By Sascha Schmidt-Ries
In today's digital age, uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems have become an essential component in ensuring that businesses and homes stay connected during power outages. However, many people often overlook the importance of maintaining and optimising their UPS systems, which can lead to poor performance and even system failure. That's why in this comprehensive health guide, we'll take you through everything you need to know about UPS maintenance and optimisation. From understanding identifying common issues and troubleshooting them, we'll equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to keep your UPS running smoothly and efficiently. This guide is a must-read for anyone who wants to get the most out of their UPS investment and prevent system failure and costly downtime.
Follow the 4 UPS solution health checklist to keep your systems running smoothly. The checklist ensures your UPS solution remains in optimal health, preventing problems and improving performance. The 4 UPS solution health checklist to keep your systems running smoothly. The checklist ensures your UPS solution remains in optimal health, preventing problems and improving performance.
1. Check your batteries
2. Do a full clean
3. Verify UPS communication
4. Update service information
Batteries are easily the most critical component in your UPS. Lead acid-based batteries will deteriorate over time, depending on various factors such as number of discharges, temperature and depth of discharge. If the battery can be run at recommended temperature and both the number of discharges and depth of discharge can be reduced, battery life will be improved. Sufficient recharge time also needs to be factored in as ongoing operation without a full recharge (usually minimum 8 hours) will affect the battery condition negatively. Lithium battery models offer better performance and longer lifespan. There are dedicated models for Lithium UPS’s and this portfolio is being expanded on an ongoing basis. Existing lead acid models cannot be upgraded to Lithium, therefore careful requirement planning is required.
You will need to do a regular clean to be sure that dust and other issues do not cause any problems. Over time, physical interference can reduce your system’s reliability. Check things such as the airflow to be sure that nothing is blocking it or avoiding your UPS being kept at room temperature. Ideally, you want a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. You will also need to do a wipe down to remove grime that can damage fans and other components. Larger centralised UPS systems will need to have their air filters replaced or cleaned.
Next, you will need to be sure that your communications are configured. This is essential to enable IT managers to proactively respond to alerts. You will need to run test emails if your UPS has a Network Interface Card (NIC). Changing email servers or domains can result in outdated settings. You will need to check software, too, to be sure that your UPS and NIC versions are fully up to date.
Finally, you will need to make sure that your UPS is still under warranty. In the event of UPS failure, outdated service information can be extremely frustrating, not to mention expensive. Make sure that you carefully check your service contract to review your coverage. Ideally, keep this information somewhere central in a single place to avoid losing information. You will also need to register your UPS if you don’t have a service contract. Registration will help you stay informed on updates, making it easier to get help in the event of any issues.
Maximising your UPS performance is critical to ensuring that your electronic devices are always protected from power-related issues. By following the tips and best practices outlined in this comprehensive health guide, you can keep your UPS running smoothly and efficiently. Remember to regularly monitor your UPS performance, troubleshoot issues promptly, and upgrade your UPS system as necessary. With these tips and expert advice, you can get the most out of your UPS investment and keep your electronic devices safe and secure.
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