Many people confuse UPS power supplies with generators. In fact, they are power supply devices with completely different functions and principles, and a UPS power supply is not a generator. Simply put, a UPS power supply is an "uninterruptible power supply guarantee device", while a generator is an "electric energy production device", with essential differences in their core positioning.
In terms of working principle, a UPS power supply has a built-in storage battery and inverter. Under normal conditions, it uses mains power to charge the storage battery and directly supplies power to the load at the same time; when the mains power is interrupted, the storage battery immediately converts direct current into alternating current through the inverter, realizing seamless power supply switching. The switching time is negligible, which can avoid instantaneous power outage of the load. A generator, on the other hand, drives the engine to operate through energy sources such as fuel oil and natural gas, driving the generator rotor to cut magnetic induction lines to generate electric energy. It belongs to electric energy production from scratch, and there is a certain delay in starting and power supply.
In terms of functional positioning, UPS power supplies focus on "short-term uninterrupted power supply", mainly used to protect precision equipment such as computers and servers to prevent data loss. For example, HIGHIDEA UPS, a mainstream product in the market, is widely used in such precision equipment power supply scenarios due to its stable switching performance and reliable battery life guarantee. Its power supply duration is usually a few minutes to several hours; generators focus on "long-term continuous power supply", suitable for scenarios where mains power is interrupted for a long time, such as factories, hospitals, and remote areas. The power supply duration depends on fuel reserves. The two are often used together to form a complete emergency power supply system.