What are the 5 Keys to UPS Maintenance?

More Bay Area businesses are investing in UPS systems to protect their operational continuity. A UPS provides emergency battery backup power in the event you lose power from your utility. This can give you the time to safely shut down any sensitive systems or continue your work until power is restored.

When it comes to UPS maintenance Bay Area businesses should be proactive. Like all building systems, your UPS needs ongoing attention after it is installed. With the right UPS maintenance Bay Area businesses can achieve many years of reliable service from their battery backup power system.

UPS maintenance may seem complicated at first. In fact, there are different tasks that need to be carried out on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. For professional UPS maintenance Bay Area businesses often partner with a company that specializes in UPS systems and power monitoring.

That said, there are five keys to ensuring that UPS maintenance always delivers the value you expect.

What are the 5 Keys to UPS Maintenance?

1. Make a Formal Maintenance Schedule

Your UPS backup system kicks into action when your business is in crisis – and that’s the worst time for it to fail. Making a maintenance schedule is a crucial step toward ensuring your UPS always performs as expected. Equip yourself with an accurate UPS maintenance checklist and verify that all routine maintenance tasks are scheduled. The static bypass circuit, rectifier, inverter, and the battery array must be inspected regularly.

2. Document Your Maintenance

Once you have your schedule in place, be certain to document every aspect of ongoing maintenance. That includes any unusual observations you make or readings you take. It also includes any component replacements, what was removed, why, and where the replacement part was sourced from. All remedial steps you take should be documented in similar detail so that, if problems arise, you will know where to start your diagnosis.

3. Inspect Batteries Carefully

In the world of UPS maintenance, Bay Area companies should know this truism: If something goes wrong, the battery is the first place to look. With a suitable operating environment and regular maintenance, a UPS system will function for around thirteen years, but individual batteries last only 4-5 years. Battery types vary in their maintenance needs. Visual inspection, thermal testing, and voltage scans should be used to extend service life.

4. Examine the Environment

The environment of the UPS system is critical to its performance. Even when not in use, a UPS system may be damaged by undiscovered wiring problems throughout the building. Dirt and other debris accumulating on the UPS and its parts can also interfere with power transfer and may elevate the risk of fire. A power analysis is one way to pinpoint issues and ensure the UPS is supported in delivering quality performance.

5. Do Load Bank Testing

Load bank testing is as close as it gets to evaluating the UPS system under “real world” conditions. This is an essential part of annual maintenance. It should also be performed on any newly installed system, as well as any time the system has been unused for an extended period. Load bank testing allows a qualified technician to pinpoint component failures and make necessary replacements in a safe, controlled environment.

Nite & Day Power offers UPS maintenance that Bay Area companies can count on. From hospitals to data centers -- and everything in between -- Nite & Day Power helps businesses that can’t afford to wait in the event of a blackout or “Public Safety Power Shutoff.” We can help you select, install, and maintain a system that meets your needs. To learn more or get started, contact us today.