Winter is approaching, and whilst some of us will be preparing our vehicles for adverse weather conditions, if you have critical infrastructure protected by an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device, you'll also need to be testing those out too in case of power outages.
The risk of blackouts and brownouts on the UK energy grid has slightly increased this winter. Because of this, there is a higher chance of a power outage now than there has ever been in the past 20 years. Many companies have their servers protected by UPS devices (to protect the disks and data in the event of power loss).
However, not all companies consider connecting their network and broadband connection up to UPS devices. It is always worth investing in battery backup to protect your broadband lines and not just your server equipment.
Additionally, UPS devices generally have lithium-ion batteries inside that degrade over time; generally, a UPS battery remains healthy for around 5 years.
But as UPS devices are not regularly tested, you may not realise you have experienced degradation until the day you really need it. So we strongly recommend having some routine tests carried out.
If you have a UPS device capable of remote monitoring, then for our fully-managed service customers we connect your UPS to our systems and remotely test them anyway. But if you have any doubts, please raise a tech support ticket or speak to your Partner Consultant, and we'll investigate for you.
What is UPS?
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS), also known as a battery backup, provides backup power when your regular power source fails or voltage drops to an unacceptable level. A UPS allows for the safe, orderly shutdown of a computer and connected equipment.
Why is routine UPS maintenance important?
Ensures optimum UPS power supply efficiency
A well-structured UPS preventive maintenance programme includes servicing to all the UPS installation’s major parts; the UPS itself and the battery if present. During a maintenance visit, a full inspection of the UPS’s critical parts will also be checked for optimum UPS power supply efficiencyReduced risk of downtime
A forward-thinking UPS maintenance and UPS service allows you to monitor the ongoing health of your UPS power supply. By scheduling regular inspections and check-ups, you will alleviate the chances of component failures which lead to downtime. Preventative maintenance will also address any issues that could lead to a potential system failure, identifying and resolving problems before they have a chance to take hold, or worsen.Improves business budgeting and maintenance processes
Whether you run a data centre, telecommunications business or a healthcare facility, unexpected breakdowns can be extremely costly, and really eat into your expenditure or cash reserve. By having a preventive maintenance program in place, you can avert unanticipated failures and better plan for the future. Furthermore, component refurbishment and replacement can be predicted and anticipated, and you can therefore build these into your forecasted costs and budgetIncreased efficiency and longer lifespan
Professional UPS maintenance and a UPS service will help your UPS power supply function at peak performance. This will help your systems work for years to come, prolonging their lifespan, and the benefits they bring to your business and facility
Tips to Prolong the Life of Your UPS System
Here are some things to look out for during your UPS's routine maintenance inspection to keep your device online and running smoothly this winter.
- At the basic level, your UPS system should be kept in a clean, dry and secure area, and you should check that all alarms and indications are recorded, logged and reported.
- Responsibility for the UPS and its related equipment operation should be assigned to a named member of staff. It is also a good idea to have a maintenance contract with a reputable UPS maintenance provider – such as EPX Technical Services. We enact a strict, industry-regulated corrective maintenance programme that ensures optimal efficiency. We also monitor your UPS, and any alerts are raised as Service Tickets with us to be processed by our Engineering team.
EPX’s UPS Monitoring
UPS monitoring helps to track the progress of consumables such as UPS batteries. These components are fundamentally important and must be in good working order. This can be achieved through periodic system monitoring. With other consumables, such as fans and DC capacitors, regular maintenance is equally important, and our team utilise inspection logs to predict potential future problems.
A range of maintenance plans are available, with full 24/7, 365 days a year technical support and remote monitoring to guarantee we are always ready to respond to a site incident.
EPX Remote Monitoring & Management Software
Summary
Because UPSs exist to protect your business-critical equipment, it’s only right that the UPSs themselves should be protected too. Through regular UPS maintenance and a fast response should a power supply failure occur, you can rest assured that your business is being taken care of. If you’re looking for uninterruptible power supply maintenance and your business is in the West Midlands area, then please get in touch with us today on 01785 878 311 to learn more about just what we can do for you.JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJzbGlkZUJ1dHRvbiUyMiUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIyc2lkZS1idXR0b24lMjIlM0VHZXQlMjBJbiUyMFRvdWNoJTNDJTJGZGl2JTNF
