UPS Battery Service
UPS batteries are a critical component of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). They provide backup battery power in case of a power outage and help equipment safely shut down.
All batteries degrade over time, but it’s possible to delay their failure by following a scheduled maintenance and testing program. This includes sealed VRLA and vented lead acid batteries.
Battery Life Expectancy
Depending on the UPS design and load, the UPS battery will last between three and four years before the batteries need to be replaced. UPS battery life expectancy depends on several factors, including ambient temperature, the number of cycles and the length of each cycle. Most UPS batteries are sealed, valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries. This type of battery is often referred to as maintenance-free, which simply means they do not require the addition of water like their wet cell counterparts. But even these maintenance-free batteries lose capacity over time.
When the UPS reaches the end of its life, it will typically sound shipping lithium batteries internationally a low battery alarm and/or display an error message on the panel. This is a good indication that it is time to replace the UPS battery.
Some UPSes can adjust the sensitivity of their AVR circuits to reduce ‘nuisance trips’ that unnecessarily use up your battery power. A UPS with this feature may allow you to extend your battery life.
Most UPS manufacturers will put a date code on their batteries, which gives you an idea of when yours was made. Most batteries have a stipulated design life of five years under ideal conditions. Once the design life is over, the battery will begin to lose capacity more rapidly. Many UPSes can be programmed to shut down ITE when the battery reaches the end of its life, which helps avoid costly repairs or outages due to failed batteries.
Battery Maintenance
UPS batteries are the backbone of backup power. They ensure that equipment is powered for an extended period of time during a power outage or surge by providing a steady flow of power to critical loads. But, just like any other battery-powered device, UPS batteries degrade over time. Understanding how long batteries last and recognizing the signs that indicate battery replacement is needed can help businesses maintain their systems without costly downtime.
While the majority of modern UPS models use valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) or lithium-ion batteries, even these types require maintenance. During routine preventive maintenance, trained technicians conduct various inspections to assess the health of your UPS batteries. These include visually inspecting the batteries, racking and cabinet for corrosion, leaking or broken terminals; measuring float voltage, current and electrolyte level; and comparing results to previous inspections.
Additionally, technicians should verify that climate control is being properly maintained within the facility where UPS batteries are located. Failure to maintain the recommended ambient temperature can significantly reduce battery life and could void the manufacturer’s warranty.
UPS batteries that are stored in a warm environment have a lower lifespan and will degrade over time. If you have spare batteries, avoid keeping them plugged in or on charge for too long as this can cause internal damage and increase the rate of water loss, ultimately reducing their lifetimes.
Battery Testing
UPS batteries are a long-term investment that can degrade at an alarming rate without adequate testing and maintenance. A robust battery testing process and routine physical inspections can prevent the deterioration of batteries from internal shorts, corrosion, sulphation, dry-out and seal failure that could result in unplanned downtime, lost revenue, costly equipment repairs or replacements, and data loss.
Many UPS systems have built-in battery monitoring that sends out an alarm when the backup batteries are nearing end of life or a low charge, but a trained service technician can provide much more detail about battery health and performance than what system sensors can generate. A thorough battery test that includes capacity testing will help to identify weak cells and early sulphation, which can affect the entire string and lead to premature failure of other batteries.
Load bank testing is a standard battery test that uses a loadbank to replicate the conditions your UPS would encounter during a power outage and can identify which batteries hold a charge, and which ones are approaching their design or service life. It does take the batteries out of service, but they’re usually available again within a few hours. Other battery tests are available, including electro-chemical testing which is a more detailed analysis of the condition of the battery cells and can indicate the onset of sulphation and dry-out.
Battery Replacement
Despite best practices and favorable conditions, UPS batteries can lose capacity over time, reducing the amount of runtime the device can deliver to equipment during power problems. Factors such as humidity, ambient temperature, depth of discharge and frequency of recharge can all reduce battery life. Consequently, it is considered industry best practice to replace UPS batteries before their operational capacity falls below 80%.
Most UPS systems include an indicator light or alarm sound to warn users when batteries are beginning to go bad. The system may also monitor battery health via sensors and alert the user to potential issues by email or text. The trained technicians at a professional UPS battery service can inspect batteries and recommend the appropriate replacement schedule.
In addition to a physical inspection, UPS battery services can test batteries at the cell level. These tests can shipping lithium batteries internationally reveal much more information about the condition of each battery than what is available through the system’s monitoring. They can also help identify a faulty battery that is adding strain to the rest of the string, leading to premature failure.
A faulty battery can create thermal runaway, which can damage or even burn the internal circuitry of the UPS. When this occurs, the battery emits H2S (hydrogen sulfide), an odorless gas that can cause sickness and death in humans if inhaled over a long period of time.
