In the modern world we often take electricity and lighting for granted, but what happens when there is a power failure?
In large commercial buildings, keeping a torch by the front door or candles on the mantelpiece isn’t really an option which is where emergency lighting inverter systems step in.
Powering a building with lighting takes a considerable amount of energy and whilst the electrical supply may usually be reliable, there needs to be an emergency source of power. This article explains the basics of how emergency lighting inverter systems work.
What are emergency lighting inverter power systems?
It is essential for buildings to have a way of providing emergency lighting in the event that the main power supply is temporarily not available.
Emergency lighting inverter power systems are a way of making sure there is enough power to be able to light the building sufficiently long enough for individuals to find the exits. Most back up power supply systems can sustain the necessary levels of energy for approximately 90 minutes.
How do they work?
A normal electricity supply to a building provides AC power so if that source fails, lighting and other systems need to find an alternative energy to run from.
An emergency inverter system operates from a collection of DC power batteries, which means they must be changed into AC power before they can be utilised. The inverter system is able to perform this function efficiently, taking the battery power and transforming it into usable energy to sustain the building’s systems.
For the vast majority of the time, the emergency inverter system will remain on standby, being continuously charged by the power from the grid and ready to click into action if needed. During a power outage, the emergency inverter system runs from its own battery source, slowly draining the back-up power it had stored.
After an emergency when the battery power has been used, it will regenerate once more using energy from the grid so that it is back to full capacity in case of future need.
Are they worth installing?
Modern emergency lighting inverter systems are remarkably compact compared to past designs. This means that you will no longer have to find room for huge wardrobes of space just to house your power supply.
Inverter systems are designed to kick-start in the event of an emergency hitting the building and whilst a non-urgent cause could be to blame, it is just as likely that the cause of the outage is nothing more than a localised power cut, a problem on the line or even a storm. For most companies none of these events would warrant a full evacuation. However, emergency inverter systems are frequently capable of running all, or at least the vast majority, of the buildings power supplies. This means that if the cause is not anything to worry about it, the business should be able to continue to operate.
Of course, if the cause of the power outage is more sinister, it is essential for everyone to be able to get out of the building as quickly and safely as possible. Stumbling around in the dark could make it very difficult for everyone to find the exits, increasing the potential risk of injury.
Conclusion
Unless you have been involved in the security and power supplies to a building, you may not have been aware of the intricacies of the system which guarantees lighting will continue, even in an emergency. Inverter systems offer businesses the chance to get a modern, effective and cost-efficient solution for their emergency lighting needs.
Written by Samantha Wood who loves writing articles about any aspect of technology.