Patent US10331153

powering a load coupled to the UPS using utility power in a first operating mode of the UPS;

determining, by a controller of the UPS, in the first operating mode, whether an energy cost associated with the utility power exceeds a first threshold cost;

determining, by the controller, in the first operating mode, whether a charge level of the battery exceeds a threshold charge level;

automatically switching from the first operating mode to a second operating mode of the UPS, by the controller, to power the load from the battery in response to determining that the energy cost associated with the utility power exceeds the first threshold cost and that the charge level of the battery exceeds the threshold charge level;

determining, by the controller, in the first operating mode, whether an energy cost associated with the utility power is below a second threshold cost, the second threshold cost being lower than the first threshold cost;

automatically switching from the first operating mode to a third operating mode of the UPS, by the controller, to power the load from utility power while simultaneously charging the battery using utility power in response to determining that the energy cost associated with the utility power is below the second threshold cost;

determining, by the controller, in the first or second operating mode, whether the charge level of the battery is below a reserve charge level, the reserve charge level being lower than the threshold charge level; and

automatically switching from the first or second operating mode to the third operating mode of the UPS, by the controller, to power the load from utility power while simultaneously charging the battery using utility power in response to determining that the charge level of the battery is below the reserve charge level.

an input configured to receive utility power;

at least one battery;

an output configured to provide power to a load; and

a processor operatively coupled to the input, the at least one battery and the output, the processor configured to: power the load from utility power in a first operating mode; determine, in the first operating mode, whether an energy cost associated with the utility power exceeds a first threshold cost; determine, in the first operating mode, whether a charge level of the at least one battery exceeds a threshold charge level; automatically switch from the first operating mode to a second operating mode to power the load from the at least one battery in response to determining that the energy cost associated with the utility power exceeds the first threshold cost and that the charge level of the battery exceeds the threshold charge level; determine, in the first operating mode, whether an energy cost associated with the utility power is below a second threshold cost, the second threshold cost being lower than the first threshold cost; automatically switch from the first operating mode to a third operating mode to power the load from utility power while simultaneously charging the battery using utility power in response to determining that the energy cost associated with the utility power is below the first and second threshold cost; determine in the first or second operating mode, whether the charge level of the at least one battery is below a reserve charge level, the reserve charge level being lower than the threshold charge level; and automatically switch from the first or second operating mode to the third operating mode to power the load from utility power while simultaneously charging the at least one battery using utility power in response to determining that the charge level of the at least one battery is below a reserve charge level.