals |
| Cost/size | Cheap, small | Costly, larger |
Offices put PCs on offline UPS and servers on online UPS; pair with proper earthing and backup schedule.