Staying Safe While Using Your Battery Backup System in Santa Cruz County

UPS batteries work together in multiple strings to supply emergency power to your building in the event of a power outage. Many UPS systems can also compensate for line voltage issues that don’t take your power offline, but might otherwise damage sensitive electrical equipment.

Consumer-grade UPS systems often use lithium ion batteries that are very safe. These batteries have increased in capacity over the years while staying at a manageable size. For example, they are used in today’s electric cars. However, they’re not widely used in business-class systems.

Battery backup systems use more complex nickel-cadmium or lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries, in particular, introduce significant safety risks into the work environment.

Reliable battery backup equipment is a great investment for your enterprise. Still, it’s vital to update your employee safety policies around the equipment that you introduce.

Here’s what to know about staying safe with your Santa Cruz company's battery backup power:

1. Understand Your Batteries

Some types of UPS batteries are of low risk. Others are only risky at particular times – for example, Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid batteries vent gas if their internal pressure gets too high. Flooded Cell (or VLA) batteries have the longest working life but require advanced safety protocols.

2. Keep Batteries in a Controlled Environment

Batteries stored for later use and those active within your UPS system both rely on a controlled environment. Each type of battery has a specific temperature and tolerances for humidity. Depending on your setup, you may need to install climate control equipment or reconfigure HVAC settings.

3. Replace Your Batteries According to System Specifications

As UPS batteries get closer to end-of-life, they have a higher potential for problems. They may not perform as expected and can even affect your electrical system. At particularly low levels, they may be unable to trip a protective breaker if they overheat.

4. Get Your System Maintained Regularly

When you’re looking for the most reliable battery backup system, don’t forget your UPS needs to interface with your whole electrical infrastructure. Regular maintenance ensures that the electrical connections are working and the system will effectively serve connected equipment.

For the best battery backup, you need a system calibrated to meet your needs. Then, it should receive regular maintenance to keep it ready for anything that could happen.

To find out more or get personalized advice, just contact Nite & Day Power.