The Uninterruptible Power Supply or the UPS has become a standard electrical device for households, commercial establishments and industries. What keeps the UPS working is its battery. Unfortunately, the battery is both the strongest and the weakest link in the UPS system. Being the lifeline of the system, it is prone to damage unless it is routinely maintained and monitored.
All UPS battery dealers in Chennai emphasize on battery maintenance for three reasons:
To extend the life of the battery
To alleviate safety concerns
To avoid downtime
Whether big or small, the UPS costs a considerable sum of money. Routine inspections will ensure that it serves you well to make it a worthwhile investment. Follow this simple guide to know how to take care of your UPS battery.
Temperature and environment
UPS batteries tend to stall in environments that are too hot or too cold. The optimum temperature of a battery to perform consistently is 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher than this ambient temperature will reduce the efficiency and life expectancy of the UPS. Anything lower, and the battery’s performance is compromised.
So what’s your solution to this problem? Go for lithium-ion and TPPL batteries that can operate at both extremes of temperature.
Assessing the lifespan of your battery
UPS battery manufacturers may make many tall claims regarding the lifespan of your UPS battery. But it is a wise move to make that assessment yourself. It can be done by using a valuable tool, which is the cycling monitor. The cycling monitor is designed to signal when the battery requires replacement. This is determined by the number of times your UPS deploys “cycling” or the process of providing pure AC power to the devices that are connected to it during a power outage.
Routine maintenance procedures
The tagline” Fix it and forget it” is not for the UPS. Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure its reliability and durability. There are simple ways to do the process:
Keep the UPS free of dust and debris. Clean it with a soft cloth or a brush to remove any dust particles or dirt.
Are you still hanging on to batteries that are leaking or swollen? It is time to do away with them and bring in new replacements.
Inspect the battery storage racks and cabinets for signs of corrosion, leakage or pests like mice or rats.
Keep a check on float voltage, electrolyte levels and gravity readings for flooded batteries.
Note and compare conductance and impedance readings for each cell with the manufacturer’s recommended values.
Check for water levels and refill the batteries only with pure distilled water.
Recheck the wires for signs of wear and tear.
Maintenance of Float voltage
For optimum performance, the float voltage of a battery should be maintained at 2.25 to 2.27 volts per cell. An overcharged battery can fail prematurely, and its performance will be heavily compromised.
If you are planning to purchase your UPS batteries beforehand to avoid an electricity crisis, then you must know that the battery cannot lie idle. To maintain the capacity of stored batteries, they must be charged every six weeks, following the proper charging sequence provided by the manufacturer.
If you are prepared to invest a little more, go for batteries with remote monitoring technology. But always remember that there is no replacement for direct inspection and monitoring of the UPS battery. It is the best way to ensure maximum protection and performance.
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