Most of the systems are powered by AC mains. Uninterrupted power supply systems (UPSes) are there as a back-up to power the systems when mains supply is interrupted due to a power cut. A UPS differs from a standby generator in that it will provide near-instantaneous power by supplying the energy stored in batteries. In an online UPS, batteries are always connected to the inverter, which is always on, so that no transfer switches are necessary when power disruption occurs. In an offline UPS, the inverter circuit is switched on when mains are not there. UPSes are available off-the-shelf, and one can select the system as per one’s requirement, back-up time being one requirement. However, one can construct a UPS of one’s own choice. Here is a circuit of an offline UPS, which a hobbyist can make at a reasonable cost. The capacity of the UPS is 350VA, so it can be used for any equipment with a load below 350VA. The UPS can be upgraded to 1kVA by making just a few changes. Circuit and working...