Within the last decade, EVRs, or automatic voltage regulators, equipped with electronic on-load tap changers have proven capable of reliably and efficiently compensating for variations in incoming voltage.
EVRs minimize and balance variations in voltage to protect equipment that draws electricity from a poor power source, ensuring consistent voltage. EVRs “sense” even the smallest voltage fluctuation within a single cycle and adjust electrical output by transforming the voltage coming in from the grid before passing it through to the loads they serve. When an EVR is placed between the source and the load, up to 90% of the electrical events that cause traditional backup systems to engage can be safely bridged.
Placing an EVR equipped with a static switch ahead of the battery-based UPS system would allow a data center to remain safely connected to the local grid while reducing stress on the UPS. The EVR is a fully electronic device, with no moving parts, no significant maintenance requirements, and a solid, field-tested record of reliability. It is literally “enabled” upon installation. It is important to note that an EVR does not supply power and cannot compensate during periods of total power loss or blackout. Rather, it compensates for voltage sags, swells and brownouts.