What Size UPS Do I Need for My Business in the South West?

Unplanned power outages can cause serious disruption for businesses across the South West of England. Whether you’re running a small office in Truro, a manufacturing site in Plymouth, or a data centre in Exeter, a power cut doesn’t just mean lost productivity—it can mean lost revenue, damaged equipment, and unhappy customers.

That’s where an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) comes in. But one of the most common questions we hear at South West Power Protection is:

“What size UPS do I actually need for my business?”

The answer depends on a few key factors.

1. Understand Your Power Load

The first step is to know how much power your critical equipment draws. Typical loads might include:

• Servers and IT racks (measured in watts or kVA)
• Networking gear like switches, routers and firewalls
• Telecoms systems
• Manufacturing or lab equipment
• Lighting, security and HVAC systems (in some cases)

A power survey can help identify your exact load requirements—something our engineers frequently carry out across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

2. Think in kVA, Not Just Watts

UPS systems are usually rated in kVA (kilovolt-amps). This reflects both the real power (watts) and the reactive power your equipment requires. A simple rule of thumb is:

👉 Total your load in watts and divide by 0.8 to get an approximate UPS size in kVA.

For example:

• A 3,200W server load ÷ 0.8 ≈ 4kVA UPS.

3. Decide on Runtime Requirements

UPS units aren’t just about size—they’re about how long they need to keep your systems running. Do you need:

• 5–10 minutes of runtime to bridge the gap until your generator starts?
• 30 minutes to safely shut down servers?
• Several hours to stay operational during a prolonged cut?

Battery capacity plays a big role here. The longer the runtime, the larger (and often more expensive) the UPS solution will be.

4. Factor in Growth & Redundancy

If your business is growing, or downtime is especially costly, you may need to:

• Oversize your UPS to handle future loads.
• Consider N+1 redundancy (an extra UPS module that takes over if one fails).

This is especially important for data centres, hospitals, and 24/7 operations in the South West.

5. Consider Your Environment

The South West’s mix of coastal conditions and rural areas can influence UPS choices:

• Coastal businesses (Cornwall, Devon): Salt air and humidity can shorten equipment life—sealed or hardened UPS solutions are often recommended.
• Rural sites (Somerset, Dorset): Power fluctuations and longer outages mean more robust UPS + generator combinations may be required.

6. Get a Professional Site Survey

While rules of thumb are useful, the best way to get the right UPS size is through a professional power survey. At South West Power Protection, we assess:

• Your exact load requirements
• Future growth plans
• Environmental factors
• Runtime needs

This ensures you get a solution that’s both cost-effective and reliable.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right size UPS isn’t just about matching numbers—it’s about protecting your business continuity. An undersized UPS won’t give you enough backup, while an oversized one can waste energy and money.

If you’re unsure what UPS your South West business needs, we’re here to help.

📞 Contact South West Power Protection today for a free initial consultation and tailored UPS sizing advice.