Uninterruptible Power Supply question

I have a UPS installed in our coach that I modified to use the coach batteries instead of a built in battery. One thing to beware of with UPS's as said, is that many of the lower cost models use a modified sine wave inverter for the output on power fail, and not all electronics are happy with that. Tripp-Lite, APC, and others do have models with pure sine wave output though. The PSW models cost more of course, but if your equipment operates more reliably and cooler with the cleaner output, than the difference can be well worth it.

Had a Generac whole house installed at the last office I worked in... none of the UPS in the building would work on it, constant beeping all over the building. Brought in a Honda 3000 just for the computers.

Replaced the Generac and the second one was no different. That was over ten years ago, maybe they've improved. I would require a guarantee of performance for your purpose on any genset purchase.

NO one can not assume that. When "Shore" power is present and meets the requirements of the programmer it simply passes it.. Oh there may be some spike supression,, but that's all.

Also most UPS units are MSW which is dang dirty power when they kick in .

you need double conversion if u want it to clean up power

also most cheap ups's hate non inverter generator power, the hertz is not tight enough +/- .5 hz

You can always simply plug whatever sensitive equipment into a UPS just like you would if you were on line voltage. Big gennys aren't inverters, so good sine wave created. I have an APC UPS that is in a genny-fed outlet at home - when on genny (NOT a nice Generac...) you can hear it alarming fairly regularly, meaning "dirty" power coming in to it, so it is doing it's job. ST

All rotating electro-mechanical generators produce a natural sine wave.
Wave form may become distorted because of the load but it does start as sine wave. I would not worry one bit.

Generally no.

Two common types of UPS:

1. Line Interactive waits for something bad to happen and steps in to help. Probably has some basic surge protectors that are always active. Also called single conversion.

2. Online UPS are always running the inverter off the battery. A fancy charger takes line voltage and charges the battery. These are expensive and generate more heat than the first type. These are also called double conversion.

I wouldn't worry about the output quality of a big standby generator. The sinewave is a function of mechanical design and mass of the system. Bigger means better generally.

I am somewhat familiar with the APC line - at least some of them have surge protection outlets that are separate from the backup outlets. You will want to get one that has enough surge protection outlets for you.

No.. Not all smooth the power
The cheap ones only pass thru the power, not doing any power line conditioning of the input power

Power conditioning will be Listed as a function/feature on those that do this