Did you know that majority of UPS’s trouble shootings are battery related? Typical life span of UPS internal batteries ranges from 3 to 5 years; however this depends on numerous factors. Here are a few easy tips to ensure that you get the most out of your batteries and therefore your UPS system:
Selecting the correct UPS technology:
Uninterruptible Power Supply systems operate in battery mode in two major situations: if the power goes off, or if the mains power input goes out of tolerance. This could mean for example too low or too high voltage, or frequency anomaly (e.g. running off a generator). Some UPS technologies can provide wider input voltage and/or frequency window, which resolves this issue. Example of such technology is online UPS technology – for example our VFI series. Selecting the correct UPS technology for your equipment will ensure the UPS only works off battery in case of emergency. This will prolong the battery’s lifetime.
Positioning of UPS:
While installing your UPS be sure to take into account the following factors: your Uninterruptible Power Supply system should be positioned in temperature stable, dry environment. Position your unit so that all ventilations and fans are clear to prevent overheating. The environment should be clean and dry, with no excessive dust or corrosive fumes. If you require the UPS system to be located outdoors, use appropriate storing cabinet – for example our Willo. Small cupboards or other enclosed spaces other than the ones specifically designed for such purposes with ventilations and cooling technologies are not suitable for storing your UPS system.
Temperature:
Although specifications for Uninterruptible Power Supply systems usually state temperature between 0°-40°C, it is ideal to keep the ambient temperature between 20 °– 25°C. This will ensure that the UPS will function properly and the battery won’t deplete due to the heat. High temperature drastically reduces battery life – essentially for each 10°C over 30°C, battery life halves. In extreme cases the batteries may start swelling due to a thermal runaway. To prolong battery life, aim to keep your UPS system in an environment with temperature between 20°-25°C.
Use of UPS:
The way you use your UPS can have a huge effect on your UPS’s battery life. We recommend that during a power cut you never leave your UPS battery to completely deplete to 0%. Power cuts are usually momentary in which case you don’t need to worry about this, but if you suffer from frequent and prolonged power outage, you should take the time to switch off your equipment and then turn off the UPS to ensure that the batteries don’t deplete completely if possible. Please note that batteries only have so many charge-discharge cycles which are higher the less the battery is discharged. If you don’t discharge to zero you will get more cycles out of your batteries.
Storing UPS:
Should your UPS not be in use for a long period of time, we strongly recommend to charge the batteries before storage. Never leave a UPS disconnected from mains for a long period in a discharged state.
Service:
A battery service after few years of use is a necessity to ensure that your UPS is functioning correctly. For more information read our previous blog post about our UPS battery services.
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