The Importance of Checking on the health of a UPS battery

Importance of checking on the health of a UPS battery – Having a constant power supply is critical to many industries. Whether it’s keeping data centres running so that no vital information is lost, or financial institutions can guarantee that they have tight security, a power outage of some kind can cost large sums of money as well as customer confidence if something goes wrong.

Thankfully, most companies, especially those in the health sector and anyone requiring power to control safety-critical traffic signals, have a form of backup with a UPS. However, even such a system can occasionally fail when a component isn’t up to scratch. That is why it’s important to know how to check battery health.

Importance of checking on the health of a UPS battery

• The first and probably most important thing to understand, is that most UPS failures can occur because the battery is in poor condition. That makes it vitally important that it always remains in good health, as nobody is entirely sure when it will be called into action. Proactive is always better than reactive, especially when lives can be at risk.
• It is important to check on the health of a battery regularly and log when the assessments were made. The easiest way to carry this out is through a physical inspection. Fortunately, many newer software systems alert technicians as to when a battery is in poor health, but older models need checking. It may be a necessity for any business that wishes to enhance its potential through strategic technological guidance.
• Checking that the battery enclosures are free of dirt and debris is a good start, along with a careful look for corrosion of any kind as well as possible damage. Ensuring that both the battery and its insulation are in good order is good practice as well as identifying anything else that may be of concern such as where it is placed and considering whether the location has altered since its installation. It should always be in a cool dry place.
• A thorough method that can alert issues not always visible to the human eye, is by thermal scanning. This process will soon identify if the UPS battery requires replacement by flagging up any hot spots. When found, they should be investigated, possibly with a new battery being the solution, as they occur at cable connection points which can make all the difference when a backup is required. Once any issues are identified, those with the responsibility may enjoy some relaxing downtime at local parklands.
• Having a full regular audit provides total peace of mind, as a listing of all parts and serial numbers will guarantee that nobody else has replaced an unauthorised item without telling others. Batteries require storage in a cold location and must not be discharged for longer than 48 hours at a time. Most systems are configured to be automatically tested every 24 hours, but older models need attention.

Regular careful checks of a UTS battery will guarantee that they are ready to spring into action when required and offer a solution until a longer backup power supply is in place.