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Mike Howley

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Understanding UPS Battery Types

As the heart of every UPS system, it is crucial to understand the different battery options available for UPS applications. A commonality among all batteries – they all require maintenance and they will all eventually fail. Each battery type differs on the amount of maintenance required, and how long it should last. The three main UPS battery types are: VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid, Wet Cell (Flooded, VLA) and Lithium-Ion.

Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA)

Commonly referred to as “maintenance-free”, the VRLA battery is the most common battery used in UPS applications today. VRLA batteries have a lower up-front cost when compared to other UPS battery options, however, they have a shorter lifespan – roughly 5 years. Calling them “maintenance-free” is also a bit of an overstatement – they do require regular maintenance visits to check for signs of aging, but they require much less maintenance than wet cell batteries. The optimal environment for these batteries is a dry, cool area (around 77 degrees F), as heat is detrimental to the health of these batteries.

Wet Cell

Also known as Flooded or VLA (Vented Lead Acid), wet cell batteries are a highly reliable form of UPS battery. Composed of thick lead-based plates placed into an electrolyte fluid, the batteries have a lifespan of roughly 20 years. They require regular maintenance and special care, as the fluid contained within the batteries is corrosive and poses safety concerns. While they are more expensive and require more maintenance than their VRLA counterparts, they are a highly reliable source of power for critical power applications.   

Lithium-Ion

The lithium-ion battery has matured over the past few years and has noticeably grown in popularity for UPS applications. Industry leaders such as Eaton and APC are offering UPS applications developed specifically for use with Lithium batteries. They have the advantage of being both low-weight and small, and they offer a long lifespan (up to 15 years). Lithium-ion batteries also require less maintenance than their VRLA counterparts and can safely operate at higher ambient temperatures.  While VRLA batteries are still often the product of choice for UPS applications, Lithium-ion has shown that it can compete with its many benefits.

With more than 35 years of field experience and leadership in power protection, SEPS is well qualified to perform all UPS battery services. SEPS offers a full suite of UPS services and all technicians are trained and certified to manufacturer standards, assuring a thorough job.  For more information, please contact us, or speak with one of our Power Protection experts at 630-283-2399 or dmayo@seps-inc.com.

Blog

Essential Questions to Ask Your UPS Maintenance Provider: Training and Certification

In the last blog in this series, we discussed the emergency maintenance options that many UPS PM contracts provide. A UPS is one of the most important pieces of equipment in your facility. It is also a highly complex system that requires experience and training to work with.  When you have a need for a PMV or an emergency situation arises, here is another essential question that you should be asking any prospective maintenance providers:

Are your technicians trained & certified for your specific UPS and safety requirements?

It is well within your rights as an IT manager or facility manager to use a third party maintenance provider, not associated with the OEM of your equipment. Often, a third-party maintenance provider can provide flexibility and cost-savings that the OEM cannot. However, it is crucial to ensure that the third party you employ to maintain your UPS has experience with your brand of UPS and has been trained on the support of your equipment.

All technicians receive training at the outset of their employment, but is important to understand the ongoing learning structure for technicians. Are they trained on new equipment? Are they up to date on manufacturer recommendations?

The priorities of the UPS maintenance provider you choose is important. If they are invested in their employees, and want them to continue to grow and learn, you can wager that they care greatly for their clients too.

At SEPS, our technicians are trained on numerous other brands of UPS equipment including manufacturers that are no longer active in the industry. This ensures technicians are always prepared to service any type of critical power equipment, no matter the age or product line. Our technicians regularly attend factory training with the Original Equipment Manufacturers to ensure comprehensive critical power training on all lines of UPS equipment.

Also, in today’s manufacturing and IT world safety is paramount and your UPS technician should be up to date in their safety training.  Our technicians are NFPA70E Certified, Three Rivers Manufacturing Association (TRMA) trained and CPR Certified.  SEPS technicians have the PPE, tools and training to ensure the highest level of safety while at customer’s sites.

With more than 35 years of field experience and leadership in power protection, SEPS is well qualified to perform UPS preventive maintenance. SEPS offers a full suite of UPS services and all technicians are trained and certified to manufacturer standards, assuring a thorough job.  For more information, please contact us, or speak with one of our Power Protection experts at 630-283-2399 or dmayo@seps-inc.com.

Blog

Essential Questions to Ask Your UPS Maintenance Provider: Emergency Services

In the first blog in this series, we discussed UPS and battery maintenance contracts, and, specifically, what to expect as far as PM visits per year. With a regular PM schedule, you can keep your systems running smoothly and keep abreast of any issues. However, even the most trustworthy and resilient UPS systems can fail. And, unfortunately, you can’t predict it.

In the occasion when your UPS does fail, a swift and speedy response is necessary. This is why it’s crucial to get a full understanding of emergency services offered by your UPS maintenance provider. With that in mind, be sure to consider the following when consulting a UPS maintenance provider:

What is the guaranteed response time, in case of a UPS or battery emergency?

Typical emergency response times range from 4hrs, up to Next Business Day. But what do these mean? For some maintenance companies, this simply means that they will provide a response (email or phone call) within the guaranteed time. The actual repair of your equipment could take much longer. Ensure that your maintenance company guarantees an on-site technician, within your chosen response time. This will give you peace of mind, knowing that the risk to your critical load will be minimized.

Another aspect to consider is spare parts availability. During a UPS emergency, every second counts. It is crucial that UPS maintenance companies have parts available to arrive quickly at a customer’s site. Also be sure to double-check whether parts are covered under your maintenance contract or not. As a general rule, consumable components such as batteries and capacitors are not covered by maintenance agreements.

In our next blog in this series, we will discuss technician training and certification. Until then, contact SEPS to discuss what PM plan is best for your critical power needs.

With more than 35 years of field experience and leadership in power protection, SEPS is well qualified to perform UPS preventive maintenance. SEPS offers a full suite of UPS services and all technicians are trained and certified to manufacturer standards, assuring a thorough job.  For more information, please contact us, or speak with one of our Power Protection experts at 630-283-2399 or dmayo@seps-inc.com.

Blog

Essential Questions to ask your UPS Maintenance Provider: UPS Preventive Maintenance Options

In a previous blog, we discussed some of the benefits a preventive maintenance contract can have for your UPS and your business. Based on the unexpected nature of power outages and weather-related outages, it’s easy to see why a maintenance contract – which keeps your system running at peak performance – makes good business sense.

In this four-part blog series, we will discuss important questions to ask potential UPS maintenance providers. To begin with, be sure to consider the following question:

How many preventive maintenance visits per year are offered in your UPS and battery maintenance contracts?

UPS maintenance providers will typically offer a handful of service options for maintaining your UPS and battery plant. The most common(and manufacturer recommended) is two preventive maintenance visits per year. This usually includes 1 major PM visit and 1 minor PM visit. Some UPS maintenance providers will offer customizable maintenance plans to fit your specific needs, where you can select any mix of major/minor PM visits, among other variables.

Don’t forget about the batteries! Batteries have a finite life and will eventually fail.  Battery preventive maintenance enables customers to determine their estimated runtime in the event of a power failure and overall battery health.

The main difference between a major UPS PM and a minor UPS PM, is that during the major PM the UPS is put into bypass mode. This allows for a more thorough check of components and can reveal problem areas that may not be apparent during a minor PM. During the minor PM, the UPS remains in normal operation, so your critical load will not be exposed. Some firms chose to have their UPS maintenance visits performed after hours, so that normal business operations will not be impacted. 

Once a PM visit is complete, a qualified UPS maintenance provider will provide an all-encompassing “Field Service Report,” which divulges, at a granular level, the health of your UPS unit(s) and battery plant. This would include a thorough breakdown of battery health, and also identify areas of concern that may need your attention in the future. This type of document allows you to be prepared for and budget for future repairs and/or UPS component replacements.

In our next blog, we will dig into emergency response times, and how these should weigh in when choosing a preventive maintenance provider.In the meantime, contact SEPS to discuss what PM plan is best for your critical power needs.

With more than 35 years of field experience and leadership in power protection, SEPS is well qualified to perform UPS preventive maintenance. SEPS offers a full suite of UPS services and all technicians are trained and certified to manufacturer standards, assuring a thorough job.  For more information, please contact us, or speak with one of our Power Protection experts at 630-283-2399 or dmayo@sepsinc.local.

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