A local AI computer or a small server holds work that should not vanish in a power cut, and in many cities the grid also brings dips, surges and generator switchovers. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) bridges the gap and lets the system shut down cleanly. Here is how to choose one — type, battery, size, local voltage and certificates — with prices checked in October 2026.
Three types of UPS
An offline (standby) UPS passes mains power straight through and switches to its battery only when the power fails. A line-interactive UPS also corrects low and high voltage with a transformer. Both switch to battery in a few milliseconds. An online double-conversion UPS works differently: the equipment always runs from the UPS's own inverter, so there is no switchover at all, and the output is a clean sine wave whatever the mains does. The IEC 62040-3 standard calls this class VFI.
For servers, network racks and AI computers that must not reboot, choose online double conversion. It also copes best with unstable grids and with diesel generators, whose frequency drifts under load.
Lithium or lead-acid
Most UPS units still use sealed lead-acid batteries. They are cheap, but their life is short — APC, for example, quotes three to five years for the battery of its 3 kVA online model — and it drops faster in hot rooms. Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries cost more upfront, last longer — more than 2,000 cycles in the models we offer — weigh less and can be swapped without switching the UPS off.
Count the cost over five to ten years, not on the day of purchase: a lead-acid UPS will need at least one battery replacement in that time, with the visit, the downtime and the disposal of old batteries.
Size it in watts
Add up the maximum power in watts of everything on the UPS: the AI computer or server, the switch and router, the storage unit and the monitor. Take the figures from the data sheets or measure them with a plug-in power meter, then add 20–30% margin. For example, a computer drawing up to 200 W during AI work, a 30 W switch and a 50 W storage unit come to 280 W — a 1 kVA unit is enough, and 1.5–2 kVA leaves room for a second computer.
Compare watts, not only volt-amperes. A UPS with power factor 1.0 delivers 1,000 W per kVA; older designs with a power factor of 0.8 or 0.9 deliver only 800–900 W per kVA.
How long it runs
Runtime depends on the energy stored in the battery and on your load. In the models we offer, the battery holds about 230 Wh in the 1 kVA unit and about 690 Wh in the 3 kVA unit, and each runs about nine minutes at full load; at a lighter load it runs longer. Ask the supplier for the runtime table at your load.
A UPS buys time to save work and shut down cleanly, or to start a generator. Connect it to the servers by USB or a network card (SNMP) so they shut down automatically before the battery runs out. For hours of backup, use a larger battery system — see our guide to battery storage for business.
Voltage, altitude and heat
Check the voltage first. Chile and Peru use 220 V; in Mexico and Colombia standard single-phase outlets run at 120–127 V. The models we offer work at 208–240 V: in Mexico or Colombia, either order a 120 V model or have an electrician connect a 220 V unit between two phases; at 208 V its capacity drops to 80%.
Altitude reduces cooling. The models we offer deliver full power up to 1,000 m and need derating between 1,000 and 3,000 m — which matters in Bogotá, at about 2,600 m, and in Mexico City, at about 2,240 m. Keep the room between 0 and 40 °C; heat shortens the life of any battery.
Certificates and import
Ask for IEC 62040-1 (safety) and IEC 62040-2 (electromagnetic compatibility) for the UPS, IEC 62619 for its lithium battery pack, and the UN 38.3 test summary for shipping — forwarders usually also ask for a safety data sheet.
In Colombia UPS units and their batteries fall under RETIE and need a RETIE conformity document before customs release; the duty on UPS units (8504.40) is 0%. In Mexico UPS units need NOM-001-SCFI-2018, checked at customs, and Spanish product information under NOM-024-SCFI-2013; the duty (8504.40.16) is 15%. In Saudi Arabia they need a SABER certificate and enter duty-free. In Chile goods from China enter at 0% with a certificate of origin; check whether an SEC certification protocol covers the model. Details are in our import guides by country — links at the end of this article.
What it costs
In Chile a major-brand 3 kVA online UPS with lead-acid batteries sells for 960,500 pesos on the Lider marketplace, and from 1.5 million pesos from other sellers (October 2026). Lithium models from major brands cost much more: at US resellers, APC's 3 kVA online lithium UPS lists for about 6,000–7,000 dollars.
Buying directly from a factory in China costs less, especially for several units with your logo, but then import, certification and service are on you or your integrator — that is the part we take on.
How we help
We size the UPS to your equipment and voltage, confirm the configuration and the documents for your country in writing with the factory, check the units before shipment and ship them with full export documents — lithium batteries travel as dangerous goods. Payment is by bank transfer against an invoice.
Prices and rules were checked in October 2026 against the Lider store, US resellers, the manufacturer's data sheets and the official sources in our country guides. They can change — we confirm them in the quote.
What to send us for a quote
The equipment to protect and its power in watts, the runtime you need, rack or tower, the voltage at the site, the country and city of delivery, the quantity and whether you need your logo. We reply within two business days.